Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball contract extended 1 year. Franchise wants $60 million in upgrades or will leave town.

David Hucks

Today, Myrtle Beach City Council voted unanimously to extend the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball contract for one year. The contract expires in 2025. The contract was extended exactly as it stands so that negotiations between the city and the Chicago team franchise can continue.

Ordinance 2024-64, which successfully moved through the initial phases at the city council on Tuesday, grants a one-year extension to the existing lease agreement between the baseball team and the city and county. This extension will be valid until 30 days after the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball contract

Once the lease extension expires, the city will engage in ongoing discussions with the team in an effort to secure a long-term Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball contract agreement.

Motion 2024-81 was passed by the City Council, granting a maximum of $1.3 million for downtown Myrtle Beach Pelicans baseball stadium repairs. Irrespective of the outcome of next season’s negotiations on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball contract, these funds are necessary.

The lease extension ordinance will be presented for its subsequent reading during the upcoming city council meeting later this month and anticipates unanimous approval.

According to projections, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball contract will require the City of Myrtle Beach to fund $60 million to maintain the agreement with the baseball franchise.

The passage provided today served as a temporary solution, giving the city an opportunity to engage in negotiations for the most favorable terms available. The city loses $90,000 annually on the current Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball contract.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball contract

Sources close to Myrtle Beach City Government state that the debt of Myrtle Beach currently stands at 80% of its borrowing capacity.