Wilson Stadium


Wilson Stadium, also known as the Wilson Sports + Entertainment Complex, is an under construction stadium located in Wilson, North Carolina, which is set to be the home stadium of the Minor League Baseball team the Wilson Warbirds. Construction started for the stadium on May 10, 2024, and it is expected to be completed by opening day of baseball's 2026 season. It will have a capacity of 4,500, and will use artificial turf as the surface of the field. Reactions to the main tenants of the stadium being the Wilson Warbirds have been generally positive in the city of Wilson, but have had some criticism from the nearby towns of Zebulon and Wendell, North Carolina, and from the amateur baseball team the Wilson Tobs, which were already located in Wilson.

History

Construction

On May 10, 2024, a groundbreaking ceremony took place to mark the beginning of construction for the $70 million stadium as part of a wider $280 million development project approved by the city of Wilson, North Carolina. Earlier on December 14, 2023, the city of Wilson had negotiated with the Milwaukee Brewers to move their Single-A affiliate Minor League Baseball team, the Carolina Mudcats, to the stadium as its first tenants after its completion. The memorandum of understanding between the two parties saw the Brewers lease the Mudcats, being rebranded as the Wilson Warbirds, to the stadium for a minimum of 25 years. While reactions to the relocation and rebranding of the Mudcats to the city were generally positive in Wilson, a number of officials in nearby Zebulon and Wendell, North Carolina, which were close to the Mudcats, were upset by the move and the economic concerns which would result from the areas loss of the team. Furthermore, the amateur baseball team the Wilson Tobs, already located within Wilson, wrote a formal list of questions to the city contesting why they were not considered as tenants for the stadium.
Barton Malow, Clancy & Theys Construction Company, and other groups were contacted by the city to build the stadium. To aid in paying for the stadium, Wilson made plans to increase the city's property tax rate by two cents, from 57.5 to 59.5 cents per $100 of valuation. The planned opening date for the stadium is the opening day for baseball's 2026 season.

Design

Wilson Stadium, also less commonly referred to as the Wilson Sports + Entertainment Complex, will be located at 419 Goldsboro St. South. It is being built to accommodate 3,500 seats, with additional standing room to hold a capacity of 4,500. In relation to its use for baseball, the 4,500 capacity will be about 2,000 fewer than the capacity the Mudcats had at their previous Five County Stadium. Between ten and twelve private suites are also being constructed in addition to a baseball club longue, banquet facility which can accommodate 250 guests, and right field picnic area. The surface of the field is to be made of artificial turf. Outside the stadium there will be surface and street side parking, and a kids play area which will be open year-round. In addition to baseball, the stadium is planned to host concerts and other community events. The stadium will be surrounded by mixed-use development including office space, retail space, townhomes, apartments, and an 80-room hotel which will overlook the field.