The Wichita City Council, the Wichita Wind Surge, and Major League Baseball have approved a naming rights agreement that will change the name of Riverfront Stadium to Equity Bank Park.
Team ownership and the city negotiated a revenue sharing provision that will pay the city $117,500 in the first year. In each subsequent year, the amount will increase by 3 percent.
City Manager Robert Layton says the 15-year agreement would generate significant revenue for Wichita, on the order of $3.5 million. That revenue would help with any necessary stadium repairs or other needs.
We also learned that development planned on the west bank of the river near the ballpark is closer to getting started. EPC Real Estate group has filed all plans, which are now in final review. Preliminary fencing is up near the ballpark and construction should begin this Spring.