QuickTake:

The city of Medford and the team agreed to end discussions after the City Council raised concerns about the feasibility of building a stadium.

The Eugene Emeralds and the city of Medford have agreed to quit plans for a new minor league baseball stadium in Medford, the city announced Friday, Nov. 13.

The decision was made after a City Council study session on Thursday and subsequent discussions. Councilors reviewed a feasibility study exploring development of a stadium at two locations, according to the city.

Councilors raised concerns about the cost, potential impacts on residents and whether it could meet the timeline required for the Emeralds to comply with standards Major League Baseball set for minor league teams in 2021, the city said.

“After considering Council’s feedback and the work that would be needed to advance the project within the required timeline, both parties determined not to move forward,” the city’s announcement says. “The Emeralds will instead focus their efforts on keeping the team in Eugene.”

Eugene Emeralds General Manager Matt Dompe did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Lookout Eugene-Springfield.

DG Elmore, the Eugene Emeralds’ owner, said in the announcement: “We sincerely appreciate the time and effort the Mayor, City Council and City staff dedicated to exploring this opportunity. While there are still important questions to address and challenges with the timeline, we believe the best path forward is to focus our efforts on keeping the Emeralds in Eugene. We’re grateful for Medford’s partnership and thoughtful consideration.”

The team, which is a High-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, previously said it would remain in Eugene at least through the 2027 season. Previous efforts to establish a new stadium in Eugene stalled after voters in 2024 rejected a $15 million bond measure to build a stadium at the Lane Events Center.