Following the meeting on Thursday, fans of the Carolina Mudcats may potentially shift their support from Wake County to Wilson.

The Wilson City Council will review various suggestions aimed at revitalizing the downtown area and constructing a stadium for the Mudcats. These proposals will be discussed in an open hearing.

The suggestions consist of constructing a fresh arena for the Mudcats. This would also involve a personal contribution towards the growth of downtown, featuring residential units, commercial areas, and a hotel with a minimum of 80 rooms.

The combined investment, both public and private, exceeds $280 million. The city is expected to pay approximately $69 million for the project.

The potential new location for the Mudcats could hold a maximum of 4,500 individuals, which is 2,000 less than the current Five County Stadium in Zebulon where the team has been based since 1991. Previous conversations have focused on the necessity of upgrading and revamping the stadium to meet the requirements of Major League Baseball.

In my view, Mayor Pro Tem Jason Joyner stated that the conflict on the east side of the county is not visible to us.

Joyner stated that he spent his childhood observing Mudcats games in Wake County. He expressed disapproval towards the leaders of Wake County, stating that they are simply “standing by and watching.”

Joyner described it as the most drawn-out robbery she has ever witnessed.

Don Mial, the Wake County Commissioner for the eastern region, stated that the county has been in talks with the Brewers.

Mial expressed a desire for the Mudcats to remain, stating that all efforts have been made to retain them. However, it seems that the team is seeking a new stadium, which would come with a hefty price tag of approximately $80-90 million. Unfortunately, the county is currently unable to provide such funds.

Taylor and her spouse, Angelo Carlone, are the proprietors of the Corner Deli located in downtown Wilson. She expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming development.

“I didn’t have the concept of a downtown when I was young … This will provide people with a stronger incentive to come to the downtown area,” she stated. “I understand that many people may currently oppose it, but everything has to begin somewhere.”

In Wilson, there are differing opinions among individuals. Some express concern about the potential impact on the city’s close-knit atmosphere and the fate of the well-known amateur team, the Wilson Tobs.

The Tobs team has published a series of questions on the website pertaining to the proposal.

“The website states that the questions and topics for discussion, which have been viewed from Wilson’s team’s perspective since 1908, should be addressed.”

1. Given the successful history and proven formula for success of the Wilson Tobs in both baseball and event organizing, it begs the question why they are not being viewed as the top choice for the new stadium’s main tenant.

2. Why is the City of Wilson interested in investing in a nearby product, located less than 25 miles away, to serve as the cornerstone of its downtown revitalization initiative?

3. Because a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) has been in place for over 15 months with no communication between city management/elected officials and the Wilson Tobs, what ‘fan’ data did the City of Wilson use to support their feasibility study & economic impact analysis to justify building a 75+ million dollar stadium for a team who Wilson residents have consistently ignored?

4. What types of sports programs will the Mudcats offer to the Wilson community? Is there any previous experience in event organization in Zebulon?

5. How will the city cover the expenses for the stadium during its construction and in the early years of operation, considering that development efforts have not generated any extra income from property taxes?

6. Why is the city intervening in matters of trade restriction and favoring one sports business over the others?

The Wilson Tobs aim to become the local team and play a key role in the revitalization of downtown at Wilson’s newly built stadium, according to the team’s website. They are excited about the chance to expand their various sporting events in a suitable ballpark that complements Wilson’s growing economy and sets it up for success.

The Wilson City Council will convene a meeting to discuss the proposal on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Joyner expressed feeling betrayed by the Brewers organization, but also shared a desire to see the stadium thrive.

He expressed that he does not want to witness the statement, “The stadium does not require any action since there is no team currently using it.”

Mial acknowledged that the potential deal in Wilson for the team may create economic worries for the eastern area of the county. He stated that the county would need to collaborate with the town of Zebulon in order to determine how to utilize the stadium in the event that the Mudcats relocate.

Source: wral.com