Argyros’ Plans Leave Pair of Teams in Limbo : Seattle Looks Locally to Keep the Mariners

SAN DIEGO — When George Argyros announced Thursday that he had reached agreement to buy the Padres, Seattle interests said they viewed it as a positive step toward keeping major league baseball in their city.

“This comes as a surprise, but it’s a wonderful opportunity for our local community,” said King County Executive Tim Hill, who negotiates the Seattle Mariners’ lease to play in the Kingdome. “I have no idea whether there are potential local buyers. I view this as a great opportunity for local ownership. We want to keep baseball in Seattle.”

Before the 1986 season, Hill and Argyros negotiated a contract that would allow the Mariners to leave Seattle after the 1987 season if either of two conditions was not met.

Over the two-year period, the Mariners either had to sell 20,000 season tickets or 2.8 million total tickets to guarantee that the team would stay in Seattle. To meet the requirement, this season the Mariners either would have to sell 15,600 season tickets or 1.8 million total tickets. So far, the team has sold 4,500 season tickets.

Under the agreement, if it appeared that neither criterion would be met, Argyros would have to offer 100% of the team for sale to Seattle interests on Aug. 1. If no one met his asking price within 120 days, he could move the team.

Argyros’ agreement with King County also would apply to a new Mariner owner. That’s why Seattle interests are hoping that local ownership surfaces.

“This is a win-win situation,” said John Hough, chairman of the Mariners’ marketing task force. “George becomes a winner because he goes to San Diego and essentially accrues the benefit of being a local owner. Up here, it’s prospectively a win situation because it gives us opportunity to have solid local ownership. If we have local ownership, it will relieve a lot of anxiety in our community over whether we’ll have baseball.”

Finding local ownership may not be easy.

“We have called 15 likely people, and no one has responded positively (toward purchasing the team),” said Terry McDermott, a Seattle Times writer. “It’s going to be tough to sell it locally. The team can be made to stay if the tickets are bought, no matter who buys the team.”

Argyros would not be allowed to own two teams. He said he would place the Mariners in a trust if nobody purchases the team before he is approved by the leagues and Commissioner Peter Ueberroth as the Padres’ owner.

The Mariners, an expansion team in 1977, are Seattle’s second major league baseball team. The Pilots were an expansion team in 1969, but they left Seattle for Milwaukee after one year because the Seattle ownership was under-financed.

In 1977, the late entertainer Danny Kaye was among a group that formed ownership of the Mariners. Argyros bought the team on Jan. 14, 1981.

Seattle fans have criticized Argyros for not spending enough money to make the Mariners competitive. The Mariners have never finished higher than fourth under his ownership, and they have had five managers in six years. Dick Williams, former Padre manager, now manages the Mariners.

American League President Bobby Brown said he hoped a local interest would buy the Mariners. Brown said Seattle has never had “a true chance” to support a team.

“They have had teams with potential, but that potential has never been realized,” he said. “Until they have a chance to support a contending team, you can’t make a judgment. There’s no reason to think they can’t support it. Seattle would be the only market that size not able to do it. They certainly support their football team.”