NEW HANOVER COUNTY (NC) - A little more than a decade after the last pitch was thrown, Minor League Baseball may be returning to Wilmington.
The Wilmington City Council will consider a proposal that could lead to the development of a multi-purpose stadium. Such a proposal could bring together officials from Mandalay Baseball Properties (MBP), the Atlanta Braves and the City of Wilmington.
Under the proposal the city would purchase the land at a site to be determined, Mandalay Baseball would be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the stadium.
Mayor Bill Saffo indicated during a press conference Tuesday that the facility would be upwards of 6,000 seats at a cost of between 35 and 40 million dollars with an opening date of 2014.
MBP currently owns Minor League affiliates in Dayton (OH), Erie (PA), Frisco (TX), and Oklahoma City. MBP also owns a 50% stake in the Yankees affiliate in Wilkes-Barre (PA). The Dayton and Frisco affiliates rank among the best attended teams in Minor League Baseball.
Wilmington's history with Minor League affiliates has been a brief one. The Port City Roosters played at UNCW's Brooks Field during the 1995 season. The Seattle Mariners Double-A affiliate then left for Mobile, AL prior to the 1996 season.
In 2001 baseball returned when the Wilmington Waves took up residence at Brooks Field. The Low-A Dodgers affiliate pulled out of town leading up to the 2002 season facing significant financial problems.
MBP brings the most significant sports business background of any of the previous organizations. Mandalay Entertainment approached the city last year about building a stadium on vacant land next to PPD.
Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and WECT, a Raycom Media Station.
