Politics & Government

Hagerstown Suns to Fredericksburg: Do You Want Baseball Here?

Video [:39]: Bruce Quinn, majority owner of the Hagerstown Suns, in his opening address to City Council on July 1, 2013.

Bruce Quinn, majority owner of the Hagerstown Suns, told City Council Monday night the team needs a lease in place by October 30 to ensure construction of a new stadium would be complete in time for the 2015 season.

"I came down here today to meet you all and to determine if you want affiliate baseball here," Quinn told City Council in Monday's two hour special session.  "We have not had any feedback from the city, it's been kind of one way," he said.  "I think that to have a partnership and make this work, we need to engage."

"I'd love for baseball to be in Fredericksburg, but it has to make business sense,"  Vice Mayor Brad Ellis told the owners and representatives at the meeting.  He had prepared a project financial analysis for review. 

But Quinn said the analysis was incomplete because it did not take into account other potential sources of revenue --  for example, selling naming rights, the team's commitment to pay for maintenance overruns of more than $50,000 annually -- and benefits to the city of increased tourism dollars and special taxes. 

"A MOU (Memo of Understanding) will give everybody the opportunity to engage, to hammer through the details," Quinn said. "We need to discuss what makes most sense for the taxpayers, what makes most sense for the way of life here in Fredericksburg and what makes most sense for the Hagerstown Suns," he said.

Mary Katherine Greenlaw said the city was not prepared.  "We're not there yet," she told Quinn. "I'm glad to hear there are possibilities, options.  But we're not there yet."

Quinn suggested the public hearing scheduled for July 9 was premature.  "It doesn't seem to me that we are ready for a public hearing, since we don't have a financing plan," he told City Council.  He suggested postponing the hearing for 30 days to give everyone the opportunity to hammer out more details.

"There's nothing set," Quinn said.  I think it is premature to allow people to step up there and discuss financing when we don't have any plan yet," he said.

Some on council disagreed.   "I am hearing a lot of concern about the price tag for the city and the special tax district," Greenlaw said.  "I think it's time to air [the idea]," she said. "If it's not a palatable deal [to the residents] it's off the table," she said. 

"I think at this point the speakers will have suggestions," she added.

"We should have some kind of relationship with the team between now and then [the public hearing]," Councilor Fred Howe said. Council voted to direct the City Manager to extend the exclusivity agreement to July 10.

"This was a very helpful meeting because it allowed us to get to a point where we can air out all the work we've done," Quinn told council.  "Now we know what your needs and interests are," he said.

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