Isotopes want specialty license plate

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - To say the Albuquerque Isotopes are beloved is an understatement.

Fans file in all season long to support the Triple-A ball club and the support continues outside the ballpark too with record merchandise sales.    

"The Isotopes are one of the most successful business franchises in the city, despite the recession they get record crowds and they're a symbol of New Mexico," said Representative Antonio 'Moe' Maestas.

A symbol Representative Maestas and Isotopes management would like to see on a new specialty license plate.

"I have a feeling this will be one of the more popular plates," Maestas said.

In a bill introduced by the Albuquerque Democrat the specialty plate would cost fans an extra $35 but unlike other specialty plates Maestas said the state would not have to pay for this one.

"It doesn't cost the taxpayers a dime and the additional dollars that the Isotopes fans pay goes to high school sports," Maestas said.

The bill appropriates $10 to go to the MVD to cover the cost of making the plates.

The other $25 is appropriated to the public education department to go toward middle school and high school athletics.

The Representative was not sure how much money the plates could make but said if it raises $100,00 for sports it’s a good thing.

As for what the Isotopes specialty plate would look like, an Isotopes spokeswoman would not say.

Maestas does not know what the plate will like but he had some ideas.

"I would imagine yellow and red with the Isotopes symbol in the corner but I don't think that's been determined yet until the bill's passed," said Maestas. 

The bill was just introduced, it is in committe but Maestas belives it should pass.

The Isotopes spokeswoman told KRQE News 13 they did not want to comment on the bill at this point saying they did not want to get ahead of themselves.