Negotiations over a proposed Brunswick, GA ballpark for a summer-collegiate Coastal Plain League team are ongoing, as city officials and project backers discuss terms behind the proposal.
BQK Baseball, LLC–an entity backed by Danielle and Nick Sunderhaus–is in aiming to launch a CPL team in Brunswick. As part of their effort, they have been in discussions with Brunswick officials about constructing a new ballpark that would host the club’s home games along with a variety of other events.
Late last month, Brunswick City Commissioners opted to defer a decision related to the proposal and continue discussions into 2020. At the time, it was expected that the plan would be discussed at a public forum ahead of a January 15 commissioners meeting, but the public presentation on the plan has been pushed back. Any public meeting is now expected to take place by mid-February.
In the meantime, Brunswick officials and BQK will negotiate the terms of the proposal. While a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) laid out some potential terms for the project, it seems that city officials–including mayor Cornell Harvey–want to further negotiate the framework before presenting it to commissioners for a vote. More from The Brunswick News:
Mayor Cornell Harvey said a town hall meeting to explain the proposal and get public opinion was originally planned before the next city commission meeting on Jan. 15, but it will now be held by mid February at the request of the group trying the establish the franchise.
Harvey said the proposed memorandum of understanding was a starting point for negotiations and an acceptable agreement will look different than the one presented to commissioners.
“We’re not going to sign that,” Harvey said of the proposal presented to city officials last month.
The proposal was for city to build a multi-complex facility estimated to cost $13 million, and for BQK Baseball to make “significant investment” in the stadium and commit to remaining in the stadium at least 15 years.
Howard Coffin Park is being eyed by organizers as a potential ballpark site. Brunswick is located in southeast Georgia, just over an hour south of Savannah–home to the CPL’s Savannah Bananas.
RELATED STORIES: Brunswick CPL Ballpark Talks to Continue Into Early 2020