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PCL approves El Paso purchase of T-Padres

New El Paso ballpark

This pretty much wraps it up: the Pacific Coast League has preliminarily approved the purchase of the Tucson Padres by MountainStar Sports Group, which plans on moving the Triple-A franchise to El Paso in 2014.

The ownership group received approval of its Preliminary Application Review (“PAR”). Branch B. Rickey, president of the PCL, sent a letter dated July 30 to El Paso City Manager Joyce Wilson confirming that the ownership group received “unanimous” approval of its PAR application from the Pacific Coast League Executive Committee: “The Ownership Group has begun the next phase of baseball’s approval process by submitting a Control Interest Transfer (“CIT”) application to Minor League Baseball and the PCL.”  

A partner in MountainStar Sports Group, Josh Hunt, said the PAR approval letter from Rickey was a very positive sign from the Pacific Coast League and Minor League Baseball. “This is all part of the baseball process, and it’s a big step forward,” said Hunt.  “There are other necessary steps of approval, but we’re getting very close.”

MountainStar and the PCL have not formally announced which team is in the process of being sold — and, indeed, there are other PCL teams on the market — but sources have confirmed the team in question is the Tucson Padres, as Jeff Moorad and his investors are selling the former Portland Beavers for $20.5 million after a new ballpark failed to materialize in Escondido, Cal.

The ownership group consists of El Pasoans Woody Hunt, Josh Hunt, Paul Foster and Alejandra de la Vega Foster.

If approved by the PCL and MiLB, MLB could theoretically oppose the sale — but that’s never happened.

RELATED STORIES: Foster: Opposition to new El Paso ballpark not a surpriseOpposition to El Paso ballpark emergesHoteliers: We don’t want to pay for new El Paso ballparkEl Paso group: we’re one step closer to buying PCL teamPacific Coast League expected to decide El Paso bid for baseball this week; El Paso: Let’s sell Cohen Stadium to Tigua tribeT-Padres back in Kino Stadium for 2013One side effect of new El Paso ballpark: return of UTEP baseballEl Paso ownership group pitches PCLEl Paso approves ballpark for Triple-A teamFirst look: El Paso ballpark renderingsDiablos casualty of new El Paso ballparkDowntown ballpark planning moving forward in El PasoEl Paso to debate ballpark bond issueEl Paso group seeking downtown ballpark, T-PadsMoorad to Escondido: We need quick action on ballparkObstacles to new ballparks in California: not as bleak as expectedEscondido moving forward with business park on proposed ballpark propertyCity, not Moorad group, to acquire Escondido landEscondido mayor: Time to scrap new-ballpark planMoorad: Leaving Padres in Tucson a possibilityEscondido ballpark vote put off indefinitelyEscondido ballpark vote delayed;State government could kill Escondido T-Pods ballparkNew for 2011: Tucson Padres;Escondido approves Triple-A ballpark — with reservationsMoorad group, Escondido sign MOU for new ballparkEscondido council fills vacancy in advance of ballpark voteCrunch time for new Escondido ballparkPadres raise ante in Escondido ballpark negotiationsEscondido ballpark vote delayed again; new council will decidePadres make it official: Beavers to Tucson in 2011Election shows mixed support for new Escondido ballparkTuesday elections could determine fate of BevosBevos to Tucson for 2011Escondido ballpark vote delayed after pollution found at siteFate of Bevos in the air until November, maybe DecemberPadres pitch one-sided lease to EscondidoEscondido: Show us some money, PadresEscondido in, San Marcos out of Bevos ballpark mix

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