Stadium lease approved by council

Huntsville, Ala. -- The Huntsville City Council Thursday night unanimously approved a new five-year stadium lease with the Huntsville Stars. The Stars, the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A Affiliate and a member of the Southern League, have played at Joe Davis Stadium since the team's inception in 1985.

"This is great news for not only the Stars and the City of Huntsville, but also for the Huntsville community and the thousands of avid baseball fans who have supported the Stars over the last 22 years," said Stars General Manager Tom Van Schaack.

The new 5-year lease includes a $1 million budget for stadium repairs, maintenance and capital improvements that will bring the stadium up to Minor League Baseball standards as well as other repairs and capital improvements to the stadium.

"We're thankful to the City for all their hard work in getting through this process," said E. Miles Prentice, President of the Stars. "We look forward to working with the City over the next five years."

The Stars will continue to manage the day-to-day operation of Joe Davis Stadium, but the City of Huntsville will now take a more active role in the annual maintenance of the facility.

The Stars open the 2006 Southern League season April 6 at Mississippi. The home opener for the Stars is Tuesday, April 11 vs. Birmingham. The Stars will also play an exhibition game against the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers on Tuesday, April 4 at Joe Davis Stadium. Tickets for the UAH exhibition and home opener are now on sale at the Stars offices.