The developers of the downtown Reno baseball stadium and the Reno City Council are "playing ball".

The council agreed Wednesday evening to loan the developers money to build an entertainment district.

The council voted 4-1 to loan the developers between $1million and $2.5 million a year - for 20 years. The money comes from redevelopment district property taxes.

The developers - SK Baseball and Nevada Land, plan to use the money to finance an entertainment district alongside the baseball stadium. The area would contain restaurants, nightclubs, and an outdoor events plaza in front of the stadium on east 2nd Street.

Responding to how he could assure that the taxpayers dollars, would be well spent, Reno Aces Managing Partner Stuart Katzoff says, "Well...we can debate whether its taxpayers dollars...we have over $60 million of our own money in this project, so I would say that we are putting our money where our mouth is."

Jessica Sferraza, the only council member who voted against the plan, says, now is not the time to take such risks.

Mayor Bob Cashell, on the other hand, calls the entertainment district plan "Reno's stimulus package."