Stadium Seen as Baseball Savior

NORTHRIDGE — Cal State Northridge Athletic Director Paul Bubb contacted Steve Soboroff on Saturday, and step one of Soboroff’s nascent effort to build a baseball stadium in the Valley was taken.

Giant steps, the Matadors hope.

A decision by Northridge administrators to cut the baseball program will be made early next week. Without a team, there isn’t much point in going forward on a stadium.

Soboroff, senior advisor to Mayor Richard Riordan on building a $240 million arena for the Lakers and Kings, plans to contact Northridge President Blenda Wilson on Monday to discuss the viability of the Northridge project, estimated to cost $3 million.

Soboroff needs assurance that Northridge is open to a corporate sponsor gaining naming rights and that the facility will be available for a variety of uses.

“To what extent will this be a San Fernando Valley community facility versus a Cal State Northridge facility, that is the big issue,” he said. “To get someone to put up that kind of money, they would need to feel they are helping the Valley in general rather than just making a donation to a university.”

Soboroff decided Friday to spearhead the stadium effort upon learning of the Matador baseball program’s impending demise. Bubb believes a stadium might save the program, but cautioned that other hurdles remain.

Even with a sparkling new stadium, the team would not be a member of a conference and would not have a large budget. Also, gender equity standards would have to be met without cutting baseball.

“It’s not unthinkable that the university could work with the city and develop a multi-use facility,” Bubb said. “It does help baseball from the standpoint that a stadium could enable it to become a higher revenue-producing sport.

“But it doesn’t solve the conference question, and it doesn’t solve our operating budget problem.”

Northridge Coach Mike Batesole was intrigued at Soboroff’s involvement, but after enduring a tumultuous week that began with the transfer of his two top pitchers, he isn’t passing out party hats and favors just yet.

“One reason I signed a three-year contract (before the 1997 season) was that I saw plans for a stadium,” Batesole said. “Paul and I talked about many major improvements but the only thing that’s happened is a concrete slab was poured for a snack bar.”

However, Batesole recognizes that Soboroff is someone who could make a difference.

“At this point, the program has been so devastated by this that even if it isn’t cut, only one thing can save it, and that is a stadium being built,” Batesole said. “That would show a commitment to the future. Nobody is going to believe the words anymore.”

Nearly every Northridge player is inquiring into other programs, Batesole said. Star pitchers Erasmo Ramirez and Benny Flores requested and were granted releases last week at the first hint of the program being cut.

Tim Montez, the Northridge pitching coach and recruiting coordinator, is interviewing for an opening at Arkansas as an assistant, and Batesole will interview this week for the coaching job at Iowa.

“Whatever happens (with the stadium) is going to have to happen fast,” Batesole said.

Montez left a similar position at UC Santa Barbara partly because he lives in Newbury Park with his wife and two children. He opted for security at Northridge and now is looking at his contract expiring June 30.

A new stadium could save his job.

“In three or four years we would be a national powerhouse, not just a team that can compete across the country,” Montez said. “It would be done not just for the CSUN program, it would be done for the community. It would create a lot of avenues for income.”

Montez is in charge of the Matador summer baseball camps, which would benefit greatly from a stadium.

“If we had a new stadium, the camps would run themselves,” Montez said. “They would generate so much interest that half the money could be put back into the program, the way it works at Texas and Florida and other top schools.”

Soboroff is uncomfortable being portrayed as a savior at this point. He simply wants to get the job done.

“I’m not looking at this through rose-colored glasses, a new building doesn’t save the program,” he said. “Whether this jump-starts the program remains to be seen.

“But I’m certain there will be a huge economic benefit to whoever’s name is on the facility.”