Smithfield council approves 20‑year lease with Tobs and $6M design‑build contract for new stadium amid community concerns

The Town of Smithfield on a unanimous voice vote approved entering a 20‑year lease with Tobs Baseball (WTBC LLC) and separately approved a design‑build contract with Mueter Construction, Inc. with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $6,000,000 to construct a new baseball venue at the community park on Buffalo Road.

The lease described by staff includes nominal payments in the first two years, escalating annual rent beginning in 2028 and periodic 5‑year rollovers. Under the terms presented, the town would retain control of stadium and field naming rights and have priority access to the facility from Nov. 16 to April 30 for town events; Tobs would have exclusive stadium use from May 1 to Nov. 15. Staff told the council the town would pay the facility’s water and sewer costs while Tobs would pay electric utility bills and operate and staff concessions, field maintenance and stadium operations.

Why it matters: council members and residents said the project could bring tourism and sports‑related spending but emphasized that the town is committing significant public funds and retaining certain ongoing costs. Staff outlined a funding plan that includes $2,000,000 from the town’s economic development fund, $584,187 from the town’s tourism (hotel/occupancy) fund, $250,000 reprioritized from the capital budget, $365,789 from the Bingham Park Fund, $300,000 from a Park‑in‑Lieu fund, $500,000 from the Johnston County Visitors Bureau and $2,000,000 from the county.

Residents and council members raised multiple concerns during public comment and questioning. Richard Buckner, a resident of Cobblestone Court, opposed the stadium location at Bradford Park and argued the town is assuming most of the project risk: “All the risk falls on the town of Smithfield…that is not a good leadership, especially when you've expressed in the past that one of the reasons you don't try harder to attract retail is because revenues go into a county pool,” Buckner said. Council members pressed staff about whether demolition and traffic/access improvements were included in the $6,000,000 GMP and asked for clarity on zoning and UDO compliance. Staff said demolition and any required DOT access improvements were not finalized and that site plans and UDO compliance would be required during the design phase.

Tobs owner Greg Swear described the team’s regional programming and past successes in Wilson and Thomasville and promoted the anticipated calendar of events, saying the organization brings year‑round camps and tournaments in addition to summer games. “All of these activities we were hosting in Wilson will now be moved to Smithfield…you’re going to be the beneficiary of young people playing baseball, of fans enjoying our sport, and a long storied calendar of events roughly 10 months out the year,” Swear said.

Council response and next steps: council members approved both the lease and the design‑build contract but directed staff to continue coordination on zoning/site‑plan review, obtain demolition and traffic estimates, and return with additional details as parts of the design and permitting process proceed. Several council members asked staff to include measurable economic impact reporting and periodic reviews in follow‑up agreements or reports so the town can assess whether projected benefits materialize.

What is not decided: staff and consultants told the council there is no final site plan yet, demolition estimates are pending, traffic improvements with DOT (including any required turning lanes or signals) have not been finalized, and some funds used are restricted accounts (staff identified which funds are restricted during the discussion). The council’s votes authorized entering the lease and executing the design‑build contract; they did not approve construction drawings, final demolition scopes or any additional appropriation beyond the funding sources discussed.

The council’s approval sets the town on a multi‑year design and permitting track. The mayor and staff said they will return to the council with site‑plan review material and cost estimates as they become available.