Drive to build new AquaSox ballpark gets $7.4M boost from state
EVERETT — State lawmakers are looking to steer millions of dollars to the city to help it build a new ballpark for the Everett AquaSox.
A proposed capital budget issued Monday by Senate Democrats earmarks $7.4 million to Everett for the project, which may take three years and tens of millions to complete. House Democrats are expected to include a similar sum in their construction budget due out next week.
The Senate plan spreads $24 million among 11 communities that are home to ballparks such as Spokane, Tacoma, Pasco, Bellingham and Longview. Those dollars are intended for field improvements and stadium upgrades, depending on the needs of each respective facility.
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The AquaSox, who are the Seattle Mariners’ affiliate in the High-A Northwest League, currently play at Funko Field, which they lease from the Everett School District. Funko Field, which opened in 1947 and has been the home of Everett’s minor-league team since it debuted as the Giants in 1984, simply won’t work.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/drive-to-build-new-aquasox-ballpark-gets-7-4m-boost-from-state/
Mixed feelings on this one. As noted, the field is owned by the Everett School District, so the high school teams play there as well.
The thing is though the recent upgrades that gave us the Climate Pledge Arena where the Kraken plays show that the private sector can pay their way if they want to.