BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce will commit $100,000 toward the necessary renovations of Allentown's Coca-Cola Park, home of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
“Our mission is to improve the economy and quality of life in the Lehigh Valley, and we felt that the IronPigs did both of those in spades,” Chamber of Commerce President Tony Iannelli said.
- Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously to provide $100,000 to the IronPigs to afford stadium upgrades
- Northampton County officials have recently considered pulling $100,000 the county had committed to the project
- Lehigh County has committed as much as $3 million to ensure the necessary stadium upgrades are completed
“Not only did they improve the economy, obviously, but what they do for the quality of life in the Lehigh Valley is immeasurable,” he said.
The chamber voted during a board meeting Monday, Iannelli said, making a unanimous decision with more than 50 members voting to provide funds to the minor league baseball team.
“It’s important to both Lehigh and Northampton counties, so, that’s why we jumped in,” Iannelli said.
Over the past year, the IronPigs' future with the Lehigh Valley was threatened after Major League Baseball demanded the team make nearly $10 million of stadium improvements or face losing their affiliation with the league.
For months, local governments and the team met to negotiate potential ways to afford these renovations. Lehigh County eventually stepped up with a $3 million promise to help afford the upgrades.
“Our mission is to improve the economy and quality of life in the Lehigh Valley, and we felt that the IronPigs did both of those in spades."Tony Iannelli, president and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
And, later, when there was concern there could still be a gap, the county promisedto make sure the team would stay.
Northampton County had been supportive of the project as well, though officials have recently debated pulling $100,000 in funding that the county promised to the stadium project.
Iannelli said the chamber wanted to use some funds it has had in reserve to help make sure the baseball team will be able to complete its project in time for the start of the upcoming season.
“We felt that it was the appropriate time to put $100,000 into the IronPigs to help them stay,” he said.
