AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n
Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n Some North Carolina lawmakers wanted to use state funding to build a professional baseball stadium, believing the financial commitment would serve as an inducement for MLB leadership to select Raleigh as an expansion team.<\/p>\n Read more At what age can you get out of jury duty in NC? Age requirements to serve<\/a><\/p>\n Supporters hoped the 2027 budget, which Gov. Josh Stein signed into law on Tuesday, would include a plan to fund a $1.7 billion stadium. The total cost of acquiring a franchise and constructing facilities is an estimated $4 billion.<\/p>\n Despite bipartisan support of the MLB to Raleigh initiative, a funding package was not approved by the North Carolina House leadership and not included in the version voted on by legislators.<\/p>\n The original negotiations, led by Senator Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) proposed a budget arrangement to earmark $500 million of state funds to develop the stadium, assuming the state was awarded a team. It\u2019s unclear where the money would come from. Berger\u2019s office did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n The state has an Economic Development Project fund, which could potentially be used. At the end of April<\/a>, the fund had roughly $703 million, all or part of which can be protected for a specific project. The rest would be derived from local revenue sources, sports gambling revenue, income taxes from players and performers at the stadium, and the creation of a sports and entertainment district.<\/p>\n A seven-person committee called the North Carolina Baseball Authority would be responsible for owning, financing, operating and managing the stadium and its accompanying facilities or entertainment district. The Centennial Authority, which oversees Lenovo Center, works similarly. State and local officials would appoint committee members.<\/p>\n Does the lack of MLB funding and oversight on the budget mean the efforts are over? Not at all.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to make sure that there is a significant return on any investment the taxpayer makes,\u201d Rep. Erin Par\u00e9 (R-Wake) told the News & Observer on Tuesday. \u201cI think the proposals that have been provided to the General Assembly so far seem rushed and not complete and thorough enough for myself, our speaker, and a lot of our leadership in the house to feel comfortable with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Another hangup came when lawmakers suggested an increase to the 6% Wake County occupancy tax, which is charged to people staying in hotels and motels. The revenue is used to support professional sports and other cultural facilities.<\/p>\n Rep. Mike Schietzelt (R-Wake) said the occupancy tax is likely the best way to build and maintain facilities and \u201cput the onus on people who want to come here and see baseball.\u201d An increase would still put Wake County on the lower end of other major metropolitan areas<\/a>. Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte, has an 8% occupancy tax<\/a> and 1% prepared food and beverage tax.<\/p>\n He and Par\u00e9 are open to the idea of an increase on condition: Amend the interlocal agreement<\/a> to include other municipalities in the county.<\/p>\n Wake County has a 1% prepared food and beverage tax, added to the cost of drinks and meals at restaurants. The original agreement, signed on Nov. 19, 1991, says revenue from the two taxes will be controlled by the Wake County Board of Commissioners and Raleigh City Council.<\/p>\n The funds were designated to renovate or construct eight facilities, including the Raleigh Convention Center and a sports facility \u201cknown as Triangle Central Park near the Raleigh-Durham International Airport,\u201d now the home of Lenovo Center, Carter-Finley Stadium and N.C. State Murphy Football Center.<\/p>\n City and county officials have amended the agreement<\/a> two dozen times, one amendment was signed in June. Changes included the development of a reserve account and adding Cary projects<\/a> to the revenue distribution. Other Wake County towns, however, have not seen the same kind of return, despite paying the two hospitality taxes.<\/p>\n \u201cThat may have made sense 30 years ago, when there wasn\u2019t really any other thriving economy in Wake County other than Raleigh and Cary,\u201d Par\u00e9 said on Tuesday. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t make sense anymore. There should be seats at the table.\u201d<\/p>\n The two representatives would like to see four additional municipalities added to the interlocal agreement and a guaranteed investment from any revenue generated. They would like 50% of the generated funds returned to the towns in which they were gathered.<\/p>\n For example, Schietzelt said Wake Forest is expected to generate $2.5 million from the two taxes. He believes it should receive $1.25 million to spend on its own tourism and cultural-related projects.<\/p>\n Par\u00e9 understands the taxes bring in roughly $100 million per year, and people don\u2019t want to give up control. It is not fair or equitable, however, for Raleigh and Cary to receive funds from the initiative, while the rest of the county is left out, she said.