FAA Fees Increase May Force Orioles Out Of Spring Training Home
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FAA Fee Increase May Force Orioles
To Relocate Spring Training Facility |
The "decades-long tradition of spring training at Fort Lauderdale Stadium could end next year," unless the Orioles and the city of Ft. Lauderdale "agree to a dramatic increase in annual payments for the upkeep of adjacent Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport," according to Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. The FAA told the city Friday that it "will require $1.3[M] be paid annually to an airport fund for use of the land on which the stadium sits." Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle said that "that's up from the $70,000 to $120,000 the Orioles pay -- depending on attendance -- and represents a major policy shift by the FAA." Naugle: "Unless the FAA changes their mind, I would imagine (the Orioles) would move." The Orioles will return to Ft. Lauderdale in '09 and "have an option for 2010, but it seems unlikely they would exercise it." If the Orioles move, the FAA also is "requiring the property be rezoned for industrial use, meaning both Fort Lauderdale Stadium and adjacent Lockhart Stadium would likely be torn down" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 5/31).
FLYING THE COOP? Naugle said that he "doubted the Orioles would agree to the higher fee, adding it would require an $11 surcharge on each ticket sold for spring training." He said that the city "likely would not pay the fee, either, noting it costs that much for 13 police officers." Naugle: "I can't see the commission coming up with the money, and no team would pay that." Naugle said the FAA's ruling is "very disappointing." He added that the "only realistic chance of keeping spring-training baseball is if U.S. Rep Ron Klein [D-FL] 'can work magic' and persuade the FAA to reverse its ruling" (Miami Herald, 5/31).
FUNDING CHANGE-UP: In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde wrote, "The question isn't will the Orioles be missed in Fort Lauderdale. The question is: Who gets their mitts on that $39[M] in public money" the Orioles were receiving from Broward Co. and the state of Florida? Hyde: "If we're going to waste public money on building stadiums, let's waste it on the local teams" (South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 5/31).
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