A proposed lease for a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark hasn’t generated a whole lot of enthusiasm from City Council members, who are balking at some of the provisions. Some of the provisions are actually pretty routine in the construction world, but in the hypersensitive bubble that is Wilmington politics, they come off as onerous or […]
Archive | Future Ballparks
Wilmington to ask voters to approve new-ballpark bonding
With the collapse of a public-private partnership backing a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark, voters will be asked directly this fall whether to back bonds on the project. Developer Flywheel/Trask has withdrawn from the project, which calls for Mandalay Baseball Properties to run a new ballpark for a relocating Atlanta Braves farm team, the Lynchburg Hillcats (High […]
NSS: New Wilmington ballpark would generate $172 million in new spending
A new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark would create $172 million in direct spending and generate 3,952 new full- and part-time jobs, but opponents will find it to be less than persuasive when it comes to funding options. The report from National Sports Services, released today in draft version, has been long awaited by proposed of a […]
Macon seeking return of pro baseball
Macon officials once again raise the possibility of the return of affiliated baseball to the Georgia city, with a new downtown ballpark dangled as a lure. There’s no funding plan or anything other than some city officials acknowledging that Luther Williams Field, whatever else its charm and allure, won’t be enough to bring back professional […]
Third try’s the charm: petition opposing Wilmington ballpark funding succeeds
It took longer than anticipated, but opponents of public funding of a new ballpark in Wilmington (N.C.) finally turned in enough signatures to force a referendum or adoption. The measure would bar the city from spending any money on a new sports facility, a move designed to prevent any public funding of a new ballpark […]
More signatures tossed in Wilmington anti-ballpark petition drive
Sloppiness in the collection process has caused a board of elections to strike more signatures from a drive to deny public funding of a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark. The issue: some of the pages of the petition had a heading that had nothing to with sports or baseball. Because these pages didn’t pertain to the […]
Macomb County: We want minor-league ball
A long-term development plan for Macomb County in suburban Detroit calls for the development of a minor-league ballpark in Utica. Macomb County’s Blue Economy Strategic Development Plan lists 49 projects to be undertaken by the county. It’s not as though there’s not been an effort to bring baseball to the region — a group failed […]
Reese to try once again to torpedo new Charlotte ballpark
Undeterred by his five defeats in court, attorney Jerry Reese informed city officials that he will once again sue to prevent city funding of a new Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) ballpark. Reese has spent a good share of time over the last decade opposing any effort by the Knights ownership to actually move […]
No ballpark money in upcoming Wilmington budget
An unsettled situation became even more unsettled today, as a proposed 2013 budget for Wilmington (N.C.) lacks any money for a new ballpark for an Atlanta Braves farm team. The budget, unveiled during a work session this morning, does include a small tax hike to pay for infrastructure (roads, sidewalks) improvements. But in the face […]
“Free” land not so free in Wilmington
So how much are free road improvements worth in Wilmington (N.C.)? About 35 acres of land, apparently, as the offer of “free” land for a new ballpark looks worse with each passing minute. As you’ll recall, the Cameron family — in a really weird and twisted way — made an offer of 35 acres of […]
Referendum on horizon for new Wilmington ballpark
A group opposing public funding of a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark says it has enough signatures to force a referendum on the issue; meanwhile, an expected offer of free land has come through. As expected, the Cameron family has offered up to 35 acres of land along Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to the city […]
Monongalia County approves WVU ballpark
Monongalia County approved a tax-increment financing (TIF) district for Morgantown, paving the way for a new West Virginia University ballpark that could also house a short-season team. The district applies to University Town Center, a development from Mon-View LLC. A new $20-million ballpark for the Mountaineers would be in the mix, with most of the […]
Wilmington ballpark sites down to three; poll indicates support
National Sports Services has narrowed down the potential number of ballpark sites in Wilmington (N.C.) to three, while a poll indicated support for public funding of the facility. The poll of 970 residents found 47 percent of respondents in favor of public funding of a new ballpark for an Atlanta Braves farm team, the relocating […]