COLUMBIA, S.C. (WNCN) – Fayetteville residents are one step closer to having their own minor league baseball team and stadium.RELATED: Ballpark research taking Fayetteville leaders on road trip to SC

The City has been negotiating a deal with the Houston Astros to bring a minor league team to Cumberland County for several weeks.

Thursday, city leaders visited Columbia, South Carolina and its $37 million baseball stadium.

Spirit Communications Park, the home of Columbia Fireflies, is what Fayetteville leaders want to model their park after.

The Fireflies home sits on what used to be the site of a state mental health hospital.

Open now for just four months, the stadium has welcomed more than 180,000 fans.

All those fans means more cash in the local economy.

“This has brought the community together. This was not a very good area at first and they built this stadium and the whole city has rallied around it,” said Columbia resident Bob Schulmeister.

Fayetteville’s plan includes a 5,000-seat stadium located across from the Prince Charles Hotel.

The project could also cost in the $30 million range.

Fayetteville Mayor Nat Robertson said they hope to seal the deal without raising property taxes.

“We want to make it an event to bring the family to, relatively inexpensive and good family fun,” Robertson said.

Robertson said the City Council will decide in the next couple of week on their plans with the Astros.