Wilmington (N.C.) Mayor Bill Saffo has come out against the current financing proposal for a new ballpark, saying the proponents don’t have enough “skin in the game.”
In an interview with a local conservative talk-radio host, Saffo blasted the plan:
“Pardon the pun here; we’re putting all of our skin into the game and they have very little skin in the game,” Saffo told Chad Adams during an appearance on The Big Talker FM Tuesday morning.
Not quite sure what he meant by that: the proposal calls for a private developer to use donated land for a new ballpark site to house a facility inhabited by an Atlanta Braves High Class A Carolina League farm team and managed by Mandalay Baseball Properties. The developer would borrow money to build the $35-million facility; the city and rent paid by the Braves/Mandalay partnership would pay off the debt. But these are the broad outlines of the plan; the specifics still need to be announced, and we weren’t expecting much in the way of news on the Wilmington ballpark front until National Sports Services released its report on feasibility, sites and financing next month.
Until Saffo dropped his bombshell, that is.
RELATED STORIES: Preferred site emerging for Wilmington ballpark?; Mandalay, Braves to update Wilmington on ballpark; Five potential ballpark sites under discussion in Wilmington; The race is on: NSS given marching orders in Wilmington; Wilmington bypasses Ripken Design as ballpark project manager; NSS is hired; Ripken Design chosen to oversee Wilmington ballpark planning; controversy ensues; Mandalay, Braves to pursue private financing for new Wilmington ballpark; Business leaders to push for new Wilmington ballpark; What should Wilmington expect for new-ballpark attendance?; Poll: Wilmington residents overwhelmingly oppose public financing of new ballpark; Proposed Wilmington lease: Mandalay would pay 12 percent of debt service; Atlanta Braves have tentative deal to buy Lynchburg Hillcats; New Wilmington ballpark would be part of hotel, marina complex; Wilmington to move forward with ballpark talks; Wilmington to discuss new Braves ballpark tomorrow night; Wilmington looks at development deal with Mandalay, Braves; Wilmington ballpark dead on arrival?; Another new effort for Wilmington minor-league baseball?
—-
Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us ateditors@augustpublications.com.
Are you a subscriber to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter? You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.
Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!
Follow Ballpark Digest on Google + and add us to your circles!