Tucson Padres display their look

The Triple-A baseball organization revealed its new logo and website - tucsonpadres.com - Tuesday at Kino Stadium, formerly Tucson Electric Park, where the team will play 68 home games starting April 15.

With a blue mountain and a gray cactus above the Tucson Padres name, the logo captures Tucson. Designed by the San Diego Padres creative services department, the logo mixes the old and the new of the Padres with lettering from 1978-84, and the Padres current colors, which the Tucson Padres will wear.

Gear will be available within a few weeks, Tucson Padres general manager Mike Feder said.

"When we first knew we had a franchise, I never thought we would have the ability to use the Padres logo from the '70s and '80s," Feder said. "That really makes a statement that this is Major League Baseball, this is Triple-A baseball. ... But I was adamant in saying there had to be a Tucson feel to it."

More than 100 season tickets have been sold, which isn't a high number for some teams, but Tucson has "never been a huge season-ticket town," Feder said. The organization will focus on and have more success with vouchers and weekend packages, he said. For the first time in Tucson baseball history, major-league spring training will not precede the Triple-A season.

"As a baseball fan, I'm hurt that spring training is not here," Feder said. "Strictly from what it's going to mean to the Triple-A club, it'll be a bonus because, for the first time, we're the No. 1 baseball product in this community."

The team will play in Tucson in 2011, and likely 2012, while a new ballpark is built in Escondido, Calif. Questions remain about when the ballpark will be ready.

The city of Escondido won't rush a plan to quickly sell $50 million in bonds required to build the proposed ballpark, according to a report in the North County Times. The city had been hoping to lay claim to the money before the state possibly takes it away, but mayor Sam Abed said patience is the best strategy. Gov. Jerry Brown proposed to abolish redevelopment agencies to free billions of dollars for schools and other state expenses. City officials have said they would be unable to pay for the ballpark without redevelopment revenue.

The city council is scheduled to vote to approve the development agreement with Padres owner Jeff Moorad on Feb. 16. The city is scheduled to sell bonds for the ballpark in December, and ballpark construction is set to start in January 2012.

Feder said he views the team's agreement to play in Tucson as a two-year deal. The team will play this year with the option for an additional year.

"Our staff is just going to do the best we can right now," Feder said. "I'm not even worried about next year, for 2012, because if we don't do a good job in 2011, then this is going to be a short-term deal."

meet the local staff

The Tucson Padres also introduced members of their staff Tuesday:

• Crissy Perham (formerly Crissy Ahmann): Director of community relations, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming at the 1992 Summer Games.

• Ed Vosberg: Sports marketing specialist, a 10-year major-league pitcher and the first to win a Little League World Series, a College World Series (with Arizona) and a major-league World Series.

• Tim Hagerty: director of broadcasting and media relations. He has broadcast for the Triple-A Portland Beavers as well as the Padres' Double-A and short-season teams.

• Eric May: Director of operations. He previously worked for the Tucson Sidewinders, Tucson Toros, Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox in spring training, and the Pima County Stadium District.

• Debbie Clark: Director of game-day staff. She previously worked for the Sidewinders and the Toros.

• Ray Depa: Senior account executive. He has worked at KGUN and is a former chair of the Arizona Broadcasters Association.

• James Jensen: Director of sales.

• Pattie Feder: Business manager and director of merchandise.

• Sandy Davis: Director of inside sales.