Could Colorado Springs become a professional baseball city? Local officials and private investors are actively exploring the possibility, and early conversations have been promising.

The city lost its minor league team years ago when the Sky Sox relocated, but changing economics and a growing population have renewed interest in bringing baseball back.

"The demographics are there," said one investor involved in early discussions. "Colorado Springs has grown significantly, and there's real appetite for professional sports beyond what we currently have."

Proposals under discussion include a downtown stadium that would anchor a mixed-use development district. Critics point to the challenges other mid-sized cities have faced with stadium economics, but supporters argue the timing is right.

No formal proposal has been submitted to city council yet, but sources say a presentation could come as early as this summer.