Nashville Mayor Karl Dean’s administration has "presented state officials with plans" to build an $80M ballpark development for the Triple-A PCL Nashville Sounds "on the old Sulphur Dell site," according to a front-page piece by Rau & Garrison of the Nashville TENNESSEAN. According to the plan, the "preliminary goal" is to have the $40M ballpark and a $10M Metro Council-financed parking garage "constructed in time" for the Sounds’ '15 opening day. The project "includes a residential development" built with at least $30M in private funds. Sulphur Dell is the "original home of professional baseball in Nashville, and minor league and Negro league teams played there dating back to the 1860s." Dean’s office "could unveil the proposal as early as Sept. 12 at a state building commission meeting." The city-built garage would have "between 500 and 750 spaces" and would be "available for use by state employees." Other details of the financing arrangement, including "how much money would come out of taxpayers’ pockets, were not included." The plans involve an "ambitious but tentative timeline that would see Metro Council approve the project in November so construction could begin next year." The ballpark "would open months before Dean’s second term as mayor comes to an end" if things "go according to the schedule." The council earlier this year "extended the Sounds’ lease for the team’s use of the city-owned, aging Greer Stadium" through '16 (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 8/22).
