National Baseball Congress recently stated that its annual World Series will remain in Wichita, regardless of future plans for Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
Wichita officials have openly discussed the possibility of tearing down Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in the near future, a move that would clear the way for a new ballpark that would host a relocating Class AAA Pacific Coast League team. While a promised December 2017 announcement did not come to be and things have been quiet on the relocation front since, the Wichita Wingnuts (independent; American Association) announced in May that the 2018 season will be their last at Lawrence-Dumont Stadum.
Lawrence-Dumont Stadium has been home to the Wingnuts since 2008, but it has a much longer relationship with the NBC World Series, which has been hosted at the ballpark since 1935. It is possible that the 2018 World Series will be the last at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, but NBC recently stated that it has no plans to leave to Wichita. According to NBC general manager Kevin Jenks, an agreement is in place to move the World Series to Wichita State University’s Eck Stadium in the event that Lawrence-Dumont Stadium is no longer available. More from Wichita Business Journal:
No matter what, though, Jenks says the NBC World Series is staying put.
“We want to clarify any confusion about the future of the NBC World Series in Wichita,” said Jenks in a news release issued this week. “Regardless of any plans that may affect Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, we have made arrangements that ensure we will have a place to play here in Wichita.”
Wichita State University’s Eck Stadium, according to the release, has been secured as an alternate, interim venue if needed. The NBC World Series has been played in Wichita since 1935.
The 2018 NBC World Series is scheduled to begin on July 27.
RELATED STORIES: Future of Wichita Wingnuts Uncertain; This is the Final Year for Wichita Wingnuts Baseball; Longwell: Progress Being Made on Wichita MiLB Team; Wichita Could Make MiLB Announcement in December; Wichita Hires Consultant to Land MiLB Team; Wichita Mayor: We’ll Announce MiLB Team By End of Year; Wichita Approves Ballpark Spending — But Downplays MiLB; Sedgwick County Approves TIF District for Wichita Ballpark; Wichita Signs Off on Bond District for Ballpark; Wichita Wingnuts Weigh on Wichita’s Ballpark Pursuit; Debate Over New Wichita Ballpark Continues; Wichita Making Push for MiLB Team; Lawrence-Dumont Stadium Could be Demolished; Wichita Approves STAR Bonds for Ballpark; Wichita Schedules Hearing on Ballpark Plan; Wichita Prepping Bid for Texas League Return; Texas League Not Interested in Lawrence-Dumont Renovation; Should Wichita Pursue Texas League Team?