By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Participants in Alabaster city league sports teams soon will see new scoreboards and a new electronic marquee sign at Veterans Park after the City Council agreed to extend its contract with the Coca-Cola company during a Dec. 22 meeting.

During the meeting, the council agreed to extend for three years the city’s current pouring-right contract with the Birmingham Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

Through the contract, Coca-Cola will have exclusive rights to sell and dispense its beverages at all Alabaster Parks and Recreation Department concession stands over the next three years. The contract will expire on April 30, 2017.

In return, the Birmingham Coca-Cola Bottling Company will provide the city $13,000 per year, and will donate the equipment necessary to dispense Coca-Cola products at the city’s concession stands.

The bottling company also will provide new scoreboards for every city baseball, softball and football field, and will replace all scoreboards currently at city fields. Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon said the deal will bring about 13 new scoreboards to Buck Creek Park, Veterans Park and Warrior Park.

Coca-Cola will work to have the signs installed before spring sports begin at the city’s fields.

Alabaster also is working with Shelby County to install a new electronic marquee on Alabama 119 near the entrance to Veterans Park. Through the city’s deal with Coca-Cola, the company will help Alabaster secure an about $15,000 discount on a Daktronics sign.

Alabaster City Manager George Henry said Alabaster and Shelby County are splitting the cost of the new sign, which will be similar to the electronic sign near the Alabaster Parks and Recreation office on Thompson Road, and said the new sign will be ordered soon.