Spotsylvania County supervisors will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, to discuss a proposal to borrow $33 million to build a minor league baseball stadium. The meeting will be held in the Holbert Building, 9104 Courthouse Rd., Spotsylvania. Correction: This story originally reported $43 million, which was incorrect.
The Rappahannock Baseball Initiative (RBI) has been working to bring minor league baseball to Spotsylvania, since the plan failed to materialize in Fredericksburg. According to the proposal, Spotsylvania’s Economic Development Authority would build then lease a 5,500-seat multi-use stadium to a Washington Nationals’ minor league affiliate team.
RBI President Tom Byrnes said Spotsylvania County would own the multi-use venue and would collect from the team:
• $8 million up front plus $150,000 in annual rent for 25 years
• $80,000 a year for 25 years to fund maintenance and capital improvements
• A free suite for county use and 200 free tickets per game for county distribution
• 5 percent of all ticket revenues for none-baseball events brought by the county
• County use of the stadium for up to six civic events free of charge each year
The proposed multi-use stadium would be built next to CarMax in the Southpoint II shopping center.
Supervisor David Ross voted against holding the meeting, saying the county needs more time to study the plan. The proposed lease says a deal must be signed by May 31, 2015, with ground broken for the stadium by July 1.
Board chairman Chris Yakabouski says there will be a time for public comment.
Do you want Spotsylvania County to build a stadium complex for a Nats A team? Tell us what you think in the comments section.
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