The torch is being passed.

After 44 years of the Elizabethton Parks and Rec running the Elizabethton Twins and the facilities at Joe O’Brien Field, the Elizabethton City Council voted unanimously to approve a lease agreement with Boyd Sports that will allow the sports management firm to operate at the Joe O’Brien Field. Boyd Sports is also in an agreement with the Minnesota Twins to operate the day-to-day functions of the Elizabethton Twins baseball team.

“The last couple of years have been very challenging,” said Elizabethton Mayor Curt Alexander in reference to the many talks between the city and Minnesota about the future of the Twins.

“There is excitement with Minnesota’s commitment and Boyd Sports with what they have done with the Johnson City Cardinals and Greeneville (Reds),” added Alexander. “I really think game day experience is going to be a whole lot different.”

Before the vote on the lease, the council had a lengthy discussion with Boyd Sports President Chris Allen. Councilman Mike Simerly raised a question about the fact that Boyd Sports will not be paying rent to Elizabethton to operate at Joe O’Brien.

“We are giving our ballpark up and we are not getting rent or anything,” said Simerly. “I know we have talked about it, and it is the same agreement that Johnson City has, but I don’t think that makes it right.”

Allen responded to Simerly’s question by saying that Boyd Sports has done roughly $900,000 out of the company’s pocket in improvements at Cardinals Park. Allen pointed out that a lot of those improvements were to fan amenities.

“When I initially did the deal with Johnson City, there weren’t any dollars going to fan amenities at the ballpark,” said Allen. “In this case (Joe O’Brien Field), there is a lot of work already being done to the ballpark but not necessarily to fan amenities. That is where we come in.”

Allen’s answer seemed to indicate that Boyd Sports plans on making improvements at Joe O’Brien with the company’s money. However, there aren’t any stipulations in the lease agreement saying that Boyd Sports will make capital improvements at the field.

The lease agreement is for one year with an automatic four-year extension if both parties agree to continue the lease.

The lease also has a condition that Boyd Sports understands the Elizabethton High School baseball team is to still have access to Joe O’Brien Field for use during home games and practices.

Also in the lease, Boyd Sports will be “responsible for all costs associated with the preparation, arrangements and set up of the facility (Joe O’Brien Field) which are directly and indirectly attributed to its games, practices and other events.”

The City of Elizabethton, per the lease, would be “responsible for all improvements, and maintenance of all permanent structures at the field.” That will include “the outfield wall, lighting, grandstands, team buildings, buildings within the gated perimeter of Joe O’Brien Field, including roof structures, heating, and air systems, plumbing, routine painting, scoreboard repairs, and standard electrical services.”

During Thursday’s meeting, the council also voted on first reading to pass an ordinance to amend city code to allow Boyd Sports to have an “on-premise” beer permit at Joe O’Brien Field. Boyd Sports, which operates the Johnson City Cardinals, the Greeneville Reds, and the Tennessee Smokies, serves beers at its other facilities.

“Beer sales are a key ingredient to have a successful minor league baseball operation. . .,” said Allen to the city council. “I will say, knock on wood, in 20 years, we haven’t had any issues tied to the sale of beer at other parks.”

During the meeting, Councilman Richard Barker, who brought up issues with seating at Joe O’Brien Field, made a motion to create a task force to work with representatives from Boyd Sports on improving fan seating at the ballpark. The motion passed.