Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a professional minor league baseball team based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They are members of the Carolina League and serve as a Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The team provides local residents and visitors with high-quality baseball entertainment and community engagement opportunities. Established to promote athletic development and foster community pride, the Pelicans focus on creating a family-friendly atmosphere at Pelicans Ballpark. Their activities include hosting games, educational programs, and community events aimed at broadening public support for sports and healthy lifestyles in the Myrtle Beach area.
News Summary
The future of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a minor league baseball team, is uncertain due to stalled lease negotiations between city and county officials. Disagreements over additional financial obligations have caused tensions, threatening the team’s continued presence at Pelicans Ballpark. The Myrtle Beach City Council recently approved a new 30-year lease, but Horry County is pushing for conditions tied to airport renovations and economic development. With the current lease expired since 2018, local leaders are racing against time to finalize terms before the start of the 2026 season.
Myrtle Beach is facing a potential crisis regarding the future of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a minor league baseball team, as negotiations over stadium lease terms are currently in jeopardy. A deal aimed at securing the team’s presence at Pelicans Ballpark has hit a snag following disagreements between city and county officials on additional financial obligations tied to the lease agreement.
The Myrtle Beach City Council recently voted on May 13 to approve a new 30-year lease designed to keep the Pelicans in the city, which has owned 70% of Pelicans Ballpark since its inception. Horry County, which controls the remaining 30%, has proposed the inclusion of specific conditions in the lease related to financial support for airport renovations and the establishment of an entertainment district that would boost economic development in the area. However, city leaders have resisted these additional terms, preferring a straightforward lease without complicating factors.
City Councilman Bill McClure highlighted the necessity of maintaining a “clean” lease devoid of external dependencies, reflecting widespread concerns that burdening the lease with further conditions could undermine its viability. Conversely, Horry County Councilman Gary Loftus has expressed significant hesitance about allocating additional public funding towards the stadium, citing the existence of alternative local sports entertainment, such as the Coastal Carolina baseball team, as viable options for residents.
The Pelicans are at risk of leaving Myrtle Beach unless a final lease agreement can be reached promptly. The team’s original lease expired in 2018, and since then, the Pelicans have continued to operate under a series of temporary extensions. With the Major League Baseball framework mandating necessary renovations to the stadium by the moment the 2026 season commences, it is crucial for local officials to finalize negotiations in a timely manner.
According to the proposed lease agreement, the team’s annual rent would increase significantly over the lease’s duration, starting from $150,000 to $750,000 for the initial ten years, followed by $850,000 for the subsequent decade, and finally reaching $950,000 in the last phase. Additionally, a per-ticket fee is being proposed to help cater to both maintenance and capital expenditures, providing a steady stream of revenue for the necessary upgrades.
Both the city and county are expected to contribute an estimated $20 million toward facility upgrades, with funding split on a 70-30 basis in favor of Myrtle Beach. The Horry County Council has indicated the need for guarantees securing public funding for Myrtle Beach International Airport, which is pertinent to a previous agreement that has since ceased under newly voted city regulations. Past financial commitments involved substantial payments to the county to facilitate airport operations, but disagreements remain ongoing.
Under the county’s current proposal, the city would need to return to prior funding arrangements until litigation regarding Seascape Properties reaches its conclusion. Horry County officials cite these financial establishments as critical in addressing urgent airport renovation costs, which are currently estimated to total approximately $100 million.
The impending lease agreement requires a favorable outcome from the Horry County Council, with a decisive vote anticipated on May 20. Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune has expressed openness to further discussions but has emphasized the priority of concentrating on the lease’s specific terms rather than introducing unrelated funding arrangements.
As the Pelicans embark on their 2025 season, having already played their first game on April 4 and hosted their home opener on April 8 against the Carolina Mudcats, time is of the essence as local officials strive for a resolution that secures the team’s future in Myrtle Beach.
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Additional Resources
- Post and Courier
- Wikipedia: Myrtle Beach
- Horry News
- Google Search: Myrtle Beach Pelicans stadium lease
- WMBF News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Myrtle Beach
- WBTW News
- Google News: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
