New Britain Stadium may not sit empty after all.
Mayor Erin Stewart announced Tuesday that the Atlantic League has given conditional approval for the relocation of a baseball team to New Britain.
The move would come in time for the 2016 season, meaning at Atlantic League team will likely fill the stadium as the Rock Cats head to Hartford to become the Yard Goats.
Stewart said the new team is all but guaranteed to play in New Britain next season.
"I am absolutely overjoyed by this news," Stewart said in a statement Tuesday. "The Atlantic League is our #1 choice as a new tenant at New Britain Stadium and receiving conditional approval today is a giant step towards making that a reality."
According to a news release from the mayor's office, both Stewart and the Atlantic League hope to have a deal finalized by Oct. 1.
"We are currently negotiating the final terms of the lease agreement and I believe that we are very close to wrapping that process up," Stewart said. "Once we have a tentative agreement, it will be presented to the Common Council for their approval."
