Tucson Padres

The Tucson Padres were a minor league baseball team representing Tucson, Arizona in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). They were the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team moved to Tucson from Portland, Oregon for the 2011 season.[1] In April 2014, the team moved to El Paso, Texas and changed their name to the El Paso Chihuahuas.

Tucson Padres
2011–2013
Tucson, Arizona
Team logo
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesTriple-A (2011–2013)
LeaguePacific Coast League (2011–2013)
ConferencePacific Conference
DivisionSouthern Division
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsSan Diego Padres (2011–2013)
Minor league titles
League titles none
Division titles none
Team data
Previous names
Previous parks
Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium (2011–2013)

Franchise history

Following the 2010 season, the Portland Beavers were put up for sale after PGE Park (now Providence Park) was remodeled into a soccer-only configuration for the MLS's 2011 expansion Portland Timbers. In 2010, the Beavers were sold to Jeff Moorad, principal owner of the San Diego Padres.[2]

The Move to Tucson

On October 19, 2010, it was announced that a site in Escondido, California had been selected for the new home of the Portland Beavers. The new ballpark was scheduled to open in April 2013. Until the move to Escondido could be completed the Padres would play their home games at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson, Arizona.[3] In May 2011, citing reasons of proposed redevelopment revenue confiscation by the State, the ballpark plans in Escondido were placed on indefinite hold.[4][5]

Franchise sale

Following the California Supreme Court's decision to uphold the 2011 decision by the State to abolish redevelopment agencies it was decided by the Mayor of Escondido, Sam Abed, that the city would not be able to build the proposed stadium.[6] In reaction Jeff Moorad announced he would sell the team if a location within the San Diego area could not be found. No sites materialized and in December 2011, Moorad decided to place the Tucson Padres up for sale.[7] As of 29 December 2011, Moorad received offers from buyers in three cities outside California.[8] No offers surfaced to keep the team in Tucson.[6] As a result, the Padres played in Tucson for the 2012 season and, in July 2012, announced that they would remain in Tucson for the 2013 season as well.[9]

Relocation to El Paso

On July 30, 2012, the Pacific Coast League gave preliminary approval to MountainStar Sports Group, an ownership group based out of El Paso, Texas, for the purchase of the Tucson Padres. The final sale of the Padres to MountainStar Sports was approved on September 26, 2012.[10] On October 22, 2013 in front of a capacity crowd inside the historic Plaza Theater in Downtown El Paso, the MountainStar Sports Group announced that the team would officially be renamed as The El Paso Chihuahuas.

References
  1. Smith, Dylan (18 December 2010). "Tucson's new Triple-A team announces name: Tucson Padres". Tucson Sentinel.
  2. Corey Brock (October 14, 2010). "Moorad agrees to purchase Triple-A club". MLB.com. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  3. J. Harry Jones and Michelle Breier (December 17, 2010). "Sign On San Diego".
  4. David Garrick (6 June 2011). "ESCONDIDO: Location makes proposed tech park viable". North County Times. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  5. David Garrick (23 May 2011). "ESCONDIDO: City may buy property for ballpark or business park". North County Times. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  6. Bill Center; Harry Jones (29 December 2011). "Escondido ballpark dead, says mayor; Moorad likely to sell". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  7. Patrick Finley (29 December 2011). "Tucson Padres owner to look at selling team". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  8. David Garrick (29 December 2011). "REGION: Court kills redevelopment, jeopardizing many local projects". North County Times. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  9. Triple-A Padres to play in Tucson in 2013
  10. http://www.ballparkdigest.com/201209265623/minor-league-baseball/news/mountainstar-sports-buys-tucson-padres
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