Mayor Stimpson welcomes The Grounds into Mobile

Feb 19th, 2015

MOBILE, Ala. - Mayor Stimpson on Thursday welcomed The Grounds to the City of Mobile following a vote by the organization's Board of Directors' to annex the 100-acre property into the city.

The Stimpson administration worked closely with The Grounds board and executive director Scott Tindle over the past 12 months to finalize the annexation agreement. The event facility serves as a year-round entertainment, convention and commercial venue that hosts several of the Gulf Coast's most popular events.

"The Grounds is an outstanding addition to the City of Mobile," said Stimpson. "I appreciate this decision by the board, which adds momentum to our bid to become the safest, most business and family friendly city by 2020. Under the direction of Scott Tindle, the Grounds has become a leader in community development, and I am confident this move will bring us another step closer to One Mobile. "

The Grounds has undergone more than $500,000 in improvements in recent years and has quickly become one of the go-to event facilities in the Mobile area, including several of the Gulf Coast's largest events like the Greater Gulf State Fair, Christmas Jubilee and the American Cancer Society's Chili Cook-off.

The annexation will strengthen the city's strategic partnership with The Grounds, which annually draws more than one million attendees. It also will enable Mobile to promote the entertainment venue as part of the city's package when attracting events to the area.

Mayor Stimpson joined Tindle and Board President Mike Milford at a ceremony today at The Grounds to sign the official Petition of Annexation.