While the game might still be on, Brunswick County officials announced a decision Thursday not to invest in a proposed baseball stadium complex and mixed-use development, apparently throwing a curve ball to the town of Leland.

The county announcement, emailed around noon, said that although a feasibility study on the project embarked upon by the town of Leland is still underway, "it is currently estimated that the debt needed to fund the stadium’s construction could exceed $100 million. While the County remains in a strong financial position, county leadership feels that such an investment may not be prudent for the County to take on at this time."

Jessica Jewell, spokeswoman for the town of Leland, in an email Thursday afternoon, said, "We are disappointed in the county’s current position. The town was only notified about this shortly before you were. We will continue with the economic feasibility study to gain the full information and evaluate those results before making any further decisions."

Leland officials did not address whether the county's decision could keep the project from making it to home plate. The town and the county were in discussions on the development with Texas-based REV Entertainment, management partner for a variety of sports teams including the Texas Rangers. The proposal called for a 3,500-seat stadium with parking, a convention center and a hotel, along with the potential for retail, restaurant and office space.

In a statement Thursday afternoon, REV officials said, "REV Entertainment maintains being fully committed to bringing a baseball and entertainment complex to the town of Leland. We were notified of Brunswick County’s position this morning and at this time we are continuing to work with the town of Leland as they continue their due diligence of the project, including the completion of the feasibility study."

At a press conference in March, Sean Decker, president of REV Entertainment; Haynes Brigman, Brunswick County’s deputy county manager; and Gary Vidmar, economic and community development director for the town of Leland, shared more details about the project and expressed enthusiasm about the deal.

The development would be located on about 25 acres of 1,400, owned by Jackeys Creek Investors LLC, that is currently outside of Leland town limits.

Vidmar had said in March that the developer would petition for annexation of the property.
 
“That’s why Leland is involved at this point,” he said at the March 7 news conference. “Both Leland and Brunswick County would derive revenues from the development.”

At the same event, Brigman of Brunswick County said there would "be no bond issue and no tax increase" to pay for the stadium.

But "no dollars" from Brunswick County was the message in the county's announcement Thursday.

“We still believe this proposed project has great merit and could potentially provide the desired entertainment, shopping and dining options our residents have asked for over the years,” Brunswick County Commissioners Chairman Randy Thompson said in a news release. “While Brunswick County has decided to not take on debt to finance this particular project, our staff continue to work with all parties involved to find other ways to fund this concept."

Initially, the proposal had Brunswick County building and owning the stadium and taking on the responsibility for any debt issuance associated with the stadium's construction, the release stated. The stadium would have then been leased to and maintained by REV Entertainment.

The county release ended with, "Brunswick County will remain an active participant in all discussions involving the proposed development and staff will continue to collaborate with representatives from all participating entities as the process moves forward."

Hill Rogers, broker-in-charge at Cameron Management, is the managing member of Jackeys Creek Investors LLC.

Rogers said, "We’re going to proceed forward in planning for the development of our property [for which the uses have not yet been determined] with or without baseball, but we're hopeful that it happens, as a modern-day minor league professional baseball sports and entertainment complex will be a huge benefit for the community at large."