Expect lots of outside money, as opponents and proponents of a publicly funded ballpark in Wilmington (N.C.) prepare to spend lots of money to sway voters to their side in the November elections. We’ve already seen Americans for Prosperity, the right-wing anti-government advocacy group founded by the Koch brothers, spend $20,000 on an effort to […]
Tag Archives | mandalay baseball properties
New Hanover County won’t assist new Wilmington ballpark — yet
Perhaps waiting to see if there’s political support for a new downtown Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark, New Hanover County commissioners decided to wait on any financial backing for the project — for now. The hotly contested issue will be before voters this fall, as the city and Mandalay Baseball Properties are negotiating a deal to bring […]
No lease, but ballpark funding will go before Wilmington voters
It’s official: Wilmington (N.C.) voters will be asked this fall to approve $37 million in bonding for a new waterfront ballpark for an Atlanta Braves farm team, despite the lack of a lease between the parties. We had reported that Wilmington and Mandalay Baseball Properties had failed to reach agreement on a lease for a […]
Wilmington, Mandalay delay ballpark decision
Unable to reach a final accord, the city of Wilmington (N.C.) and Mandalay Baseball Properties will put off signing a memorandum of understanding on a new ballpark — but the bond issue will still be on the fall ballot. The two sides have been negotiating for weeks on the parameters of a ballpark deal. And […]
Outline of Wilmington ballpark deal emerges: $37M, 5,500 seats
The outline of a Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark deal is emerging, as the City Council will consider a proposed $37-million, 5,500-seat facility to be built at a prized waterfront site. Though nothing is final — and neither Mandalay Baseball Properties nor the Atlanta Braves have signed off on any lease — CIty Council members have been […]
Still no final numbers for Wilmington ballpark; talks continue
Wilmington (N.C.) officials say they’re dedicated to a new-ballpark budget under $40 million, but talks between the city and Mandalay Baseball Properties continue over the parameters of a deal. The two sides are working on a proposal for a public funded new facility to be managed by Mandalay and occupied by the relocating Lynchburg Hillcats […]
Negotiations fail to yield agreement on Wilmington ballpark lease
Talks between Wilmington (N.C.) officials and Mandalay Baseball Properties on a lease for a proposed downtown ballpark have failed to result in a lease agreement, but negotiations will continue. The two sides are discussing a deal for a new ballpark for the relocating Lynchburg Hillcats (High Class A; Carolina League), with the team owned by the Atlanta Braves and the […]
Wilmington ballpark opponents won’t challenge petition rejection; site negotiations begin
Opponents of public spending on a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark won’t challenge a rejection of their petition drive, while city officials have begun negotiations for a waterfront site. The city rejected a petition from a group led by Josh Fulton and Ben McCoy, which would have changed city rules to prevent any public money spend […]
Life on the road for SWB Yankees: Living out of a suitcase
It’s rare that you see an affiliated team spend an entire season on the road, but Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) players seem to be taking it in stride. Though the SWB Yankees are marginally headquartered in the Rochester area — playing 17 games at Frontier Field and a handful more in nearby Batavia […]
Wilmington ballpark to go before voters this fall
Wilmington (N.C.) voters will be asked to approving bonding for a new ballpark this fall, as officials throw out a controversial petition that would bar city spending on a facility. Voters will be asked to approve $42 million in bonding for all the costs of a new ballpark for the relocating Lynchburg Hillcats (High Class […]
Wilmington, Mandalay still discussing lease
Wilmington (N.C.) and Mandalay Baseball Properties are still discussing a lease for a new ballpark, even as the city is preparing to put a proposal before voters in a fall referendum. There are many issues outstanding in the lease negotiations, which should last through next week, if not longer: the coat of the ballpark, how […]
New Wilmington ballpark: uncertainty reigns
Wilmington (N.C.) officials are debating whether to ask voters to approve funding for a new ballpark, as there are plenty of specifics — price, location, lease — still to be determined. To be placed on the fall ballot, a referendum question need to be completed by August 1, so there’s some time to settle these […]
Goodbye, SWB Yankees: Name-the-team contest announced
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) moniker will be gone as the end of the season, as the team launches a name-the-team contest for 2013. The entry form for the contest can be found here. The contest coincides with a return of the team to a renovated PNC Field for the 2013 season. “In […]