WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – A group that opposes tax payer money going towards the construction of a new baseball stadium in Wilmington is gathering names. The group picked up more than 100 signatures on a petition this weekend, and if they get enough support the public would have to vote on the plan.
Council members were worried the initial wording on the petition would hurt other groups like the Sharks, Hammerheads or even high school athletics. At first, anyone who signed the petition would have been fighting against any entertainment related venue, including major events like Riverfest and the Azalea Festival.
"This is a pretty broad ordinance and I think we need to take a very good look at it to determine what they impacts would be for the entire community," said Mayor Bill Saffo.
The wording on the petition has since been changed to only include the baseball stadium.
"I understand their passion about not bringing baseball - that's one thing, but to tie this all into everything the city does and the quality of life initiative is another," said Mayor Bill Saffo. "I think the community needs to be aware of that."
Those against the stadium say it has nothing to do with baseball, but the use of tax payer money paying for the stadium.
"We're certainly not against baseball. Not against baseball stadiums," explained Ben McCoy. "Our fight is in no way targeted against that in any way. It's simply the tax payer funding of the stadium is what we're against and what we're fighting."
The petition against the baseball stadium will need signatures from 25 percent of the total number of people who voted in the last municipal election.
"We don't want any duplicate signatures, we don't want any short cuts, we don't want anyone to cut corners we want to do this as legally as we possibly can," said McCoy, who believes tracking down the voters they need won't be a problem.
The petition needs about 3,000 signatures. There is a little more than 90 days left until it needs to be turned in.
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A group that opposes tax payer money going towards the construction of a new baseball stadium in Wilmington is gathering names.
The petition needs about 3,000 signatures.
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