Editing Tucson Padres

{{Use mdy dates|date = February 2025}}
{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
| name            = Tucson Padres
| firstseason     = 2011
| lastseason      = 2013
| allyears        =
| city            = Tucson, Arizona
| misc            =
| logo            = TucsonPadresLogo.PNG

| pastclasslevel  = [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] (2011–2013)
| league          = [[Pacific Coast League]] (2011–2013)
| conference      = Pacific Conference
| division        = Southern Division
| pastmajorleague = [[San Diego Padres]] (2011–2013)
| pastnames       = {{plainlist|
* Tucson Padres (2011–2013)
* [[Portland Beavers]] (2001–2010)
* [[Albuquerque Dukes]] (1972–2000)
* [[Spokane Indians]] (1958–1971)
* [[Los Angeles Angels (PCL)|Los Angeles Angels]] (1903–1957)
}}
| pastparks      = [[Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium]] (2011–2013)
| leaguechamps   = ''none''
| divisionchamps = ''none''
}}
The '''Tucson Padres''' were a [[Minor League Baseball]] team based in [[Tucson, Arizona]], that competed in the [[Pacific Coast League]] (PCL). They were the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] affiliate for the [[San Diego Padres]]. The team moved to Tucson from [[Portland, Oregon]], for the 2011 season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Dylan |date=18 December 2010 |title=Tucson's new Triple-A team announces name: Tucson Padres |url=https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/121810_tucson_padres/tucsons-new-triple-a-team-announces-name-tucson-padres/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |newspaper=Tucson Sentinel}}</ref> In April 2014, the team moved to [[El Paso, Texas]], and changed their name to the [[El Paso Chihuahuas]].

==Franchise history==
Following the 2010 season, the [[Portland Beavers]] were put up for sale after [[PGE Park]] (now [[ Providence Park]]) was remodeled into a [[soccer]]-only configuration for the [[Major League Soccer|MLS]]'s 2011 expansion [[Portland Timbers]]. In 2010, the Beavers were sold to [[Jeff Moorad]], principal owner of the [[San Diego Padres]].<ref name="tucson">{{cite web |author=Brock |first=Corey |date=October 14, 2010 |title=Moorad agrees to purchase Triple-A club |url=http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101014&content_id=15635170&vkey=news_sd&c_id=sd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325034207/http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101014&content_id=15635170&vkey=news_sd&c_id=sd |archive-date=2012-03-25 |work=MLB.com}}</ref>

===The Move to Tucson===
On October 19, 2010, it was announced a site in [[Escondido, California]] had been selected for the new home of the Portland Beavers. The new ballpark was scheduled to open in April 2013. Until the move to Escondido could be completed the Padres would play their home games at [[Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium]] in Tucson, Arizona.<ref name="escondido">{{cite web |author=Jones |first=J. Harry |last2=Breier |first2=Michelle |date=December 17, 2010 |title=Council votes to bring baseball to Escondido |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/15/escondido-council-approves-moving-ahead-ballpark/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219020625/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/15/escondido-council-approves-moving-ahead-ballpark/ |archive-date=2010-12-19 |website=Sign on San Diego}}</ref> In May 2011, citing reasons of proposed redevelopment revenue confiscation by the State, the ballpark plans in Escondido were placed on indefinite hold.<ref>{{cite news |author=Garrick |first=David |date=6 June 2011 |title=ESCONDIDO: Location makes proposed tech park viable |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2011/06/06/escondido-location-makes-proposed-tech-park-viable/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Garrick |first=David |date=23 May 2011 |title=ESCONDIDO: City may buy property for ballpark or business park |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2011/05/24/escondido-city-may-buy-property-for-ballpark-or-business-park/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |newspaper=North County Times}}</ref>

===Franchise sale===
Following the [[California Supreme Court]]'s decision to uphold the 2011 decision by the State to abolish [[redevelopment agency|redevelopment agencies]] it was decided by the Mayor of Escondido, Sam Abed, the city would not be able to build the proposed stadium.<ref name="SDUT29DEC11">{{cite news |author=Center |first=Bill |author2=Jones |first2=Harry |date=29 December 2011 |title=Escondido ballpark dead, says mayor; Moorad likely to sell |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2011/12/29/escondido-ballpark-dead-says-mayor-moorad-likely-to-sell/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune}}</ref> In reaction Jeff Moorad announced he would sell the team if a location within the San Diego area could not be found. No sites materialized and in December 2011, Moorad decided to place the Tucson Padres up for sale.<ref>{{cite news |author=Finley |first=Patrick |date=29 December 2011 |title=Tucson Padres owner to look at selling team |url=https://tucson.com/sports/baseball/professional/minor/tucson-padres-owner-to-look-at-selling-team/article_8ee8ffec-3254-11e1-85ad-001871e3ce6c.html |access-date=2025-02-05 |newspaper=Arizona Daily Star}}</ref> By December 2011, Moorad had received offers from buyers in three cities outside California.<ref>{{cite news |author=Garrick |first=David |date=29 December 2011 |title=REGION: Court kills redevelopment, jeopardizing many local projects |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2011/12/29/region-court-kills-redevelopment-jeopardizing-many-local-projects/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |newspaper=North County Times}}</ref> No offers surfaced to keep the team in Tucson.<ref name="SDUT29DEC11" /> As a result, the Padres played in Tucson for the 2012 season and, in July 2012, announced they would remain in Tucson for the 2013 season as well.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-07-12 |title=Triple-A Padres to play in Tucson in 2013 |url=http://www.kvia.com/sports/Triple-A-Padres-to-play-in-Tucson-in-2013/-/390654/15497610/-/97tptkz/-/index.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127115708/http://www.kvia.com/sports/Triple-A-Padres-to-play-in-Tucson-in-2013/-/390654/15497610/-/97tptkz/-/index.html |archive-date=2013-01-27 |website=KVIA.com}}</ref>

===Relocation to El Paso===
On July 30, 2012, the Pacific Coast League gave preliminary approval to MountainStar Sports Group, an ownership group based out of [[El Paso, Texas]], for the purchase of the Tucson Padres. The final sale of the Padres to MountainStar Sports was approved on September 26, 2012.<ref>{{cite web |last=Reichard |first=Kevin |date=2012-09-26 |title=MountainStar Sports buys Tucson Padres |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/201209265623/minor-league-baseball/news/mountainstar-sports-buys-tucson-padres |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Ballpark Digest}} </ref> On October 22, 2013 in front of a capacity crowd inside the historic Plaza Theater in Downtown El Paso, the MountainStar Sports Group announced that the team would officially be renamed as the [[El Paso Chihuahuas]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Professional baseball teams in Arizona]]
[[Category:San Diego Padres minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Sports clubs and teams in Tucson, Arizona]]
[[Category:Baseball teams established in 2010]]
[[Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 2013]]
[[Category:Defunct Pacific Coast League teams]]
[[Category:2011 establishments in Arizona]]
[[Category:2013 disestablishments in Arizona]]