Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The main money man for the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes is reminding Springfield he has options. Chris Rasmussen told the city council Tuesday other cities have courted him – and his landlord, the Springfield Park District, is unreasonable.

“They are difficult to work with. I actually came up about a year or so ago and had a meeting, and it was tough. I’m not gonna lie,” said Rasmussen, whose portfolio includes minor league hockey and other baseball teams.

“Upgrades are impossible. I personally put in $400,000 on the video board, and I did that to show the district we are putting skin in the game. I thought maybe that would help crack the facade of the park district.

“Unfortunately, I was incorrect.”

Rasmussen said the district is not responsive to the team’s request to maintain Robin Roberts Stadium, a situation exacerbated, he said, by the beauty of the ballpark’s next door neighbor, the renovated Memorial Stadium at Lanphier High School.

This isn’t the first time the team has aired the dirty laundry in public. That displeased the park district, but the Horseshoes responded that it’s not unreasonable to expect the lights to work.