Commissioners vote 5-0 on stadium lease; Dillas will stay at Dilla Villa
November 30, 2009 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Amarillo Dillas News Release
AMARILLO, TX - For the average sports fan in America baseball isn't necessarily the sport closest to mind on the last day of November however, baseball was at the forefront of discussion in Amarillo. In a special session called by the Potter County Commissioner's Court the topic at hand was the awarding of the lessee of Potter County Memorial Stadium which is best known to most, as the Amarillo National Bank Dilla Villa.
The meeting was called to order at approximately 2:10pm at which time a committee of five presented their recommendation to the court that is comprised of five county seats. After some very lengthy, open conversation between the committee members, county commissioners, United League representatives, and Dillas management, it was unanimously decided that the stadium lease be awarded to its current tenant, the Amarillo Dillas.
The language of the lease calls for a two-year term with a county option to extend the lease for two additional years, which can be exercised as early as October 1, 2012. The lease also calls for an undisclosed amount of annual payments but does not have any provisions for upgrades at the expense of the county. If any upgrades or renovations are going to be made to the stadium it will be at the expense of the tenant.
However, given that information one county commissioner felt it necessary to point out exactly what baseball and particularly the Dillas mean to Amarillo, when Commissioner Kirkwood stated that, "the Dillas are an integral part of Amarillo".
In the mind of Dillas General Manager Mark Lee there really never was any doubt as to whether there would be baseball next year in Amarillo; it was just a matter of who was going to control the lease. "There not be any confusion, baseball in Amarillo was never in jeopardy", said Lee. "Today's outcome is great news for not only for this organization but more importantly for our city, county, and fans"
With the stadium lease now in-hand and the start of the baseball season just six short months away, the business of baseball will stay the course for the Amarillo team as the new year approaches. "We (Dillas) will continue to focus on the task at-hand which is to improve the value of our product", Lee said. "One thing that will never change is our commitment to affordable family entertainment".
The Amarillo Dillas Baseball Club is a charter member of United League Baseball, a Professional Independent League, with six teams playing in Texas. ULB teams are located in Amarillo, Coastal Bend, Edinburg, Harlingen, Laredo, and San Angelo.
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