General News

Pro baseball back on the agenda

Despite having seemingly been ruled out last month, it remains possible that the Telmex Athletics Stadium could be used to stage professional baseball games.

Over 20 years ago, local team Charros de Jalisco used to regularly fill the old baseball stadium on the corner of Avenida Revolucion and Olimpica before it was demolished. Since then no financier has stepped in to bring the much loved sport back to Guadalajara. Until now, that is.

Armando Navarro, who owns the Charros franchise, this week met with State Sports Commission (CODE) Director Carlos Andrade Garin – who previously pooh-poohed the idea – to discuss the plan. Andrade now says he is “satisfied” with the proposal. The stadium could be modified, presumably by introducing an artificial playing field, without removing the running track. Furthermore, reintroducing baseball to Guadalajara would generate 300 jobs and bring in 12 million pesos per month, said Navarro.

The Liga del Pacifico was set to meet Friday to decide whether the Charros can be registered into the league for the next season. Should approval be given, Navarro will then need to persuade Jalisco Governor Emilio Gonzalez – who recently voiced skepticism over the idea – to back the project and give it the green light.