Sugar Land Selects Preferred Site for Minor League Baseball Stadium

Sugar Land, TX (June 23, 2010) – Sugar Land City Council identified a preferred site near the northeast corner of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A for a minor league baseball stadium.

The preferred location is part of the Imperial Redevelopment/Tract 3 site proposed by Johnson Development Corporation, Cherokee Sugar Land LP and the Texas General Land Office.

The City will now begin a detailed process to confirm the site's development capabilities and suitability prior to a final decision by City Council that's expected by the end of the summer.

The preferred location for the stadium was made after careful consideration of four site options. An extensive site evaluation ensured the most cost effective and beneficial site to the community for the future professional minor league baseball stadium.

A comparative site analysis reviewed with City Council on June 22 provided an overview of the proposals submitted by interested developers, land purchase options and existing lease agreements held by the City.

The stadium is expected to result in nearby commercial development, so the City considered several locations to ensure the greatest quality of life and economic benefit to the community.

Other sites considered were near the intersections of U.S. Highway 59 and University Boulevard and State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A.

Another site that was explored was at U.S. Highway 59 and University Boulevard where the City leases land from the University of Houston System at Sugar Land. The City submitted a Facility Development Agreement (FDA) detailing the development of the baseball stadium per the terms of a ground lease with University of Houston System (UHS); however, UHS formally rejected the FDA to develop the stadium.

The City remains committed to selecting a final site that minimizes and/or eliminates any adverse impact to residents with respect to traffic, noise and safety. Protecting the quality of life for the residents of Sugar Land will be a critical component in the due diligence performed over the next 60 days and in the final site determination.

The initial vision for minor league baseball was developed by citizens serving on the Visioning Task Force, a group that established a goal to enhance entertainment and family-oriented opportunities within the community. Voters approved in November 2008 specific sales tax and venue taxes to fund the project -- no general fund tax dollars will be spent on the stadium.

Sugar Land City Council approved on May 18 an historic agreement with Opening Day Partners, LLC to bring professional minor league baseball to Sugar Land.

For additional information, please go to  http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/sugarland/cultural_district/index.asp.