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 […]
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Wilmington officials: Proposed ballpark lease won’t happen
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 […]
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 Developer Flywheel/Trask has withdrawn from the project, which calls for Mandalay Baseball Properties to run a new ballpark for a relocating Atlanta Braves farm team, the Lynchburg Hillcats (High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 […]
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 […]
Opponents of Wilmington ballpark fail in petition drive
A petition drive designed to prevent tax dollars being spent on a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark has temporarily failed, with opponents coming up short by 14 votes. The drive isn’t exactly derailed by this: though there’s apparently some ambiguity about whether more signatures can be submitted, City Attorney Bill Wolak says more signatures can be […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]