Originally estimated at $33 million, the budget for a new Fayetteville ballpark is now $37.8 million, with certain factors contributing to the increase.
Set to open in 2019 for the current Buies Creek Astros (High A; Carolina League), the new Fayetteville ballpark is being the billed as the anchor of a larger development push in the city’s downtown. City officials had originally estimated the ballpark’s budget at $33 million, but have updated that cost reflect the $37.8 million figure.
At a city council meeting on Monday, officials mentioned both site constraints and market conditions as factors in the project’s increasing budget estimate. It was also stated that a tax increase will not be needed to cover the additional cost. More from The Fayetteville Observer:
Market conditions and site constraints were cited by Kristoff Bauer, the deputy city manager, as the reason why the budget has risen from the $33 million estimate given for the project in 2016.
“This has been a challenging process,” Bauer said.
Councilman Jim Arp, chairman of the Baseball Committee, said there will be no tax increase to pay for the cost increase.
Rather, Tracey Broyles, the Budget and Evaluation director, said the city will use about $1 million per year from its capital fund to pay for the stadium construction over the next few years.
The ballpark is still on track to open for the beginning of the 2019 season. The Astros–who are expected to rebrand before moving into the new ballpark–will play the 2018 season at Campbell University’s Jim Perry Stadium, which was also their home in 2017.
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