Myrtle Beach City Council approves lease to keep minor league baseball team

Myrtle Beach City Council voted to approve the second reading of an ordinance keeping Minor League Baseball in Myrtle Beach. Council members voted on a 30-year lease formalizing the city’s commitment to keeping the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at Pelicans Ballpark.

While Myrtle Beach City Council has approved the Minor League Baseball lease, the lease will not be “officially” approved until Horry County Council holds a public hearing and passes the lease on a third reading. The city anticipates these items to be on Horry County Council’s agenda Tuesday, May 20.

Importance of Minor League Baseball in Our Community

Here are highlights of the new lease terms:

• This new Minor League Baseball lease ends 30 days after the 2055 baseball season.
• 30-year lease; $750,000 annual rent for the first ten years; $850,000 in years 11–20; $950,000 in years 21–30.
• The stadium is jointly owned: 70% by Myrtle Beach and 30% by Horry County.
• The first lease was signed in 1998. It expired in 2018 and has been mutually extended several times by the city and Horry County.
• The tenant (Pelicans) is responsible for aesthetic maintenance, including the field, furnishings, lighting fixtures and routine aesthetic upkeep.
• The landlord (Myrtle Beach and Horry County) is responsible for structural maintenance.
• All Professional Development League (PDL) requirements by Major League Baseball, at an estimated cost of $20 million, will be covered by the City of Myrtle Beach (70%) and Horry County (30%).
  • Any costs over $20 million are the team’s responsibility.
  • An itemized list of improvements and repair and maintenance responsibilities is included in the lease as “Exhibit C” and “Exhibit E,” respectively.
  • PDL requirement-related construction should begin after the 2025 baseball season.
• As part of a long-term reimbursement plan, the tenant will collect and pay the city a per-ticket fee.
  • Non-tenant events:
    • Years 1-5 $2.00; Years 6-10 $2.50; Years 11-30 $3.00
  • Tenant home games:
    • Years 1-5 $0; Years 6-10 $1.00; Years 11-15 $1.50; Years 16-30 $2.00

The Pelicans have been an integral part of the Myrtle Beach area since play began at the ballpark in 1999. As an active community partner, the organization supports numerous local charities, school and youth programs and provides disaster relief assistance when needed. 

“We are thrilled to keep the Pelicans right here in Myrtle Beach,” said Mayor Brenda Bethune. “This is about more than baseball. It’s about preserving Myrtle Beach family tradition, supporting local jobs and ensuring our city continues to be a destination for families and baseball fans.”

City Council members made a point throughout the process to ask the Myrtle Beach Pelicans to add more events, such as concerts and festivals, at the stadium in the offseason.

Myrtle Beach City Council and City of Myrtle Beach staff are pleased to have reached an agreement after more than a year of careful negotiations. We’re proud to keep Minor League Baseball in Myrtle Beach for another 30 years and look forward to many more seasons of Pelicans baseball at the beach!

Local News Via - MyrtleBeachSC.com