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Work continues on Suns lease extension

Hagerstown SunsHagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) ownership and Hagerstown city officials are closer to finalizing a two-year lease extension for Municipal Stadium as a prelude to new-ballpark talks.

Suns owner Bruce Quinn met yesterday with Mayor Robert Bruchey II and the five-member Hagerstown City Council to discuss a lease extension, made necessary after Winchester (Va.) pulled the plug on a new facility in that city. The Suns have a lease for this season; the extension would apply to the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Even though progress was made, don’t look for a final deal in coming days. Both sides say they want to head the results of a report from Ripken Design about ballpark options in Hagerstown, which include a renovated Municipal Stadium or a new downtown ballpark. That report probably won’t be ready until the beginning of April, and then Hagerstown will likely lobby the state for assistance on whatever plan is recommended. Truth is, we’d be amazed if Ripken Design recommended renovation of Municipal Stadium: that ballpark site is fairly landlocked and any ballpark spending wouldn’t have the potential of attracting additional development the way a downtown ballpark might.

RELATED STORIES: Winchester rejects ballpark; Suns to discuss Municipal Stadium lease extension; Winchester seeks lease changes for proposed Suns ballpark; Hagerstown pitches downtown ballpark; Suns: Nationals forcing us from Hagerstown; Hagerstown Suns sign letter of intent for Winchester move; Hagerstown looking at new ballpark to keep Suns; Winchester preparing to offer $15 million ballpark to Suns; Hagerstown Suns in play

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