It was less than budgeted: Wilmington (N.C.) spent around $200,000 on efforts to bring Minor League Baseball to the city, with most of that money going to National Sports Services (NSS).
NSS was paid $135,000 for a feasibility study, concluding the city could economically support pro baseball, outlining potential lease terms and suggesting different funding plans for the project. As of now, NSS’s work was for naught: city voters rejected a plan to raise property taxes to pay for a new ballpark to house an Atlanta Braves farm team.
The rest of the money was spent on things like attorneys fees.
The good news: the city had budgeted $365,000 on ballpark efforts, so the city budget will have a little cushion with the unused funds.
RELATED STORIES: After overwhelming defeat at polls, don’t expect MiLB in Wilmington any time soon; Wilmington voters overwhelmingly reject ballpark plan; Poll: Wilmington voters oppose ballpark funding plan; Sweetening the pot in Wilmington; Lease officially approved in Wilmington; Mandalay, Wilmington, Braves agree to ballpark lease; Second ballpark site emerges in Wilmington; Nasty ballpark fight emerging in Wilmington; No lease, but ballpark funding will go before voters; Wilmington, Mandalay delay ballpark decision; Outline of Wilmington ballpark deal emerges: $37M, 5,500 seats; Negotiations fail to yield agreement on Wilmington ballpark; Wilmington ballpark to go before voters this fall; New Wilmington ballpark: uncertainty reigns; Wilmington officials: Proposed ballpark lease won’t happen; Wilmington to ask voters to approve new-ballpark bonding; NSS: New ballpark would generate $172 million in new spending; Third time’s the charm: petition opposing Wilmington ballpark funding succeeds; More signatures tossed in Wilmington anti-ballpark petition drive;Opponents of Wilmington ballpark fail in petition drive; No ballpark money in upcoming Wilmington budget; “Free” land not so free in Wilmington; Referendum on horizon for new Wilmington ballpark; Wilmington ballpark sites down to three; poll indicates support; Mayor slams Wilmington ballpark financing proposal; 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 at editors@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!