Advertisement

What to know as Texas Rangers consider Leland for baseball stadium, entertainment venue

Minor league baseball could make a return to the Wilmington area.

According to a Wednesday statement from the Town of Leland, REV Entertainment and the Texas Rangers have expressed interest in working with Leland and Brunswick County to develop a sports and entertainment venue in the town.

More:A look at the history of minor-league baseball in Wilmington

"We look forward to learning more about their interest and developing a potential partnership in the coming months," the town said.

REV Entertainment, along with the county and town, are planning a press conference in the coming weeks to provide further details on the potential development and minor league baseball.

Leland is in early talks with the Texas Rangers to bring a minor league baseball stadium to U.S. 17. Here's a look at the current site plan.
Leland is in early talks with the Texas Rangers to bring a minor league baseball stadium to U.S. 17. Here's a look at the current site plan.

When did this happen?

According to email records obtained by the StarNews, REV Entertainment first expressed its interest in Leland as a potential location for a stadium during the summer of 2022.

Records show representatives from REV Entertainment and the Rangers, a Major League Baseball organization, were in Leland the week before Christmas to hold information sessions with elected leaders and staff from Leland, Brunswick County and surrounding municipalities.

Kinston's Grainger Stadium is home to the Down East Wood Ducks, an affiliate of the Texas Rangers. The organization is in talks with Leland to perhaps move that team to the Brunswick County town amid building a stadium and entertainment venue.
Kinston's Grainger Stadium is home to the Down East Wood Ducks, an affiliate of the Texas Rangers. The organization is in talks with Leland to perhaps move that team to the Brunswick County town amid building a stadium and entertainment venue.

What is being proposed?

REV Entertainment is proposing the venue constructed on a 1,400+ acre piece of property along U.S. 17 next to Brunswick Forest, which is part of the planned Jackeys Creek development. According to email records from town staff, the Texas group is proposing a "smaller version" of its Globe Light Park.

According to the current site plan, the stadium would sit along U.S. 17 between Brunswick Forest and the Leland Walmart.

Leland is in early talks with the Texas Rangers to bring a minor league baseball stadium to U.S. 17. Here's a look at the current site plan.
Leland is in early talks with the Texas Rangers to bring a minor league baseball stadium to U.S. 17. Here's a look at the current site plan.

Current plans have the potential stadium at about a tenth of the size of the 40,000-seat Arlington, Texas development.

Why Leland?

The Rangers' current nearby franchise is in Kinston. The Down East Wood Ducks play at Grainger Stadium, which was built in 1949 and is one of the oldest active parks in minor league baseball. It's possible the Rangers would move the Wood Ducks to Leland.

The Down East Wood Ducks in Kinston is the Texas Rangers' current nearby minor league franchise.
The Down East Wood Ducks in Kinston is the Texas Rangers' current nearby minor league franchise.

Wilmington has been a stop in the minors several times in the past century.

UNCW's Brooks Field hosted the Port City Roosters for two seasons in the mid-1990s, and the Wilmington Waves' lone campaign in 2001. The Roosters were an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, while the Waves were part of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

Prior coverage:Could Wilmington support minor league baseball?

And long before Brooks Field's existence, the Wilmington Pirates competed off-and-on for 11 seasons from 1928-1950.

Currently, New Hanover County is the home of the Wilmington Sharks, who play summer collegiate wood-bat baseball in the Coastal Plain League. That team plays from late May through early August annually at Buck Hardee Field off Carolina Beach Road.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Leland could get stadium, Texas Rangers minor league baseball team