<\/p>\n Read more \u2018Outer Banks\u2019 show returns to Netflix this summer. Was it filmed in NC?<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cUntil that happens, I don\u2019t support an increase in any tax to pay for anything \u2014 as far as new endeavors for Major League Baseball or anything else,\u201d Par\u00e9 said.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a difference between expediency and rushing. Par\u00e9 and Schietzelt are among representatives who not only disagreed with the tax increase but were also uncomfortable supporting the proposal due to the timeline. Negotiations did not begin in earnest until June, shortly after the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup. The General Assembly voted on the budget last week.<\/p>\n The two emphasized they want to see a major league team in Raleigh and hope the Triangle can land a franchise. The hesitations are not personal. They\u2019d have similar reservations about any other major project and say it would behoove the state to slow down.<\/p>\n \u201cI never saw the proposal that was on the table,\u201d Schietzelt said. \u201cI don\u2019t think most legislators saw the proposal that was on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaker of the House Destin Hall has been skeptical about the proposal, unclear on the economic benefits. He does not want to appropriate funds without a full evaluation. Schietzelt said he trusted the speaker\u2019s discernment and willingness to press pause.<\/p>\n MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred hopes to name two expansion teams before his retirement in 2029. That gives North Carolina leaders time to fully evaluate the best options.<\/p>\n Schietzelt likened the legislative process to college football. A team that wins at least two of three phases \u2014 offense, defense and special teams \u2014 typically wins the game. When bills are presented, there are questions of substance, process and timing.<\/p>\n \u201cThe problem with this is, I think, the process was iffy. People had significant questions about the process. We also have significant questions about the substance, and I think the timing was a little bit early,\u201d Schietzelt said. \u201cIt\u2019s not a question of whether we do this or not. The question is, \u2018Are we going about this the right way?\u2019 I don\u2019t think any one of those three factors was really in favor of Major League Baseball, other than just very broadly saying, \u2018Yes, I think the public is broadly supportive of baseball.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Support for the project remains among state leaders and residents remains high.<\/p>\n Gov. Josh Stein and former Gov. Roy Cooper are among the effort\u2019s most-visible backers, while MLB Raleigh is a grassroots organization that has pushed for a high-level team for years.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Caniacs continue to prove that Raleigh is a world-class sports town,\u201d a spokesperson for Stein said in a statement, noting the NHL Playoff win. \u201cRaleigh is one of the largest media markets in the country without a Major League Baseball team, and Governor Stein is excited about the possibility of that changing. As one of the country\u2019s fastest-growing cities, Raleigh leaves no question it is ready to welcome the MLB to North Carolina.\u201d<\/p>\n North Carolina is the most populous state without an MLB franchise. The Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves are the closest teams, with Atlanta being approximately 400 miles from Raleigh and DC sitting just under 300 miles away. The Braves are only 250 miles from Charlotte.<\/p>\n Manfred said before MLB moves forward with expansion, he wants all current teams to have solid stadium situations.<\/p>\n Having fled Oakland, the A\u2019s are in the midst of a three-year stay in a Triple-A stadium in Sacramento while their new stadium in Las Vegas is constructed.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays have still not secured their future in Florida.<\/p>\n Florida recently approved its budget, which includes $50 million<\/a> for a new stadium. A different public funding proposal<\/a> \u2014 worth nearly $976 million between the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County \u2014 is set for a vote in August. The Rays are less likely to relocate if funding is secured.<\/p>\n North Carolina had been named a possible site if the franchise left Florida. With that possibility on shaky ground, an expansion bid is the state\u2019s most likely option.<\/p>\n A strong partnership between local leadership is expected to be a major factor when MLB leadership chooses its expansion sites. With Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon and billionaire Marc Lasry interested in providing funding, there\u2019s plenty of backing. The legislature just needs to work out the logistics that lawmakers can agree on.<\/p>\n \u201cThe House did not say no to baseball. The House said no to baseball in the conference report for this budget. This is very much still an open discussion,\u201d Schietzelt said. \u201cI think there are a lot of people in the House that are eager to make this happen, because I do think this would be a good thing for North Carolina. We\u2019ve just got to make sure that we\u2019re doing it in the right way, in a way that\u2019s going to deliver for people.\u201d<\/p>\n