Lehigh Valley IronPigs to stay in Allentown; city will help fund stadium upgrades

ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- The fate of the the Phillies minor league ballpark, and the future of the team was in in limbo Thursday morning. Allentown City Council abruptly reversed a plan to help fund renovations at Coca-Cola Park, the home of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Phillies

"We love being in this park so we certainly don't want our IronPigs to ever leave the Lehigh Valley," said Andrew Block, from Upper Macungie Township.

Major League Baseball says improvements must be made to keep the facility open.

They are required to complete around $9.5 million in upgrades to their stadium.

The city of Allentown was requested to contribute $1.5 million towards the renovation. Some members on council voted not to contribute a single dollar, saying the MLB should foot the bill instead so the city can focus its funding on other needs.

"It was their upgrades, their demands," said City Councilwoman Candida Affa, with Allentown City Council.

Councilwoman Candida Affa says she couldn't justify spending the money on the team when the city has other needs.

This was her reaction when Action News told her today that Lehigh County and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs issued a joint statement saying they will close the remaining funding gap on construction: "I don't regret my vote. I'm glad they're here, glad they found the money."

Lehigh County and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs statement said, "Lehigh County and the IronPigs are committed to continuing to work together to close the remaining funding gap on the current construction project underway at Coca-Cola Park. Such construction was necessitated by Major League Baseball's 2021 requirements of minor league teams to update their facilities in order to operate within new facility standards by April, 2023.

Although disappointed by the votes of the four city of Allentown council members at yesterday's meeting, the IronPigs and Lehigh county are jointly committed to determining a plan to allow the already existing construction process to be completed on time in advance of opening day next season.

The IronPigs have signed a lease extension to play in Lehigh County's Coca-Cola Park thru the 2052 season and the current construction will allow the IronPigs to meet MLB's facility standards. The IronPigs will call Lehigh County and Coca-Cola Park home for decades and generations to come."

"I'm excited for that cause I always like going to the games and stuff," said Caroline Block, from Upper Macungie Township.

The improvements required by the MLB include a new entrance behind center field to alleviate pedestrian usage on IronPigs Way, an upgraded air purification system, improved players' clubhouse facilities to accommodate up to 55 to 60 players, and accommodations for female coaches and female personnel.