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The Texas Rangers built a World Series-winning squad through the expensive acquisitions of several key stars — but it’s hoping its next generation of players will come up through the minor leagues at a brand new stadium.
In the hours before the Rangers’ clinched the title, representatives from Major League Baseball, Diamond Baseball Holdings, naming rights partner Fifth Third Bank, and the Spartanburg, South Carolina, community broke ground on a new $75 million, 3,500-seat stadium in downtown Spartanburg.
“Breaking ground on Fifth Third Park marks a significant milestone in Spartanburg’s economic future, bringing new opportunities that will have a tremendous positive impact on the community,” said Spartanburg mayor Jerome Rice.
Rice also said that the stadium would be the centerpiece of a new $500 million project in the area. The finished development will feature apartments, retail stores, offices, a hotel, and a parking deck.
The state of South Carolina, Spartanburg County, the Downtown Partnership Committee, and the city of Spartanburg are set to provide a combined $118.1 million in public funding. The rest will presumably come from developer The Johnson Group and owner Diamond Baseball Holdings, which purchased the Down East Wood Ducks from the Rangers in May.
The Wood Ducks will be moving from their current home in Kinston, North Carolina, to Spartanburg — in theory, once the park is complete in time for the 2025 season. The team will be changing its name with the move, but is currently being referred to as the Spartanburg Professional Baseball Club before one is chosen.
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