The Chicago Cubs and Boise Hawks have agreed to a two-year extension of their player development contract through the 2014 season, the Hawks announced Wednesday. The Hawks have been a short-season Class A affiliate with Chicago since 2001.

Negotiations took place throughout the summer. The Cubs had been unhappy with the conditions at Memorial Stadium and threatened to leave Boise if progress wasn't made on work toward a new stadium or upgrades at Memorial Stadium.

"We are so excited that the Cubs have shown their support for the Boise area," Hawks President Todd Rahr said in a statement. "The loyalty they are showing the Hawks and patience they are giving us to improve the facilities here says a lot for their dedication to player development and to our great city and surrounding area."

Said Jason McLeod, the Cubs' senior vice president of scouting and player development: "We are hopeful that improvements can be made to the current facility in order to best develop our players and keep us in Boise for the foreseeable future."

In 12 years with the Cubs, the Hawks have qualified for the Northwest League playoffs six times, including each of the last two years. Boise won the title in 2002 and 2004. The Hawks lost to Vancouver in a decisive Game 3 on Sunday night.

"We have had a great relationship with the City of Boise," said Cubs’ chairman Tom Ricketts during a recent trip to the Treasure Valley. "We love city, we love the fans, we love the people that have been so good to us – the host families in particular, it has been a great relationship."