Plans for an $81M upgrade of the Blue Jays' Spring Training facilities in Dunedin, Fla., "received a partial green light" yesterday from the Pinellas County Commission, which "voted to advance the project into negotiations but withheld final approval," according to Shi Davidi of SPORTSNET.ca. The decision is "seen as a positive development for the club but it now must finalize details of the proposal with the county," which is to provide $46.5M, along with $13.6M from the state government and $5.6M from Dunedin. The Blue Jays are providing $15.7M and will be "responsible for all maintenance, grounds keeping and operational costs at the facilities over a period of 25 years," a cost currently at $1.2M (SPORTSNET.ca, 4/26). Blue Jays President & CEO Mark Shapiro "asked the board to provide 'affirmation' on where it stood on the project." He said that although the ballpark is "known primarily for spring training, the team uses the Dunedin facility year round." Last year, Shapiro "called for a 'state-of-the-art' facility that could give players the resources they need to 'achieve their potential.'" The project "would give the team an opportunity to stay in the city where it has spent every spring" since the team's '77 debut. The Blue Jays are the only team in MLB history that has "never changed its spring training site" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/26).
