Atlanta Braves Morning Chop – Spring Sites/Outfield/Shae
The Disney World Baseball Complex. Photo uncredited. http://raysrenegade.mlblogs.com/2008/04/21/jackson-gets-bombed-by-white-sox/
Braves evaluating possible spring training move from C. Fla.
MARK MELTZER / ATLANTA/ORLANDO BUSINESS CHRONICLE
The Atlanta Braves are evaluating their spring training options now that it is clear that the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals will be leaving Central Florida.
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Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday that the Astros and Nationals both will be moving their spring training headquarters to Palm Beach County.
The Braves, who train at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, have three years left on a 20-year lease at that facility.
The teams closest to them in Florida are the Astros, who train in Kissimmee; the Nationals, who train in Viera; and the Detroit Tigers, who train in Lakeland. Once the Astros and Nats leave, the Braves and Tigers would be the only teams left in Central Florida.
Braves President John Schuerholz said the club has been aware of the potential problem since the early 1990s, when the Boston Red Sox moved their spring facility out of Winter Haven.
While the Disney facility is impressive, it would be impractical for the Braves to stay in Orlando. The club could not play the Tigers every day in spring training games, and the next-closest city, Tampa, is an hour and 45 minutes away on a good traffic day, Schuerholz said.
“It becomes more complex than that,” he said. “We also have minor-league teams that have to get on buses to play against opponents.
[ Ed. note – this is getting to be the worst-kept secret around. Getting a little surprised that Disney World itself isn’t stepping up to protect its own investment. ]