HomeMy WebLinkAbout2374 RESOLUTION NO. 2374
ARESOLUTION in support of retaining the Mariners Baseball team in Seattle, and
the proposed new ownership structure, the Baseball Club of Seatfie. ~
WHEREAS, baseball in Seattle enhances the local community, contributes to
community pride and is strongly supported by the fans, business and government in the
Puget Sound area and the entire Pacific Northwest; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bremerton celebrates its ties to the Seattle Mariners through
joint sponsorship of Bremerton-Kitsap Community nights at the Kingdome and otherwise
supports and takes pride in Seattle Mariners baseball; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Mariners experienced their first winning season in 1991
drawing over two million fans, including hundreds of thousands of fans from Bremerton and
Kitsap County; and
WHEREAS, only two expansion franchises in the history of major league baseball
have experienced such a major league level of attendance prior to actually participating in
a pennant race (not just a winning season); and
WHEREAS, a broad based group of community, business and governmental entities
have obtained commitments for an additional 13 million dollars in revenue for 1992 for the
Seattle Mariners so long as the club is committed to the Seattle area on a long term basis;
and
WHEREAS, the proposed purchase by the Baseball Club of Seattle would result in
a long time commitment to keeping the team in Seattle under the control of a 7-member
board of directors all of whom are long time residents and some of the most prominent
businessmen in the Seattle community and only two of which are associated with Nintendo;
and
WHEREAS, the only Japanese citizen who will be involved in the business of the
Seattle Mariners would be Mr. Minoru Arakawa, President of Nintendo of America, and a
15-year Seattle area resident who employs 1,400 residents at the Bellevue Nintendo plant;
and
WHEREAS, Hiroshi Yamauchi, President of Nintendo Company, Ltd., of Kyoto, at
the request of prominent Seattle area leaders, has offered to buy as much or as little of the
Seattle Mariners as would be necessary for the sole purpose of paying back to the Seattle
community for its long term support and hospitality to the Nintendo companies and insuring
that this community keeps its major league franchise in the Pacific Northwest where it is the
only major league baseball team within a 7-state area; and
WHEREAS, prior owners of the Seattle Mariners have neither lived in Seattle nor
been able to provide sufficient financing to allow the Mariners to have a winning season
prior to last season; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle baseball franchise has been surrounded by controversy and
insufficient financial backing since the Seatfie Pilots were located here, this lack of financing
for small market areas is endemic to major league baseball since it does not have a s~ary
cap to equalize the playing field, the only way the Seattle area and Pacific Northwest will
be successful in developing a major league franchise which can stand on its own feet is if
it has ownership with this kind of financing available, including 25 million dollars for
operating capital, as has been pledged by the Baseball Club of Seatfie; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Bremerton, the Mayor
concurring:
The City urges Fay Vincent, major league baseball's ownership committee and the
entire ownership to evaluate any offer to buy the Seattle Mariners on the following criteria:
(a) financial soundness; and Co) the commitment to building a strong team, providing
assurance of local control and keeping the team in Seattle.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that major league baseball recognize that the
proposed purchase of the Seattle Mariner franchise by the Baseball Club of Seattle as
outlined above is in the best interests of major league baseball, United States of America,
the Pacific Northwest and the Greater Seattle community and that this sale and change of
ownership be approved as proposed as early as possible.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the City of Bremerton expresses its gratitude to the
Baseball Club of Seattle and for the many individuals and businesses who have worked
tirelessly since last fall to put together proposed purchase and the enhanced package which
will benefit the Seattle Mariner franchise for many years to come.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Bremerton this 5 day Feb.,
1992.
LYNN HORTON
Council President
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APPROVED this 5 day of February,1992.
LOUIS MENTOR, Mayor
ATTEST:
KATHLEEN L. McCLUSKEY, Clerk
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