A new suitor for the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) has emerged, as Spotsylvania County (Va.) is pitching a $33-million ballpark for the team, subject to negotiations.
With a deal for a Fredericksburg ballpark dead, Spotsylvania County — located just southwest of Fredericksburg — is stepping up with a 5,500-seat ballpark plan that calls for the county’s Economic Development Authority to spend $27.75 million on a ballpark (including interest costs) and $15 million on a parking ramp. The Suns would invest $8 million in the ballpark and pay $150,000 annually in lease payments. The ballpark would be located on a 9-acre parcel south of CarMax in the Southpoint II development, and the county has approached the corporate landowner for a donation.
It has been a long and winding road for the Suns ownership regarding a new ballpark: Bruce Quinn has negotiated with Hagerstown, Winchester and Fredericksburg for a new ballpark. Interestingly enough, none of the efforts failed because the Suns were demanding too much — all along the way the team was willing to put up millions toward a new ballpark — but because cities or corporate partners couldn’t close funding deals on their side of the equation.
The next steps, per the Fredericksburg News-Star, is an opportunity for public comment on the deal and final negotiations between the county and team owner Quinn.
The team has a lease at Hagerstown’s Municipal Stadium through 2016.
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