A lease agreement between the Houston Astros and the City of Fayetteville could be reviewed, and possibly finalized, by the end of this month.
The city and the Astros have set the end of this year as a goal for finalizing the lease. Once settled, it would lock in he terms for the Astros-owned High-A Carolina League franchise that is to begin play at a new, $33 million downtown ballpark in 2019.
City officials are confirming that the lease is on track to be reviewed at a meeting on November 28. More from the Fayetteville Observer:
City Manager Doug Hewett said the city remains on schedule to consider approving a lease with the Houston Astros on Nov. 28.
The City Council members and the mayor will have a regular meeting on that day, Hewett said, but it’s possible they will schedule a special meeting for earlier that day to consider only the lease.
A previously released timeline calls for ballpark construction to begin next summer, allowing the facility to open for the 2019 season. Until the facility is complete, the team will play at a temporary venue. The location of that venue has not been announced.
RELATED STORIES: Fayetteville, Astros Making Progress on Lease; Fayetteville Selects Ballpark Layout; Fayetteville Releases Ballpark Renderings; Astros, Fayetteville Discuss Temporary Ballparks; Fayetteville Could Begin Ballpark Construction Next Summer; Details Released on Fayetteville Ballpark; County Approves Contribution to Fayetteville Ballpark; Fayetteville Ballpark Financing Plan Approved; Funding Details Emerge in Fayetteville;Fayetteville Holds Off on Unveiling Funding Model; Fayetteville Moves Forward with Astros MiLB Ballpark; Terms Leaked for New Fayetteville Ballpark Lease;Vote on New Fayetteville Ballpark Set for Wednesday; $35 Million for Fayetteville Ballpark;Fayetteville Making Progress on MOU; Fayetteville Officials Visiting Columbia; Freier to Represent Fayetteville in New Ballpark Talks; Next Step for New Fayetteville Ballpark: Crunching the Numbers; Decision for Fayetteville: How Much to Spend on New Ballpark; Fayetteville, Astros On Path to Discuss New Ballpark;Study: MiLB, Carolina League Feasible in Fayetteville;Fayetteville MiLB Ballpark Site Pitched;Astros, Rangers Exploring Carolina League Teams;Fayetteville makes it official: Downtown ballpark proposed;Fayetteville/MiLB match surfaces again; Cal/Carolina League shift back in play?