City Seeking Baseball Stadium Lease Consultant

The City of Fredericksburg has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for "interested firms to serve as advisor on a proposed baseball stadium lease between the City and a minor league baseball team." 

A lease proposal was submitted May 13 to the city by the Hagerstown Suns, a Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.  "The team has proposed that the City construct a 4,750 seat multi-use stadium, and lease the stadium to the team for 30 years," the RFP says.

The cost of a stadium is estimated at about $25 - $30 million.  Discussions have indicated the Suns would provide the city $3 million for land in Celebrate Virginia, and the city would issue up to $30 million in bonds to build the stadium.

On June 11 City Council unanimously approved City Manager Bev Cameron's request for $50,000 to hire bond counsel and financial advisors to evaluate the proposal.

The Economic Development Authority spent $27,000 this spring on a Multi-Use Stadium Market Analysis Report and financial analysis.  Cameron said those reports are being used in current negotiations.

A public hearing on the stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the July 9 City Council meeting.

In Hagerstown

Meanwhile, negotiations are still underway between the Suns and Hagerstown to keep the team there.  Hagerstown Mayor David S. Gysberts acknowledged to the Herald-Mail he met with Suns majority owner Bruce Quinn last week. 

“We continue to work toward something we can do to keep the Suns in Hagerstown,” Gysberts said.

At the June 18 Hagerstown City Council meeting Gysberts said, "a clear direction regarding a stadium plan will be established by mid-July," the Herald-Mail reported.

Read the complete Fredericksburg RFP.

Related Stories on Fredericksburg Patch:

• City Council to Discuss Baseball in Wednesday Closed Session
• City Council Approves $50K for Stadium Study
• Fredericksburg Baseball Negotiations with 'Specific Organization' According to City Manager
• City Conducting Study for $25M Stadium

Related Stories in the Hagerstown Herald-Mail:

• Suns' future could be out of Hagerstown's hands
  
• Mayor: Suns stadium decision expected by mid-July
• Newspaper: If a new multipurpose stadium is built in Va. town, Suns will move there
• Fredericksburg's interest in pro baseball concerns Hagerstown council member
• Hagerstown presented with new multiuse stadium study
• Hagerstown city officials weigh pros and cons of multiuse stadium sites as presented in report
• Suns owner 'anxiously' awaits newest stadium study, city's reaction

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