Myrtle Beach leaders take step toward extending Pelicans’ lease, funding ballpark improvements

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Myrtle Beach City Council delivered some good news to fans of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans baseball team on Tuesday.

Council members approved the first reading of two ordinances aimed at keeping open Pelicans Ballpark, the Grand Strand home of the Chicago Cubs’ single-A minor league affiliate. The stadium opened in 1999 .

The first of the two ordinances extends a lease between the city, Horry County and the Pelicans’ ownership for one year. The original 20-year lease expired after the 2018 season, and there have been three prior extensions, one at the end of the 2021 season, one after the 2023 season and one after the recently concluded 2024 season.

“There are no significant changes to the term of the agreement,” according to the city’s meeting agenda.”During the 1-year extension period, all parties will work collaboratively on determining the future of Pelican Stadium.”

The second ordinance will allow the city to allocate $1.3 million of hospitality tax revenue to pay for the city’s 70% share of repairs and renovations that are needed to keep the ballpark open next season. Horry County is responsible for the remaining 30%.

Officials have been negotiating the lease renewal and repair work and have been under pressure from Major League Baseball in recent years to make improvements to the ballpark.

“These repairs/renovations are to shore up the rake beams on each end of the concourse, repair some concrete that is spalling, and replace railings within the concourse seating aisles,” the city’s meeting agenda said.

In other action, council members approved the first reading of an ordinance allowing the city to issue and sell $81 million in limited obligation bonds to finance renovations to the city’s convention center, improvements to the downtown Arts & Innovation District and to refinance other debts.

According to the ordinance, $20 million will be used to renovate the facade of the convention center and $16.5 million will pay for infrastructure and parking improvements in the Arts & Innovation District. Another $40 million “will fund the refunding of the remaining principal balances on the 2014 A&B Series Bond Issues.”

The council also passed the first reading of an ordinance to annex 3.76 acres off of 21st Avenue N. and to zone the property for light manufacturing. The property is the site of the former Helicopter Adventures tour company, which is no longer in business.

The move is at the request of property owner Burroughs and Chapin, which said it has a landscaping company that is interested in leasing the property. The land being annexed is “directly contiguous” with other property owned by Burroughs and Chapin.

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Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13 . He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook , X, formerly Twitter , and read more of his work here .

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