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Wake County board selects Capital Broadcasting to lease and operate Five County Stadium; $10 million in facility investments planned
Summary
The board approved drafting a lease with Capital Broadcasting Corporation for Five County Stadium. Terms call for $710,000 in payments to county and town over 10 years, county/town-funded capital improvements of about $10 million through 2027, and a proposed operator-run Coastal Plain League team in 2026.
The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 2 to move forward with a lease agreement process that would authorize Capital Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to lease and operate Five County Stadium in eastern Wake County.
Deputy County Manager Emily Lucas presented the results of RFP 24-108 and a term sheet recommending that the county and the town of Zebulon proceed to draft a lease with CBC. “The county and the town will receive payments over the next 10 years totaling $710,000,” Lucas said, adding that the county and town will remain responsible for capital repairs and that the proposed lessee will assume day-to-day operating costs such as insurance and utilities.
Under the proposed terms, the county and town plan to invest approximately $10 million between now and 2027 for facility improvements, including replacements or upgrades to the playing field (to accommodate baseball and soccer), outfield wall, scoreboard, lighting, concessions and kitchen equipment, and refreshed concourse and group spaces. The proposal also calls for removing the first-base bleachers and replacing them with a family play area that would be accessible on non-event days, and converting the third-base bleachers to an adult social gathering area.
CBC told staff it plans to host a Coastal Plain League baseball team and additional programming including baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s soccer. The county and town would retain the ability to host up to 10 rent-free community events annually and offer a credit for non-tenant ticketed events of up to $100,000 annually.
An evaluation team considered compliance with RFP requirements, alignment with county and town goals and public input from a February engagement survey, financial terms, timeline and proposer qualifications. Lucas said three proposals were received in response to the RFP and the recommended respondent brought venue operating experience, community development partnerships and team ownership experience.
Commissioners asked about sustainability and public updates; Lucas said additional project details and renderings would be provided when the lease is brought back to the board on Oct. 6 and that sustainability questions could be addressed as projects move toward implementation. Commissioner Adamson noted the lease also provides programming days for non-sport community events, and Commissioners praised the approach as reducing the county’s annual operating exposure.
Commissioner Stallings moved to award the RFP to CBC and to authorize staff to draft the lease between Wake County, the town of Zebulon and CBC; commissioners approved the motion by voice vote. Staff will publish the statutorily required 30-day notice of the proposed lease and lease rate and return the finalized lease to the board on Oct. 6.
