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Would they really remove the league's attendance record setting team in the league's best ballpark in one of its largest cities?
I think we should find out. I would say no. And I would also bring-up the options for that space. I've seen similar ballparks converted into soccer stadiums, including an MLS stadium! We could use it to attract the region's soccer team or an upgraded soccer team that could attract fans from throughout the region. Another idea is a concert venue and meeting space. It could also become a venue for championship series that bring outside fans to the area. An even better idea could be to attract a lower-level of play to the ballpark that maybe doesn't require as much money to be profitable and could bring-down ticket prices and help payoff the ballpark earlier? I'm guessing most of the fans drive to a parking deck, take a shuttle, spend 3.5 hours in the ballpark, eat and drink in the ballpark, and take the shuttle back to their cars at a late hour and return home? If they have cheap beer nights and players for the kids to watch, I don't think most people would really notice anything changed? It wouldn't surprise me if another team showed-up at City Hall in four or five years wanting to move to that nice ballpark in a bigger city with a record of high attendance. And yes, I would state all of that in public when saying no. If the team's goal is to pay little-to-nothing, the City isn't losing much by exploring other options for the facility. I would even ask the team and Major League Baseball for 6-9 months to explore those other options, with city-hired consultants and CJMW, for the ballpark. Also, did a contract expire? If not, it's possible the team could have to continue paying the City after they leave?
If Billy Prim is still an owner, maybe the City could agree with one condition: Billy Prim must give-up the land around the ballpark and necessary easements to develop it. The City could then sell the sites to a developer for a few million or (for the biggest return and impact) hold meetings with neighbors about what they want to see, partner with a GC, and build a residential, retail, and entertainment project on those lots, with parking for the ballpark and development. The City can then sell the development and use the profit to pay-down some of those ballpark loans to make the team's new numbers work. The development, after it's sold, will generate tax revenue for the City, too. This would finally fill those lots, could add 3-4 retail/restaurant spaces around a town-square leading into the ballpark, and allow the neighborhood and City to build what they want on those sites, which can include mixed-income housing (both market-rate and affordable workforce-housing). The City should keep in mind it must be a project they can sell for a good profit.
It's also important to note, as the team brings-up getting out of paying for games with below 80% allowed attendance: The team averages around 4,200 fans a game in a ballpark that can host 7,500+ paying fans inside the actual stadium. Maybe the City could use those numbers to set a number for the team, like below 3,360 fans, which is 80% of their usual attendance. It could also be interesting to bring-up options that would allow the team to have more fans, like using the grass hill behind the outfield wall. If the team is limiting themselves, on their own, they could've had more fans and made the decision, on their own, not to. I would include something allowing the City to explore if they could've had more fans and limited themselves, if they try for that discount.
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