From Staff Reports

 Contrary to the reporting of major local mainstream media news outlets, including the Asheville Citizen Times and Asheville television station WLOS (News 13), that Asheville definitely will keep its minor league baseball team ( the Asheville Tourists) from leaving the city after the 2023 season, a team spokesman told the Daily Planet that, at least as of April 7, the team’s future home is not etched in stone.

Tourists’ owner Brian DeWine had presented an ultimatum to the City of Asheville and Buncombe County to cover a $37.5 million upgrade of McCormick Field, with a commitment by April 1, as mandated by Major League Baseball — or he would move the team elsewhere.

City Council and the Buncombe County Board of Comissioners committed $20 million and $5 million, respectively, but the needed final steps — including financial commitments from the Buncombe Tourism Development Authority and the State of North Carolina for the remaining balance— were pending as of the Daily Planet’s press deadline of 9 a.m. April 10 for this edition.

Therefore, the fate of Asheville’s minor league baseball team remains in limbo, as the Daily Planet emailed Tourists’ team spokesman Doug Maurer for an update on the team’s future in Asheville on April 7.

In response, Maurer, who is director of broadcast and media relations for the local baseball team, stated the following on April 7:

“The Buncombe County Commissioners voted to join the City of Asheville in the McCormick Field renovation. We are thankful for another important step in keeping Minor League Baseball in Asheville. Now, we look forward to working with the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority and the State of North Carolina to finalize the McCormick Field renovation plan. Thank you for your support in making another important step possible.”

In a follow-up question shortly thereafter, the newspaper asked Maurer via email: “So is the Daily Planet safe in saying (reporting) that the Asheville Tourists’ deal was set by the MLB’s deadline on April 1 — and that Asheville minor league baseball team definitely will be staying in Asheville for decades to come?”

Later April 7, Maurer replied to the newspaper’s question — via email — as follows: 

“I would stay away from that statement.

“The Daily Planet can say the Tourists still need to work with the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority and the State of North Carolina to finalize the McCormick Field renovation designed to keep baseball in Asheville for decades to come.”

The April 1 deadline reportedly was the result of new requirements by Major League Baseball, which is deciding on facility upgrades for 120 affiliated minor league ballclubs nationwide. MLB has said the upgrades must be completed by Opening Day 2023, but in acknowledging that was not possible, a deferral was contingent on having a funding plan in place by April 1.

“With Asheville City Manager Debra Campbell's looping signature on a letter to Peter Woodfork, senior vice president of Minor League Operations and Development, dated March 25, the deadline was met,” according to the Citizen Times.