Mayor Karl Dean’s office and the new Nashville Sounds ownership group would like to have a Greer Stadium lease extension in front of Metro Council soon, according to both sides.

Attorneys representing the two sides have met since October to discuss extending the Greer Stadium lease, which expires at the end of the year. A new lease agreement would need Council approval.

The fact that representatives between both sides say they’d like to have an agreement in front of Council soon indicates progress, considering negotiations between Dean’s office and current owner Al Gordon had reached an impasse before the team was sold.

MFP, the New York-based company that purchased the Sounds in October, still has to have its deal approved by Major League Baseball and the Pacific Coast League. The company’s local public relations representative Mike Pigott, of McNeely, Pigott & Fox, said those organizations want to know the team will have a home at Greer next season.

“Baseball wants the assurance there will be a lease between the Sounds and Metro,” Pigott said.

Dean’s spokeswoman Janel Lacy confirmed there have been initial conversations.

“The hope would be to have something to present to Council soon,” Lacy said.

The new ownership group immediately announced it intended to put money into Greer Stadium, which Dean had asked of Gordon.

“They’ve stated they’re going to do that and that’s what they’re going to do,” Pigott said of the new owners’ intention to improve Greer.

The new owners also said it was their plan long-term to renew the discussion about a new ballpark, although for the near future the Sounds’ home will remain in Greer.