Sugar Land City Council has now identified a preferred site near the northeast corner of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A for a minor league baseball stadium.

The preferred location is part of the Imperial Redevelopment/Tract 3 site, proposed by Johnson Development Corporation, Cherokee Sugar Land LP and the Texas General Land Office.

The City of Sugar Land will now begin the process to confirm the site's development capabilities and suitability prior to a final decision by City Council that's expected by the end of the summer.

The preferred location for the stadium was made after careful consideration of four site options. An extensive site evaluation ensured the most cost effective and beneficial site to the community for the future professional minor league baseball stadium.

The stadium is expected to result in nearby commercial development, so the City also considered several locations to ensure the greatest quality of life and economic benefit to the community.

Other sites considered were near the intersections of U.S. Highway 59 and University Boulevard and State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A.

The initial vision for minor league baseball was developed by citizens serving on the Visioning Task Force, a group that established a goal to enhance entertainment and family-oriented opportunities within the community. Voters approved in November 2004 specific sales tax and venue taxes to fund the project -- no general fund tax dollars will be spent on the stadium.

On May 18, the Sugar Land City Council approved an historic agreement with Opening Day Partners, LLC to bring professional minor league baseball to Sugar Land.