A World Series has evaded Southern California for quite some time now; however, the recent ownership shakeup of one of Major League Baseball’s most historic teams may help bring baseball back in October.
Last week, MLB commissioner Bud Selig stripped Los Angeles Dodger owner Frank McCourt of his team after learning McCourt took out a $30 million loan to make payroll earlier this month.
This wasn’t the only red flag that prompted Selig to temporarily takeover the team. McCourt only recently won sole control of the team and has also been in a messy, high profile divorce settlement with his wife for the past year. McCourt has built up the Dodgers debt to over $400 million by taking out loans throughout the years. Also, the recent and brutal attack of a Giant’s fan after a game didn’t do much to help the situation at all.
Even though the team is under unstable ownership, it was still a difficult decision for Selig to intervene. Since the McCourts took over the team in 2004, the Dodger organization has been more successful than they have been in years. The team won its first playoff game in over a decade in 2004, along with seeing doubled revenue. Not to mention McCourt also pumped millions into refurbishing a run down Chavez Ravine stadium. McCourt also claimed a 20-year television contract was on the table with Fox worth around $3 billion.
For a Dodger’s fan, however, the volatile situation their team is in may help bring them to the promise land.
Last year, the Texas Rangers were in a similar situation. The team was taken over by Selig because the debt to creditors and team players amounted to $575 million. However, after much negotiation, the Rangers were sold to a team headed by sports lawyer Chuck Greenberg and Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan. In the same season, the Rangers went on to the win their first playoff game in their 50-year history, along with making their first appearance in a World Series. However, they would eventually lose to the San Francisco Giants.
Another route the Dodgers might also want to consider is public ownership. The Green Bay Packers are the only non-profit, community owned major league sports organization in America. Well over 100,000 fans holding stocks with the team support its finances. By running the organization this way, the team has seen much success throughout the years, winning the Super Bowl this past season, along with developing a loyal fan base who tolerate a 30-year wait to get season tickets.
Like the Packers, the Dodgers are a team with a very large, loyal and affluent fan base. A collection of average fans and wealthy movie stars could be enough to save the team and relieve the debt.
The future of the Dodger organization will be up in the air for the next couple of months. Whether or not the Fox deal goes through or the team is rewarded back to the McCourts, a past player or coach takes control of the team, or George Clooney teams up with my roommate and other loyal fans, the main focus of the Dodger organization will always be to remain successful by putting quality players on the field.
Chasen Doerr is a junior journalism major and contributing writer for the Daily 49er.
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