Durham Bulls' owner would take over former Mudcats home under Wake County deal
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Five County Stadium in Zebulon has been the home of the Mudcats since 1991. Photo: Visit Raleigh/Ted Richardson
The owners of the Durham Bulls minor league baseball team and WRAL are making a pitch to Wake County to operate Five County Stadium in Zebulon and keep baseball there after the departure of the Carolina Mudcats.
Why it matters: After more than 30 years in Zebulon, this was the last season at Five County Stadium for the Carolina Mudcats, whose owners, the Milwaukee Brewers, decided to move the team to Wilson.
- The Wilson Warbirds will play in a city-backed stadium and mixed-used development project. Five County Stadium no longer meets MLB standards.
Driving the news: The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a plan from the Bulls' owner, Capitol Broadcasting Co., to lease and operate the stadium.
- The county will now draft a lease agreement with the team. The town of Zebulon, which owns part of the stadium, will need to approve the proposal as well.
Zoom in: Under the deal, Capitol Broadcasting would use Five County Stadium to host a Coastal Plain League team as well as a Wake Technical Community College baseball, softball and soccer teams.
- The Coastal Plain League is a summer baseball league that features college baseball players. Capitol Broadcasting owns the league as well as the Holly Springs Salamanders that play in it.
- Capitol Broadcasting will pay $710,000 in lease payments over 10 years to Wake County and the Town of Zebulon. It'll also receive 10 rent-free event days.
- Additionally, Wake County will invest $10 million into enhancing the stadium facilities.
The big picture: The deal with the county could also give Capitol Broadcasting's real estate arm a chance to present a plan to redevelop land around the stadium.
- This has long been in Capitol Broadcasting's wheelhouse. The company helped transform the area around the Durham Bulls stadium in downtown into one of the Triangle's biggest destination districts, filled with restaurants, cafes, entertainment, housing and more.
- It's also currently building a new mixed-use development near Ting Stadium, the home of the Salamanders, in Holly Springs.
What's next: If the Zebulon Board of Commissioners sign off, the lease would begin in October.
What they're saying: "Our shared vision is to ensure the stadium remains a vibrant community asset that supports both sports and education, while creating new opportunities for families, students, and fans to share the kind of memorable experiences Five County Stadium has provided since it first opened in 1991," Capitol Broadcasting said in a statement to Axios.
Editor's note: This story was updated with a Wake County Board of Commissioners vote Tuesday.