Though Wilmington voters rejected a new-ballpark plan that would have brought the Lynchburg Hillcats (High Class A; Carolina League) to North Carolina, the team’s long-term future at Calvin Falwell Field is far from assured. There may have been some premature celebration among Hillcats fans when the ballpark referendum went down in Wilmington. Two things are […]
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Ballpark effort cost Wilmington taxpayers $200K
It was less than budgeted: Wilmington (N.C.) spent around $200,000 on efforts to bring Minor League Baseball to the city, with most of that money going to National Sports Services (NSS). NSS was paid $135,000 for a feasibility study, concluding the city could economically support pro baseball, outlining potential lease terms and suggesting different funding […]
After overwhelming defeat at polls, don’t look for MiLB in Wilmington any time soon
After Wilmington (N.C.) voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposed property-tax hike for a new waterfront ballpark, elected officials and baseball people say there probably will be no further efforts to bring MiLB to the city. The proposal was for a new ballpark funded by taxpayers: $31 million for the ballpark and $6 million for the land. […]
Wilmington voters overwhelmingly reject ballpark plan
At the end of the day, it wasn’t close: Wilmington (N.C.) voters overwhelmingly rejected a hike in local property taxes to pay for a new ballpark for a High Class A Carolina League team. The final margin: 70 percent against, 30 percent for. Not a surprise: polls from both sides had shown overwhelming opposition to […]
Poll: Wilmington voters oppose ballpark funding plan
A new poll shows considerable opposition to public funding of a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark for a High Class A Carolina League team, as voters prepare to decide on the issue in next Tuesday’s elections. The poll, from the conservative Civitas Institute, reports 59 percent of Wilmington voters said they were certain to vote against […]
Sweetening the pot in Wilmington
Whether this sways any voters remains to be seen, but it looks like a proposed new ballpark in Wilmington (N.C.) could attract outside investors, as a development firm say it will build next to the Carolina League facility if approved. The developer, Charlotte-based South Street Partners, is pitching high-end residential and retail space if voters approve […]
Front-office changes in Atlanta, Camden, Traverse City
If it’s the offseason, it’s the time for front-office changes — and we have some for the Atlanta Braves, Camden RiverSharks (independent; Atlantic League) and Traverse City Beach Bums (independent; Frontier League). In Atlanta, General Manager Frank Wren’s contract has been extended through 2014. Wren, the 13th general manager of the Braves, finished his fifth […]
Wilmington still negotiating ballpark site
Wilmington (N.C.) officials have settled on two waterfront sites for a potential ballpark for a High Class A Carolina League team and are negotiating with the landowners. The plan: the city would fund a $37-million ballpark project for a ballpark to be managed by Mandalay Baseball Properties and hosting a team owned by the Atlanta […]
Hamilton calls last game; will return for a single sign-off
Milo Hamilton, one of the great broadcasters in baseball, called his last game for the Houston Astros last night, culminating a 67-year career in baseball. The 85-year-old Hamilton has been behind the Astros mike for the last 28 years, the last stint in a career that began broadcasting minor-league games in the Quad Cities and included stops […]
Poll results won’t be public: Wilmington chamber
Results of polling on a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark for an Atlanta Braves farm team won’t be released to the public by the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The stated reason: the polling was done to refine a message urging voters to approve a property-tax hike ($50 annually on a house worth $200,000) to pay for […]
Lease officially approved in Wilmington
Though both sides had agreed to the terms, a lease for a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark with Mandalay Baseball Properties and the Atlanta Braves was officially approved by the City Council. As you’ll recall, the three announced last Friday that all sides had agreed to a lease that called for a Braves-owned Wilmington team to […]
Entertainment complex pitched for Turner Field area
Frequently empty parking lots north of Turner Field could be developed as a 55-acre entertainment complex, as Invest Atlanta solicits developers about their interest in a potential project. There’s a lot of land surrounding Turner Field, and it’s not doing a whole lot to bring fans to Atlanta Braves games or generate much in way […]
Mandalay, Wilmington, Braves agree to ballpark lease
The city of Wilmington (N.C.), Mandalay Baseball Properties and the Atlanta Braves agreed on a lease for a proposed waterfront ballpark — if voters agree to fund it via property-tax hike in the November elections. That’s a big if, of course, and we’re hearing that polling in the field has the referendum going down, but […]