PROVO — No Sunday play or practices, no beer in the stadium and no chewing tobacco.
It's the Provo, Utah, version of minor league baseball.
The Helena Brewers, an affiliate of the Anaheim Angels, announced Tuesday it will play the 2001 season in the baseball complex under construction at Brigham Young University. Because it is no longer affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers, the team will also have a new name.
The Brewers plan to lease the facility from BYU while the city builds a 3,000 seat baseball stadium in southeast Provo. The contract between BYU and the Brewers prohibits the team from playing or practicing at BYU on Sundays and from serving alcohol or using tobacco at the facility.
BYU's $7 million baseball complex, Miller Park, should be finished by the time the college team plays its first game March 15. Because the Brewers' season doesn't start until the summer, BYU athletic officials say outside of summer camps, there should not be a scheduling conflict.
Negotiations to bring the Brewers to Provo started in the spring of 1999, but the team's owners said they wouldn't come without a place to play.
Plans to build the $4 million stadium in Ironton have stalled because of a lack of funds.
"We're well on our way to getting funding. We've received a substantial gift," said Provo economic development director Leland Gamette. "(The Brewers) are hopeful and we're hopeful that it will be built soon. Our intent is to still build a stadium."
Gamette would not say who made the private donation but did say an announcement on the Ironton baseball stadium will be made in a few weeks.
Initially, the city wanted to share the costs of a stadium that would serve both the university's team and a minor league baseball club, but BYU officials decided in November 1999 they didn't want to share a facility.
That changed with the assurance from Brewers management that the team would not play on Sundays or sell beer at its games.
"The university felt like it was an opportunity to be a good neighbor and a good citizen of the community," said BYU assistant athletic director Duff Tittle. "It's also an opportunity to let baseball fans see our new facility."
It's a new facility that promises to be impressive — even if it is only a temporary home for the Brewers. The park seats 2,500 and has offices the team can use for its management.
When the Brewers leave the BYU park — which should happen in summer 2002 — it still won't be the typical minor league team.
Mayor Lewis K. Billings has said the team won't play on Sundays or serve beer at games, and the owners have agreed to comply with that request.
Owners of the minor league team have been anxious to move their club to Utah County, which is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country without a professional sports franchise of some kind.
Last year the Helena Brewers had the second-lowest fan total in its eight team league, despite posting a winning record. The team's owners hope to make more money in a larger market.
E-MAIL: jhyde@desnews.com