Opinion: Brewers hitting bottle, not ball, with possible move to Gilbert

Imagine this, fellow taxpayers: Your city wants to attract some spring training action. They want to build a stadium and get a slice of the Cactus League revenues.

Sounds good, right? After all, most of us would deal with a little more traffic if it meant boosted income for our city and, hey, who doesn’t like being able to catch a professional baseball game a short drive from home.

But in the case of Gilbert possibly spending $90 million to build the Milwaukee Brewers a new stadium, it’s 1-2-3 strikes and you’re out.

The Arizona Republic reported the team would be willing to front just $20 million of the building cost for a stadium they would play in for one month out of the year.

Sure, you guys are named the Brewers, but have you been drinking?

I’m sure you’re hurt that Gilbert said, “Thanks, but not thanks” to a deal that would have cost them between $8 million and $10 million per year and brought in $4 million per year in revenue.

But let’s look at your history here in the Valley: Your current stadium, Maryvale Baseball Park, is less than 20 years old and was built for you.

Maybe it’s been lost in the mist of time — and some $9 beers in March — that you guys just moved from the East Valley. You used to play in Chandler before Phoenix built you a park. Before that, it was Sun City and after that it was Tempe.

Surprisingly, the deal is not dead and Gilbert may work to bring the team there after all.

So Brewers, it seems there are some cities that think you’re still pretty hot and want to take you home.

I blame the beer goggles.

Follow @JimSharpe