City of Mobile Takes Control of Ladd Peebles Stadium

Oct 20th, 2010

Mobile Mayor Sam Jones will take over the day-to-day administrative operation of the beleaguered Ladd-Peebles Stadium, naming Bobby Bostwick, the city’s executive director of Cultural and Civic Development as the de facto manager.

In partnership with the stadium’s board of directors, the mayor said Bostwick will oversee the stadium’s:

• Schedule activities;
• Existing assets to pay payroll and stadium operational expenses

“The investment at Ladd Stadium is far too important for us to allow the operation to continue as is,” Jones said. “Bobby is a member of my executive staff. He brings a level of professionalism to the table, along with a vast knowledge of contracts and marketing. We need this type of leadership at the stadium.”

In an amicable meeting with board chair A. Earl McKinnell and treasurer, John Thompson, Jones said the $419,796 performance contract with the board has not been renewed.

Paul Christopher, the current manager, serves at the pleasure of the seven-member board; therefore, his employment has to be addressed by them. Both McKinnell and Thompson told the mayor, “This is a partnership between the board and the city. We will do what is needed to resolve this matter.”

The mayor stressed that he wants the board to develop measures that will recoup the unauthorized overtime funds accumulated by Christopher.

Jones said the board will continue to exist to:

• Use existing assets to pay payroll and stadium expenses to continue the facility’s operation. All of the expenditures will be subject to Bostwick’s approval;
• Transfer all contractual obligations from the board to the city.
• To assist the city in hiring a professional management company to run the stadium.

Jones noted that all existing contracts will be honored. A new independent accounting firm will be hired to do an expanded and comprehensive audit.