Oxnard To Help Fund Study of Minor League Baseball Team

Following up on a plan to lure a minor league baseball team to Ventura County, the Oxnard City Council has agreed to join the cities of Camarillo and Ventura in funding a feasibility study.

The analysis, which would cost up to $100,000, would be paid for by the three cities. Each city would fund a proportional share of the study based on population.

Last month, a group of city leaders attended an organizational meeting designed to study means to attract a California League baseball team to an undetermined location in the west county.

A representative of the California League assured civic leaders last month that he could provide a team if a ballpark was constructed. Several teams are looking for a place to move because of new league rules concerning minor league stadiums.

Councilman Bedford Pinkard was one of several local officials to tour other stadiums in Southern California over the last month.

“We felt it would be something positive we could bring to the city of Oxnard,” he said.

But a minor league stadium would cost between $4.5 million and $12 million, depending on how fancy it is, Pinkard told his council colleagues Tuesday.

Mayor Manuel M. Lopez said he would welcome the entertainment value of a local professional baseball team. But, he said: “If it’s going to be a large investment with the city, I would have a problem with that.”

City staff will return to the council within a few months with a proposal to go out to bid on the consultant’s report.