MARION - Marion Mayor Bob Butler said Friday he is hopeful Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the state legislature can come up with the necessary funding to help make the Southern Illinois Baseball Group's minor league baseball project a reality.

"From my perspective, Marion is a logical place for a team," Butler said. "We recognize that numbers (population) make a big difference, but we consider this area to be a vital part of the state. I think it would be best for the state to help us on this particular project."

The group unveiled its lead investor Thursday in East Alton attorney John Simmons, a member of the Southern Illinois University board of trustees. Simmons and group spokesman Dennis Poshard said an informal agreement has been reached to purchase a Major League-affiliated club and the intent would be to bring the team to Marion on land Simmons would purchase near Interstate 57.

Although Simmons would provide the necessary capital to purchase the team and the majority of the cost to build a stadium, hotel and rehabilitation center, the project cannot advance any further without some supplemental funding from the state. The baseball group has asked for $7.5 million.

The state money, if allocated, would not go into Simmons' pocket, but toward the stadium project itself. If the deal goes through, the city or another group would own the stadium and Simmons and the baseball group would work out a leasing arrangement.

Stadium construction plans already have been drawn and a contractor will be chosen soon. The group is aiming to play ball in 2006.

Butler said time is of the essence in terms of funding the project. "This ought to be one of the priority projects (with the legislature) because this would mean so much to our entire area in so many different ways," he said.

Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, agrees with Butler that a minor league project would benefit the region.

"You can't understate what kind of economic coup it would be for Southern Illinois," Bradley said.

State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, said it's all about available money as to whether the project will be funded. "It may be January or February until we know," he said.

"We have to find the money, not just for a project like this, but for new school construction. This baseball project is something I've been working on for a long time. It'll be good tourism for Southern Illinois. But if the money doesn't show up, it doesn't matter."

Minor league teams have profited many cities.

"It brings people to our community and some may spend a whole weekend here because of baseball," said Chris Aiston, economic development director in Geneva, home of the Kane County Cougars Class A team.

Dennis Conerton, a member of the board of directors with the Beloit, Wis., Snappers, a Class A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, said studies have shown Beloit has grossed about $5 million annually as a direct result of the franchise.

"I'd say that's a pretty good economic impact," Conerton said. "Minor league baseball has been a big plus for our community. It's high quality family entertainment at reasonable prices."

john.homan@thesouthern.com 618-997-3356 x15807