October 25, 2025
Smithfield Makes Pitch To Land Wilson Tobs Franchise With Proposed Stadium Deal
SMITHFIELD — The Town of Smithfield is taking a major swing at bringing baseball to Johnston County, entering into early negotiations with the Wilson Tobs, a Coastal Plain League team seeking a new home for the 2026 season.
On Tuesday evening, the Smithfield Town Council approved a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tobs organization. The move positions Smithfield as one of the contenders to host the franchise, which has called the historic Fleming Stadium in Wilson home since 1939.
Town officials have been in discussions with the team for several weeks, aiming to secure a long-term partnership that would include the construction of a new stadium at Smithfield Community Park.
Town Manager Mike Scott said Smithfield has been working closely with the Tobs to put together a deal that makes sense for the town, the county, and the team.
The proposed Smithfield stadium would seat between 1,500 and 1,800 fans and host approximately 30 Tobs home games each season but also up to 130 total events annually, including youth training events, high school and college activities.
Councilman Roger Wood voiced his enthusiasm for the project, both as a fan and a resident.
“I’ve been to a few games. It’s fun and a good league,” Wood said. “I hear all the time that we need more things to do in Smithfield. We need county support. I am excited about the opportunity.”
Mayor Andy Moore echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the project’s potential to boost tourism and local business.
“I am excited about it. I truly believe this will be the number one tourism draw to Johnston County,” Moore said. “This would literally be a gamechanger for Johnston County. It is an awesome and fantastic opportunity for us.”
Moore also pointed to Smithfield’s existing hospitality infrastructure, noting the town currently has 16 hotels within its limits, with one or two more in the pipeline — enough, he said, to accommodate a surge in visitors for Tobs games and related events.
According to town officials, the estimated annual economic impact of bringing the Tobs to Smithfield could range from $8 million to $9 million.
Funding for the proposed stadium would require collaboration between the Town of Smithfield, Johnston County, and the Johnston County Tourism Authority. As of now, the Johnston County Board of Commissioners has not approved any financial support for the project.
The Tobs are aiming to relocate by the 2026 season, with a decision on their future home expected within the next 30 to 60 days.
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STOP WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY!!!!!
Please Stop The Insanity!!!!
What will the name be then the Smithfield tobacco worms
Stop it! Enough is Enough
Or the croppers, the toppers, the stringers or hangers? Maybe the tractor drivers?
What an awesome opportunity for young ball players to have a team close by. A great opportunity for employment as well for those youngins to be a bat boy/girl or work at the stadium.
I think if this is done right, with all the people coming to Smithfield at the moment, this could be a great thing for the town. The economic impact would help tremendously if the cost can be contained or shared within reason…personally I have been looking forward to going to games in Wilson next year and planning what I might do and where I might eat in conjunction with that and it would be great to have a next door opportunity like this. Personally, I will probably be one of the first season ticket holders if it happens.
Let them go play at Five Counties. It’s empty since the Mudcats left. No taxpayer dollars needed.
DA*N GOOD POINT!
TOB’s ?
What is a Tob?
Short for Tobacconists.
Tobacco worms….I think…
How about ‘Share Croppers?’
If the town wants to spend money then spend it on Hiring More Firefighters and Building a Third Fire Station on the North Side for all the developments you already approved!!!
there is zero economic boost from putting a sports stadium in your town. an ego boost maybe
No no no
It’s mascot is a tobacco worm
Just add some setting on sss baseball field. The Clayton clovers play at a community park and have very little seating, in fact people bring their own more comfortable chairs. Let sss run concessions with profits split 50 50 after cost. Tobs get the gate. There, I’ve solved the problem.
Correct. And the covers m I g h t draw 100 people.
No stadium is needed
What a mistake. Take a look at the University of San Francisco’s study of the economic impact of minor-league teams in the Journal of Sports Economics. The bottom line: NO significant impact from an independent minor league team.
Few things help a town that the town sponsors. I’d say this is no different. I don’t expect direct money. I don’t think many hotel rooms would benefit unless you have a regional or state event, which will be hard to get. Howver, quality of life is important as is opportunity for students, fun family activities. JCC could offer classes in sports management and get help from the team. I spent over 30 years in Raleigh and we regularly drove to both Bulls and Mud Cats games. Durham Bulls was always packed, very heavy spend at concessions and this is with little to no parking. I enjoyed the Mud Cats, which filled fewer seats, but good entertainment/fun for me as well as my familiy.
Yes, we need more police, firefighters and equipment. I’d also like to have a good steak and chinese/japanese/korean food place. It just takes time and bodies to make those work. Like it or not, we are triangle east. It is fast moving this way and the effects are already being felt. I’ve seen cities and towns fight this and lose. Better to embrace the inevitable and control it than to let it control you.
As a note, the state and county bult PNC Arena for NC State basketball. At the time, State could not even sell out Reynolds, much less PNC. Yet, this project enabled the Hurricanes to relocate here. If you think that has not had an impact, think again.
As for me and mine, PLAY BALL! A bag of peanuts, a cold pepsi and good, live baseball is awesome.
There’s no space at Smithfield community park, besides with the schools and new housing traffic will already be an issue, why add even worse traffic?
Heck I can’t shower & do laundry at the same time because the water pressure is so low. Maybe work on that first before you okay another 1,000 house subdivision.
I dont live, work or pay taxes in Smithfield.
This ballpark is a Great Idea!