The Pelicans are one step closer to staying in Myrtle Beach. Here’s what city council did
Horry County may not own any percentage of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Minor League Baseball stadium anymore.
Myrtle Beach City Council approved the first reading of two new ordinances that will allow the city to try and lock down a new lease with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. This new lease will not include Horry County.
“This is essentially the last chance to save the Myrtle Beach Pelicans,” councilman Gregg Smith said at Tuesday’s meeting.
There are no other changes to this new lease, according to City Manager Fox Simons.
The vote followed almost an hour of executive session over contract negotiations related to the baseball team during city council’s workshop.
These ordinances will allow for Simons to negotiate with Horry County over the acquisition of the county’s 30 percent ownership of Pelicans Ballpark, and then execute a new 30-year lease between the city and the baseball team.
Simons said at Tuesday’s meeting that the transfer of ownership would come with $6 million from the county.
But, councilwoman Debbie Conner said that this new deal will leave the city without the county’s 30 percent financial support going forward. It’s unclear what funding the city will use to make up for that additional 30 percent.
This new ordinance follows one that County Council passed last week, which would’ve required Myrtle Beach to enter an Intergovernmental Agreement over a proposed multi-county business park and funding for the airport.
In an release, the city said that “officials expressed disappointment following Horry County Council’s vote last Tuesday night.”
The city will have a special called council meeting next Tuesday at 10 a.m. for the second reading of these new ordinances, Mayor Brenda Bethune said at the end of the vote.
These discussions and numerous ordinances related to the long-term future of the Pelicans started last fall when Horry County and City Council agreed to extend the old lease by another year.
Due to requirements mandated by Major League Baseball for player development, Pelicans Ballpark in downtown Myrtle Beach needs $20 million of renovations.
This story was originally published May 27, 2025 at 11:05 AM.
