On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 Jerome Crosson (storytellerjmc@...) wrote on
the Subject: Re: PETCO Park RCF Distance Reduction
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Regarding the several cases of moving the fences in MLB ballparks this
winter: WHO is paying the cost ? Most parks were in large part
constructed with public funds; are the taxpayers being hit again to "fix"
the perceived problem of too many/too few HR's ?
Or are the teams covering the cost of renovations (as I feel should be the
case) ?

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I believe PETCO is owned by the City of San Diego. The fence movement (in
towards the plate) involves only moving a few fence posts and leaving a
short gap between the stands and the new location of the fence. Thus the
cost of this fence relocation is minimal. It may actually same a small
amount on maintenance as there will be less grass to mow!

The rework of LF at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia is a different story.
In this case the fence is being moved back five ft. This means the removal
of 196 LF seats and the removal of the (likely concrete) superstructure
beneath the seats. Who owns Citizens Bank Park? It is probably the City of
Philadelphia. There could be terms in the lease that requires the ball club
to pay for structural changes to the park at the request of the club.

Ron Selter