SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Officials in San Antonio acknowledge their plan to spend $21 million to buy a soccer stadium comes with no guarantees they will lure a franchise from Major League Soccer.
The San Antonio Express-News reports (http://bit.ly/1LGldD4 ) the city wants to buy Toyota Field and upgrade it to pursue MLS.
No contracts have been signed, but officials have outlined their plans in broad terms at public meetings. They want to buy the 8,000-seat stadium and eventually add seats and upgrades to the stadium, which have been estimated at another $38 million to $45 million.
If MLS chooses to go elsewhere, Toyota Field will continue to host minor-league soccer, but with the added public expense.
Experts on public financing of sports stadiums warn public officials to closely watch the details of any deal.
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Information from: San Antonio Express-News, http://www.mysanantonio.com