Ballpark

The city's effort to bring a baseball stadium to the Port City now includes another big hitter. Wilmington City Manager Sterling Cheatham proposes the city should hire Ripken Design, founded by Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. and his brother Bill, to manage Wilmington’s baseball project. Full story...

Just one day after Mandalay Baseball Properties and the Atlanta Braves announced they had secured private financing to build a new baseball stadium in Wilmington, City Manager Sterling Cheatham has drawn up a proposal to hire Ripken Design of Baltimore, MD, to manage the city's baseball project manager. Full story...

It looks like Wilmington City Council knows who it wants to lead its ballpark plan. The agenda for Tuesday night's City Council meeting includes two ordinances to hire and pay Ripken Design of Baltimore, MD. Full story...

Securing financing for a proposed baseball stadium will no longer fall on Wilmington's shoulders. Today, the Atlanta Braves and Mandalay Baseball Properties announced the ballpark would be financed and constructed privately. Even so, it will still require an uncertain amount of taxpayer dollars. Full story...

Today's announcement brings many unanswered questions and a lot of reaction. The anti-tax group Americans for Prosperity says Wilmington taxpayers should be sweating this financing issue, but one county in Pennsylvania with a Mandalay-run minor league team says Wilmington will be OK. Full story...

We told you yesterday about a new group supporting the City of Wilmington in its plans to bring a ballpark to town. Today, the vice chair of the Wilmington Ballpark Coalition resigned after WWAY started asking questions about his involvement. Full story...

Building a baseball stadium in Wilmington could have a huge impact on the Cape Fear area, especially for businesses close by. Business owners we spoke with say a ballpark would definitely help the downtown economy, but only certain businesses would benefit. Full story...

The Atlanta Braves and Mandalay Baseball Properties plan to make an announcement regarding plans for a baseball stadium in Wilmington. Full story...

Building a baseball stadium has been a hot topic of conversation in Wilmington. Now, some local business leaders are stepping up to bat to support the city's effort. The Wilmington Ballpark Coalition says it is banding together for an idea members think is a home run. Full story...

Is the Richmond area willing and able to invest in a baseball venue that will cost about $50 million? The Richmond Flying Squirrels and the city have agreed that the best place for a new stadium is Richmond's fleet maintenance facility on the Boulevard, adjacent to The Diamond, but there is no firm plan. Financing remains the missing piece. Full story...

As the City of Wilmington considers possibly using tax money to build a ballpark, another North Carolina city is looking to unload some tax-funded arenas. "We own a large coliseum and a large football stadium/racetrack," Winston-Salem City Manager Lee Garrity said. "Owned them for many years. They're well used, but they lose money like almost every other facility in the country." Full story...

A group against using tax money to build a ballpark in Wilmington will take its petition campaign door-to-door. The group says it has almost half of the 2,900 signatures needed to introduce an ordinance to Wilmington City Council. Full story...

Time to play ball? The clock is ticking for city leaders to make a decision on the proposed baseball stadium in Wilmington. This morning, some big league names from the Atlanta Braves and Mandalay Baseball came to the Port City to discuss a game plan. Full story...

Wilmington leaders are doing their homework when it comes to building a ballpark downtown. Today, City Council members and other local leaders toured the home of the Durham Bulls. Full story...

The Atlanta Braves are bringing in a couple of big bats for a panel discussion about Wilmington's plans for a ballpark. Braves President John Schuerholz and former manager Bobby Cox will join the Greater Wilmington Business Journal's Power Breakfast panel Tuesday morning. Full story...