The sound of vendors yelling “hot dogs” or “peanuts” in Bowling Green became more of a possibility Thursday.

Mayor Elaine Walker said the Bowling Green City Commission passed a general memorandum of understanding that underlines the city’s commitment to bring a minor league baseball team to Bowling Green.

Walker said the city commission is also reviewing a tentative $200 million redevelopment project that would bring renovations to the downtown area.

This would include the construction of a minor league baseball stadium, a parking garage and commercial developments, and even expand to bring projects on or near Western’s campus under special state tax increment financing.

Though the city has given the go-ahead, Warren County has to approve the memorandum.

“The state is asking that we get things together in a little over a month,” Walker said.

Walker said investor Art Solomon, former chief financial officer for the Fannie Mae Company, has committed to moving a class-A team to Bowling Green under a 20-year lease.

Solomon is the owner of the Manchester (N.H.) Fisher Cats, a Class-AA team and affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Rick Kelley, chairman of Playball 05, the group leading the efforts, said that Solomon wants the stadium to be completed by April 2008. If not completed, the minor league team might have to play its games at Nick Denes Field.

Western Athletics Director Wood Selig said with Western baseball’s schedule already determined for next season, a minor league team would have to work around the Toppers’ home games.

“I think it would increase our attendance,” Selig said. “It would be a nice lead into the minor league season.”

Kelley said that if the stadium is not ready, the team would more likely wait until 2009 to move.

“(Solomon) wanted it to be in the format the fans would be accustomed to seeing,” he said.

Reach the reporters

at sports@wkuherald.com.