An editorial in The San Diego Union-Tribune calls the proposed ballpark that would bring a triple-A team to Escondido “a good bet.” Using the example of higher than predicted returns for the City of San Diego on the Padres ballpark, the paper concludes “the devil is in the details and city officials must be careful not to give away the store. But we like the sound of it: the Escondido Beavers.” There’s little mention that the city would pay for the entire project, once again using redevelopment money, this time borrowed from anticipated income during the next 25 years.

The North County Times is more circumspect, noting the city’s $45 million cost and that the city gives the team “all revenue from concession and naming rights.” The editorial concludes “A minor league team in North County would be great, but not at any cost.”

UPDATE: In an op-ed published in North County Times on Sunday, July 25, Mayor Pfeiler says the City is taking a business-like approach to “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to jump-start development in Escondido the likes of which we haven’t seen since the North County Fair shopping mall was built two decades ago.” On the other hand, NCT columnist Jim Trageser says in the same edition that early cost estimates almost always turn out to be low and the city just took on the hotel project debt. “Too many questions still surround the concept,” he concludes.

SECOND UPDATE: Tim Sullivan, sports columnist for The San Diego Union-Tribune, raises some crucial points in a column published July 25. Though he is writing about San Diego and the Chargers stadium, his arguments apply perfectly to Escondido and the proposed Padres triple-A farm team stadium and provide some examples of where cities have been seduced into bad deals.

THIRD UPDATE: Candidate for Mayor Tom d’Agosta raises a number of questions about the proposal in an op-ed published in North County Times August 5, 2010. Read it after the jump.

OPINION: Dream, reality of a ballpark
Tom D’Agosta in North County Times, August 5, 2010

OPINION: A home run for Escondido
The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 27, 2010

OPINION: City needs professionals, not politicians, in stadium talks
Tim Sullivan in The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 25, 2010

OPINION: Ballpark offers city shot at ‘home run’
Lori Holt Pfeiler in North County Times, July 25, 2010

OPINION: Ballpark idea has many holes
Jim Trageser in North County Times, July 25, 2010

EDITORIAL: Baseball bonanza, or big bust?
Stadium decision should be based on dollars and cents, not emotion
North County Times, July 22, 2010

EDITORIAL: The Escondido Beavers
Ballpark for Padres’ farm team holds much promise
The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 22, 2010

Padres affiliate may be on move
Escondido, team in talks for minor league ballpark
The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 21, 2010

City would pay entire cost of $45M minor league ballpark
Goal would be spurring development, but Abed criticizes deal
North County Times, July 19, 2010