Sarasota County (Fla.) commissioners yesterday were told a new Spring Training facility for the Braves "would require" more than $40M in taxpayer funds, according to Tim Tucker of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. The proposed project "would be funded in part" with $22.1M from Sarasota County hotel taxes, $20M from the state of Florida and an unspecified amount -- possibly $4-5M -- from the city of North Port, where the facility would be located. The rest of the $75M to $80M project would be "covered by the Braves and the developers of the West Villages district in North Port, although breakdowns of those contributions were not spelled out in the first public presentation of the proposed deal." After a two-year search across Florida for a new Spring Training home, the Braves last week "entered exclusive negotiations with Sarasota County." The team "hopes to move its spring camp from Disney World to southwest Florida" in '19. Tucker notes an agreement "hasn’t been completed, and Sarasota County commissioners haven’t approved the key financial terms" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/25).
SHOW OF SUPPORT: In Sarasota, Zach Murdock in a front-page piece notes in a "show of support, the biggest names from the team's front office accompanied" Braves Vice Chair John Schuerholz yesterday in talking with local leaders, including Chair & CEO Terry McGuirk, President of Baseball Operations John Hart, GM John Coppolella and Assistant Dir of Player Development Jonathan Schuerholz. John Schuerholz said, "We can't wait until this complex comes out of the ground and we make that our home for the next 30 years in Sarasota County." The opportunity to build a new complex in North Port "would put the Braves in the heart of the Grapefruit League's west coast teams and greatly reduce travel time -- with no more than a two-hour drive to eight other teams." Schuerholz suggested that the team would "consider bringing a minor league affiliate" to the ballpark at some point. Schuerholz and West Villages GM Martin Black said that it will take an "aggressive schedule over the next several months to finalize a series of agreements and financing for the park in order to begin construction and open on time" (Sarasota HERALD-TRIBUNE, 1/25).
BIG LEAGUE ISSUES: In Atlanta, Meris Lutz notes after "spending tens of millions on infrastructure improvements in and around SunTrust Park, Cobb County could be on the hook for more." The Braves said that the county "has not fulfilled its obligation to fund" $14M on transportation infrastructure. County officials said that they are "working with the team to identify what projects may count toward that commitment" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/25). Cobb County Commission Chair Mike Boyce said that the question as to what the county’s $14M was "actually being used for remains unanswered, with the county still putting together the list of where that funding commitment was going." Boyce: "There is no contract (between the county and Braves regarding this $14 million), so that means there’s a loose end." In Marietta, Jon Gargis notes Cobb County Manager David Hankerson last night gave his monthly ballpark progress report to commissioners, reporting that it was an estimated 92.8% complete, with "ongoing work focused on finishing touches, such as fixtures and equipment" (MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL, 1/25).
