The Madison Mallards and the city of Madison are "very close" to reaching an agreement for a new stadium.

"We're really only down to details," Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said Tuesday. "So I hope that we'll be able to have something to announce on that shortly."

Cieslewicz said the city's hope is that the Northwoods League team can be playing in a new facility at Warner Park in the 2010 season.

Mallards general manager Vern Stenman said the team is still holding out some hope for having a new home for next season, but "maybe a worst-case scenario is that maybe we're breaking ground a year from today, and as you're coming out to the stadium in 2009, that you're seeing substantial progress happening for a 2010 opening."

The reconstruction of Warner Park — the new stadium will be on the same site, with the field rotated 180 degrees to increase the seating capacity from 5,800 to about 7,400 — is expected to cost $5.6 million. The city has budgeted $800,000, and will loan the team an additional $1.2 million, leaving the Mallards to fund the remaining $3.6 million.

Stenman said the team is hoping to know more in the next 60 to 90 days.