Dutton: Glass says any revenue from stadium renovations will go to payroll
 

Glass says any revenue from stadium renovations will go to payroll

By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
Posted on Tue, Dec. 10, 2002

Just imagine what the Royals could do this off-season with an additional $15 million in payroll.

Those extra dollars could help them hold on to free-agent pitcher Paul Byrd, minimize the need to trade third baseman Joe Randa and aid efforts to negotiate a long-term deal with Carlos Beltran.

And possibly more.

That's why the club is bullish on its new agreement with the Jackson County Sports Authority regarding proposed renovations at Kauffman Stadium.

"In small markets like Kansas City," Royals owner David Glass said, "it's important that we grow our own revenues. And whatever we get, we've got to put that back into payroll."

The Royals project the renovations will lead to an increase in attendance that should generate an additional $15 million each year in revenue once the project is completed for the 2007 season.

"We won't be able to do everything we wanted to do in updating the stadium," Glass said. "But we will be able to make it a lot better for our fans.

"Kauffman Stadium is a great place to watch a ballgame. But it's 30 years old, and we need to take steps to keep it up to current standards."

The agreement, announced Monday, is contingent on voters in the metro area approving a one-quarter cent bistate sales tax. In return, the Royals will extend their stadium lease by 14 years to 2029.

Under terms of the agreement, the Royals and Chiefs will split 50 percent of the proceeds from the bistate tax. The other 50 percent will benefit the arts in the metro area.

The pact also shifts responsibility for stadium maintenance from the county to the two teams. Further, the Royals and Chiefs agreed to end their longtime opposition to the imposition of user fees on ticket prices.

"That's a major concession on our part," said Mark Gorris, the club's senior vice president for business operations. "But it was felt that it would be easier to get the tax passed if the people using the stadium paid a fee."

The fee is likely to be about 5 percent -- or 50 cents on a $10 ticket.

The Royals have long viewed the renovation of Kauffman Stadium, which opened in 1973, as the centerpiece of their efforts to boost revenues.

Glass also fought hard last summer to gain additional revenue sharing in a new four-year labor agreement that takes effect next season. Efforts are also under way to increase broadcast revenues.

All new money, Glass said, will be plowed back into payroll.

"I've always said I wanted to operate this thing on a break-even basis over the long term," he said. "If I wanted to make money, I would have put my money in something else."

Make Kauffmann better for fans??? Hell he needs to GET fans to come to the game first. With the group of SLOBOS he has now GOOD LUCK!! Trade Randa?? Thats the dumbest ting Ive ever heard(well close to it). Hell why not trade Sweeney and Beltron? We could always field a High School team, Why not we are never going to get anyone worth a Da** anyway! And if we do , we wont keep them. Maybe i should become a Cardinals fan.....Nah I guess Ill just stick with the losers. Been with them for this long no need to bail now. Ill go down with the ship.

Trading Randa's the smartest thing he's done since he came on board. Finally getting one right. His salary is high (for us), he's still got a year on his contract and several teams are/were looking for 3B. Trade him now, while you can get something for him, instead of waiting until it's too late (see: Dye; Damon). Beltran I would field offers for, but it would take something of blockbuster proportions to pry him from me. Sweeney I'd obviously hold on to, but, if this time next year it looks like he'll be using that escape clause and bolting after '03, I'd probably trade him, too, for as much as I can possibly get. Which would be a lot for a player of his caliber.

bump

Quality bump, would re read again if bumped in 2015.

Best thread ever?

Odds that this thread gets locked?

Wow, old me, who actually cared. Random.

please.

Do we have any threads from 1967 when Finley moved the A's to Oakland? I'd like to bump that thread too.

Riiiiiiight.

Is this an Astros fan trying to start a thing with us? LMAO

Maybe he could have Frank White be a greeter when people come in the stadium...kind of like the greeters at Wal-Mart???



Oh, wait....

I'll be shocked if the Royals ever crack $50M in salaries.

IIRC, we were up to $70 million within the last 10 years. I want to say 2003, maybe 2004 or 2008.