local teams: April 2008 Archives
Since Saintseester went out to her town's AA ballpark yesterday, I thought I'd toss in some local sports trivia that involves both the Saints and baseball.
We got the Zephyrs because, prior to moving to New Orleans, the team was the "Denver Zephyrs." The AAA-club was forced to move because the city had just been awarded a MLB franchise, the Colorado Rockies. The team had to find a new home, and New Orleans was a prime target.
The city's last dalliance with minor league baseball was the last incarnation of the New Orleans Pelicans, a AAA club that played in Da Dome. Problem was, like with the New Orleans Jazz, Da Dome isn't economical to use as a venue for events that don't regularly pull in 40K+ paying customers. The team's bottom line was a disaster, and they went through the whole thing about suburbanites not wanting to go downtown for night games. The team folded, and, at some point, Tom Benson bought the rights to the Pelicans name.
At the same time the Z's were negotiating with the city, Benson had a fit of pique that someone other than him might own a sports franchise in the city. The Z's had some things to iron out, particularly the commitment from the state to build the new ballpark (which was done under the auspices of the Superdome Commission and using the hotel-motel tax). In that timeframe, Benson went out and bought a AA team and announced he was going to move it immediately to New Orleans. Thinking he had squatter's rights on the city, Benson thought it was a done deal.
But that's not how baseball works. If The Show trumped AAA ball in Denver, then AAA ball can trump a AA club in New Orleans. The MLB commissioner refused to approve the Benson deal, because the Z's were the bigger/higher club. Not one for following tradition or really giving a shit about the city, Benson actually sued Major League Baseball. arguing restraint of trade and such. The courts summarily tossed the suit, because The Show has so many exemptions built into the law that the owners can pretty much do whatever the heck they want.
All this led to some serious bad blood between the Benson and the Zephyrs organization. I hesitate to say bad blood between the Saints organization and the Z's, because I don't think the people that work for the old man truly dislike the baseball folks. Still, when the team's move was approved and the deal to build the park was firmed up, the baseball club was hoping to acquire the Pelicans name from Benson. He steadfastly refused, and also proved to be a minor annoyance to the club over the ballpark, because his training facility and team office complex is next door on Airline Dr. When someone pointed out to the baseball folks that the "Zephyr" was the big roller coaster at Pontchartrain Beach, that was it, there was a local connection, and we got our Z's.
Originally, the Zephyrs were affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers, which is why they started with a blue uniform. That blue became more of an indigo over time, so the teams colors could look like purple-green-gold for carnival. The mutual animosity betwee Benson and the Zephyrs was so bad that the Z's kept their blue colors even when they became part of the Astros farm system. Usually a team will adopt the colors of their MLB club, which is why you have teams like the Iowa Cubs and the Louisville Redbirds. The Z's steadfastly refused to switch to the Astros' livery.
The Astros' colors? Black and Gold.
We got the Zephyrs because, prior to moving to New Orleans, the team was the "Denver Zephyrs." The AAA-club was forced to move because the city had just been awarded a MLB franchise, the Colorado Rockies. The team had to find a new home, and New Orleans was a prime target.
The city's last dalliance with minor league baseball was the last incarnation of the New Orleans Pelicans, a AAA club that played in Da Dome. Problem was, like with the New Orleans Jazz, Da Dome isn't economical to use as a venue for events that don't regularly pull in 40K+ paying customers. The team's bottom line was a disaster, and they went through the whole thing about suburbanites not wanting to go downtown for night games. The team folded, and, at some point, Tom Benson bought the rights to the Pelicans name.
At the same time the Z's were negotiating with the city, Benson had a fit of pique that someone other than him might own a sports franchise in the city. The Z's had some things to iron out, particularly the commitment from the state to build the new ballpark (which was done under the auspices of the Superdome Commission and using the hotel-motel tax). In that timeframe, Benson went out and bought a AA team and announced he was going to move it immediately to New Orleans. Thinking he had squatter's rights on the city, Benson thought it was a done deal.
But that's not how baseball works. If The Show trumped AAA ball in Denver, then AAA ball can trump a AA club in New Orleans. The MLB commissioner refused to approve the Benson deal, because the Z's were the bigger/higher club. Not one for following tradition or really giving a shit about the city, Benson actually sued Major League Baseball. arguing restraint of trade and such. The courts summarily tossed the suit, because The Show has so many exemptions built into the law that the owners can pretty much do whatever the heck they want.
All this led to some serious bad blood between the Benson and the Zephyrs organization. I hesitate to say bad blood between the Saints organization and the Z's, because I don't think the people that work for the old man truly dislike the baseball folks. Still, when the team's move was approved and the deal to build the park was firmed up, the baseball club was hoping to acquire the Pelicans name from Benson. He steadfastly refused, and also proved to be a minor annoyance to the club over the ballpark, because his training facility and team office complex is next door on Airline Dr. When someone pointed out to the baseball folks that the "Zephyr" was the big roller coaster at Pontchartrain Beach, that was it, there was a local connection, and we got our Z's.
Originally, the Zephyrs were affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers, which is why they started with a blue uniform. That blue became more of an indigo over time, so the teams colors could look like purple-green-gold for carnival. The mutual animosity betwee Benson and the Zephyrs was so bad that the Z's kept their blue colors even when they became part of the Astros farm system. Usually a team will adopt the colors of their MLB club, which is why you have teams like the Iowa Cubs and the Louisville Redbirds. The Z's steadfastly refused to switch to the Astros' livery.
The Astros' colors? Black and Gold.
