The upcoming Madison, AL ballpark is slated to be adjacent to a major amenity, as officials have approved a development agreement for a Margaritaville hotel.
Planning is underway for the new Madison ballpark, which is scheduled to open for the relocating Mobile BayBears (Class AA; Southern League) in 2020. The ballpark will be a focal point of the Town Madison development–an area that is slated to feature several amenities, including a Margaritaville hotel.
The current site concept (shown above) calls for the 150-room hotel to be constructed adjacent to the ballpark, overlooking center field. Plans for the Margaritaville hotel took a major step forward on Tuesday, when the Madison City Council authorized a development agreement for the project. More from WHNT:
Tommy Overcash, Council President, explained that the city worked with the Town Madison Cooperative District to create a $9 million incentive package to the hotel franchisee, Chance Madison, LLC.
Overcash said that Madison will fund $6 million of that over six years, with the first half of that payment due up front when the hotel opens. Then, the city will pay the rest over the remaining years.
Meanwhile, the Town Madison Cooperative District has its part to play. Generally, Overcash said the District is responsible for collecting the property, liquor, and sales taxes to pay back the landowner, Breland Companies, for infrastructure costs. But to fund its $3 million in incentives, the District will let Margaritaville keep 75% of the taxes generated at the hotel property up to that $3 million sum.
Tuesday, the city council also authorized an amendment to the Funding Agreement with the District to allow for the above arrangement.
Madison has set a $46-million budget for the ballpark, which is expected to be a 7,000-capacity facility that offers numerous amenities, including including a kids’ zone, indoor and outdoor suite seating, and an open concourse. A groundbreaking ceremony for the ballpark has been scheduled for June 9. The BayBears will play the 2019 season at their current home, Mobile’s Hank Aaron Stadium.
Meanwhile, it is anticipated that the Margaritaville hotel will break ground later this year and open in 2020. It will be the first Margaritaville hotel in the state of Alabama.
Rendering courtesy Breland Companies.
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