A 25-year lease for Canal Park that calls for $3.5 million in ballpark improvements was approved by the City Council after Ken Babby officially took control of the Akron Aeros (Class AA; Eastern League) yesterday.
The lease calls for a new scoreboard and the addition of new group and picnic areas. The city will float bonds to pay for the improvements, backed by the $220,000 in annual rent payments from the Aeros. In addition, the team will retain the right to sell naming rights to the ballpark, but any proceeds must be reinvested back in Canal Park. The agreement was actually reached several days ago; the approval yesterday was just a formality.
The 32-year-old Babby takes over ownership of the Aeros from Mike and Greg Agganis.
RELATED STORIES: Canal Park lease extension approved for new Aeros owner; Akron looks at ballpark upgrades to keep Aeros; Babby emerging as Aeros owner
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