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no later than November 30, 1997, be subject to final approval by
the members of major league baseball. If approved, the
partnership would then be permitted to sign major league baseball
players and to field a major league baseball team for
participation in major league baseball beginning with the 1998
major league baseball season.
On April 28, 1995,1 the partnership executed with the city
of St. Petersburg, Florida, an agreement for the renovation,
management, operation, and use of the Thunderdome for major
league baseball beginning with the 1998 season. Renovations to
the stadium began in 1995.
From March 1995 through early November 1997, representatives
of the partnership were entitled to attend the periodic meetings
of the members of major league baseball. The partnership,
however, had no vote at the member meetings, was not yet
permitted to field a major league baseball team, and generally
was not yet authorized to participate or share in major league
baseball’s central fund (i.e., the revenue and liabilities
associated with the play each season of major league baseball).
Beginning in 1996, the partnership did receive limited
funds from major league baseball in connection with third-party
1 Dates for events reflected in our findings of fact conform
to the dates reflected in the parties’ stipulation of facts and
other trial evidence. Some of those dates differ by a day or two
from dates for the same events reflected in the mass media. See,
e.g., http://www.tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com.
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