Public funds shouldn't be spent on private projects, said opponents including county resident Joe Riley. Opponents, however, said it would be a waste of taxpayer money. They touted the success of other Big League Dreams facilities, which include replicas of famous ballparks in California and Texas, while downplaying deals that fell apart in some cities, and construction cost over-runs at other facilities. Proponents billed the project as virtually a sure-fire money maker in terms of sparking economic development and bringing in tourism dollars. I am glad that evidently they looked at everything as hard as I've looked at it and found out that it is too much money to go into this type of deal for our county," said Clay County Commissioner Ronnie Robinson, an outspoken critic of the project that would have required $19 million in county taxpayer money. The development authority also will seek a refund of the $400,000 license fee it paid under the agreement, said Kerri Stewart, development authority spokesman.Įstimated to cost at least $22 million and possibly more than $25 million, the project has been the subject of bitter controversy since 2011 as word of the potential mega ballpark spread through the county. The Clay County Development Authority is ending its relationship with Big League Dreams for a proposed mega ballpark, multisport recreation complex in Middleburg.īecause it would cost too much county money to build the sports park to Big League Dreams specifications, the development authority voted unanimously Thursday afternoon to terminate its licensing agreement with the nationwide sports facility developer and operator, based in California.
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