House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves nearly finished navigating Spring Training site bureaucracy

By Alan Carpenter

Mar 14, 2017; Sarasota, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays players watch batting practice as strong wind and clouds blow through the stadium before the start of the spring training game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2017; Sarasota, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays players watch batting practice as strong wind and clouds blow through the stadium before the start of the spring training game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Three governments, plus a development authority have all been involved, but the bureaucratic ducks are almost all lined up now for a Spring move to North Port, FL.

The Atlanta Braves are now all but assured of being ensconced into a new home for Spring Training for at least 30 years, starting in 2019.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported yesterday that the Sarasota County Commission has unanimously approved the most important of the final documents – the facilities agreement – that will define the agreements made between the Braves, the city of North Port, the West Villages Improvement District, and the County regarding the financial arrangements and facilities use.

At this point, the remaining tasks to be completed prior to ground-breaking involve the following:

  • A few more document approvals, apparently considered to be routine in nature
  • The packaging of all agreements into an application to the State of Florida’s Sports Foundation
  • The Foundation’s approval of that application, which would result in a $20 million state grant

The paper reports that this application should be ready to file within “the next two to three weeks”, and the West Villages developer has already been in contact with the Sports Foundation to insure that everything they need will be in order when the package is submitted.

The only thing still up in the air seems to be the source of funds coming one the city of North Port, though it appears that the commitment from the city is there, if not the actual dollars.

The deadline for that is the end of October, but from the reaction of those involved to yesterday’s news, it does not appears that there are any concerns – this being the last major hurdle.

Public/Private Partnership

The Braves intend to use the facility close to year-round, though the county and North Port will have 20 event-days of access annually, plus the right to ask for more days as available.

The public will have access to a planned plaza outside of the stadium, plus the multi-use fields.

The Braves are signing a 30-year lease for the new site, which should guarantee sufficient revenue returns for all of governments involved… never mind the influx of tourism dollars that will result as well.

Next: How long will Adams in the family?

It’s a good day for the Braves, their fans, and for SW Florida.

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