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Young Drachma · 10-17-2007, 05:38 PM

MONTERREY MATADORS SOLD TO PHILADELPHIA REAL ESTATE MAGNATE
November 4, 2007
The Monterrey Matadors were the first Mexican club to join the bigs, but after five years in the bigs with attendance never reaching more than 2.1 million fans per season, the team has been sold to a New Jersey-based Philadelphia real estate magnate W. Lyon Evans.

Evans, 48, has said that he desired to bring a big league team to Philly after the CL's Phillies failed to gain promotion since their inception and the Colonials moved an hour outside of the city.

The Matadors are likely, upon the likely approval of MLB to move to Philadelphia for the 2008 season.

"We're thrilled. I've wanted to do this for a long time and it seems the time was right to make it happen," said Evans about the deal reported worth $218million.

The relocated Matadors would likely share Aramark Park with the Phillies until the team decides where to build a ballpark. Reportedly, Evans is looking at a site across the river in Camden, NJ, that's in full view of the Ben Franklin Bridge. The reported deal would also include several significant real estate developments.

"We're still hammering out the details, but we'd want a gleaming new ballpark."

The Matadors best season was 82-80 in 2004 (2nd in their division, but failed to make the playoffs.) The team's attendance record was broke this season at 2,173,951; which is 338 more fans than the team attracted in 2004, the previous record.

The recent success of the central PA based Colonials have left Philly faithful desperate for a successful ballclub.

"This city is much too proud in its legacy in the game to go without a team in the top level of baseball for this long," said Deputy Mayor for Sport Michael Wordley.

10-17-2007, 05:38 PM	#258
Young Drachma Dark Cloud Join Date: Apr 2001	MONTERREY MATADORS SOLD TO PHILADELPHIA REAL ESTATE MAGNATE November 4, 2007 The Monterrey Matadors were the first Mexican club to join the bigs, but after five years in the bigs with attendance never reaching more than 2.1 million fans per season, the team has been sold to a New Jersey-based Philadelphia real estate magnate W. Lyon Evans. Evans, 48, has said that he desired to bring a big league team to Philly after the CL's Phillies failed to gain promotion since their inception and the Colonials moved an hour outside of the city. The Matadors are likely, upon the likely approval of MLB to move to Philadelphia for the 2008 season. "We're thrilled. I've wanted to do this for a long time and it seems the time was right to make it happen," said Evans about the deal reported worth $218million. The relocated Matadors would likely share Aramark Park with the Phillies until the team decides where to build a ballpark. Reportedly, Evans is looking at a site across the river in Camden, NJ, that's in full view of the Ben Franklin Bridge. The reported deal would also include several significant real estate developments. "We're still hammering out the details, but we'd want a gleaming new ballpark." The Matadors best season was 82-80 in 2004 (2nd in their division, but failed to make the playoffs.) The team's attendance record was broke this season at 2,173,951; which is 338 more fans than the team attracted in 2004, the previous record. The recent success of the central PA based Colonials have left Philly faithful desperate for a successful ballclub. "This city is much too proud in its legacy in the game to go without a team in the top level of baseball for this long," said Deputy Mayor for Sport Michael Wordley.