With minor league baseball on hold in Leland, another Brunswick team extends its footprint
While an effort to bring minor league baseball to Brunswick County may have hit a snag, collegiate baseball is here to stay -- at least for the next decade.
The Brunswick Surfin’ Turfs, a collegiate wood bat baseball team in Brunswick County, has signed a 10-year agreement with Brunswick Community College to make Founders Field its home through the summer 2032 season.
“With this agreement, The Surfin' Turfs plan to bring a fun and unique experience to the residents of Brunswick County and visitors alike,” Brunswick Surfin’ Turfs General Manager Lexie Allred said in a May 8 news release.
Who are the Surfin’ Turfs?
The Surfin’ Turfs played its first season in 2021 at Founders Field, home of the Brunswick Community College Dolphins baseball team. The team is part of the Old North State League, a collective of 15 collegiate teams from North Carolina’s mountains to coast.
This season, Allred said, the team is focused on creating a family friendly experience, complete with between-inning games, giveaways, prizes and autograph sessions.
Players are housed for the season by host families within the community, and games are sponsored by local businesses.
Baseball in Brunswick County
Founders Field is located on the community college’s main campus at 50 College Road NE in Bolivia – some 20 miles from the site near Leland where developers and town officials want to build a minor league baseball stadium and entertainment complex.
In February, news broke that Leland and Brunswick County officials had been in talks with the owners of Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers and developer REV Entertainment about building a ballpark and along U.S. 17 near Brunswick Forest and Walmart.
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Plans showed the development would sprawl some 1,400 acres and include restaurants, hotels and entertainment spaces surrounding the anchor sports stadium.
The development is expected to cost over $100 million dollars, with the funding for the stadium falling to local governments – the town of Leland and Brunswick County – and REV matching the investment with an investment of their own in the surrounding commercial development.
Earlier this year, the two bodies said they were exploring funding options that would not include a bond, current tax dollars or tax hike. But, in April, Brunswick County officials announced they were moving away from the project, concerned about issuing government debt for such a costly project.
The three bodies are currently awaiting an economic impact study commissioned by the town of Leland before deciding any next steps.
Upgrades to come
The Surfin’ Turfs will set up shop on Founders Field during the months of June and July in what officials say is a “mutually beneficial agreement.”
As part of the agreement, the Surfin’ Turfs’ holding company is backing several upgrades to the field, including exterior fencing and a new beer garden – which are anticipated to be completed ahead of the summer 2023 season – and a press box, concession stand and bathroom facility to be completed by 2024.
“Brunswick Community College is excited to partner with the Brunswick Surfin’ Turfs to provide summer collegiate baseball for our community,” said Brunswick Community College President Gene Smith. “We look forward to hosting the team at Founders Field and working together to provide a baseball destination for everyone to enjoy.”
The Old North State League’s season runs from May to July. The Surfin’ Turfs’ first game of the season is set for Friday, June 2 at 5 p.m.
Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter @jameybcross.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Brunswick Surfin' Turfs finds home at Brunswick Community College
