An attempt to revive a Jackson County Frontier League ballpark proposal apparently has come up short, as a potential naming-rights sponsor drops out and the Michigan fairgrounds board decides to go with a convention center instead.
Commanding Curve and its president, Dan DuBois, had an MOU in place with Jackson County that called for the construction of a ballpark for an independent Frontier League franchise at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. The deal centered on a sale of naming rights for $3 million: if DuBois could sell those naming rights, the county was willing to move ahead with a new ballpark costing between $8 million and $12 million.
The original MOU had expired back in February, but DuBois had indicated to the board that he had a naming-rights partner on board. But at the last minute that deal fell through, and yesterday the Jackson County board issued an RFP for a new convention center facility where the ballpark had been planned on the fairgrounds. From Michigan Live:
The notion resurfaced in recent months, with a business coming forward as a potential naming rights partner, Commanding Curve President Dan DuBois said. In the past week, the group pulled its support.
DuBois could not disclose the business or how much they were willing to give.
“It’s nothing I can speak to, publicly,” [County Administrator/Controller Mike] Overton said. “I’ve had a number of private conversations with an organization that was interested, but they’ve now backed away from that and feel that they can no longer support it financially.”
Of course, nothing is final until a contract regarding the convention center is actually awarded. But for now, it looks like the ballpark proposal is once again on the back burner.
RELATED STORIES: Jackson County Ballpark MOU Expires; Jackson County Naming Rights Deal Coming Down to the Wire; Jackson Grants Extension for Ballpark Bids; Jackson Ballpark Backers Seek Extension; Push for Jackson Ballpark Continues