An expert on the nation's sports industry has confirmed what we've known about the rent that the Fresno Grizzlies pay to use the city-owned Chukchansi Park. It is one of the highest stadium rents in Triple-A baseball and the Grizzlies operate in the industry's most economically challenged market.
It's as if we are setting the team up to fail. The Grizzlies deserve a more reasonable rent to use the downtown stadium, and Mayor Ashley Swearengin and the City Council must be willing to negotiate terms that meet the market conditions. The city can't have the $46 million ballpark sitting empty while taxpayers are picking up $3.4 million in annual debt service on the stadium bonds.It's time to reach a deal that's fair to the taxpayers and fair to the Grizzlies. That must be the objective, and everyone wins if that goal can be met. Unfortunately, many politicians have pounced on the rent negotiations in an attempt to make points by misleading the public. That's an old tactic from naysayers who somehow think it's unwise to invest in their community.Swearengin has stepped above the political posturing and has been looking for a way to help make the Grizzlies successful. She wisely has hired a consultant, Southern California-based sports industry expert Daniel Barrett, to assist the city in putting together a solid proposal.Barrett just completed a 136-page report that gives the parties extensive background on the issue and comparable rents paid by the other Triple-A teams.Barrett says a lease revision could go to the City Council within three weeks. The timing is important because the Grizzlies must make a $675,000 balloon payment on the rent next month.The city and the Grizzlies are looking at possible changes in the annual rent, which is $1.5 million. The Grizzlies have pushed a $1 million reduction in the rent. The owners say they lost a total of $5.1 million from 2006 through 2008.The city can't afford to have an empty stadium and the Grizzlies can't afford the rent. Find common ground and protect everyone's interest.