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 […]
Archive | Future Ballparks
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 […]
Mayor slams Wilmington ballpark financing proposal
Wilmington (N.C.) Mayor Bill Saffo has come out against the current financing proposal for a new ballpark, saying the proponents don’t have enough “skin in the game.” In an interview with a local conservative talk-radio host, Saffo blasted the plan: “Pardon the pun here; we’re putting all of our skin into the game and they […]
Work continues on new WVU ballpark
WVU athletic director Oiiver Luck says work continues on a new ballpark for the Mountaineers and potentially a minor-league baseball team. The plan, proposed by Luck and developer Mon-View LLC, calls for the establishment of a tax-increment-financing (TIF) district in Morgantown, with the proceedings funding a new ballpark at the proposed University Town Center complex. Two counties have already signed off […]
Preferred site emerging for Wilmington ballpark?
A prominent Wilmington (N.C.) family may offer a large parcel of land off Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway as the site of a new ballpark for an Atlanta Braves-owned Carolina League team. We reported on Monday this site was emerging as the leading location for the $35-million ballpark, which would be built by private developers and […]
Wilmington ballpark financing plan unveiled
A private developer would borrow money to build a new ballpark for a High Class A Carolina League team, with Wilmington (N.C.) and Mandalay Baseball Properties paying down the debt over time. The ballpark, which would be home to an Atlanta Braves farm team in the form of the relocating Lynchburg Hillcats, is projected to […]