Negotiations between the city of Wilmington (N.C.) and Mandalay Baseball Properties for a new Class A Carolina League ballpark continue, with a deal expected by Sept. 18.
It’s taken far longer to reach a deal than city officials anticipated, but it sounds like the delays were due more to logistics than anything else: with three sets of lawyers (from the city, Mandalay and the Atlanta Braves) reviewing every line of what’s sure to be a very detailed document, progress has been slow. Still, a deal is expected to be presented to the city council by its scheduled Sept. 18 meeting.
The deal remains the same: local property taxes will fund a new $37-million ballpark for the relocating Lynchburg Hillcats (High Class A; Carolina League), which would open in either 2014 or 2015. Voters in the notably anti-tax city would need to approve the bonding.
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