Walt Disney World Sports and the Braves announced yesterday
they have reached an agreement to make Disney's new sports
complex in Buena Vista, FL, the spring training home of the
Braves starting in '98. The 20-year agreement also includes
having Disney serve as the HQs for the Braves' extended spring
training activities, Gulf Coast Rookie League and Instructional
League teams. The Disney Complex, slated to opening in Spring
'97, includes 175 acres devoted to facilities that can
accommodate tournaments and multi-sport festivals in more than 30
sports. Walt Disney World Sports will unveil the physical plan
for the complex during a press conference March 4 (Disney). I.J.
Rosenberg writes that plans for the Braves' complex include a
7,500-seat stadium with room for 2,500 more seats on a grassy
hillside, and five practice fields. Rosenberg notes the irony of
the Disney/Braves alliance in light of TBS's pending merger with
Time Warner. Braves President Stan Kasten: "No one on our side
of the table can even spell telecommunications. That was not a
factor" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/28). In Orlando, Tim Turner
writes the agreement came after talks between the Braves and Palm
Beach County broke down over a new complex in Jupiter, FL. Palm
Beach County Commissioner Karen Marcus: "It's Atlanta's loss if
they want to play second behind Mickey Mouse, and that's what
they are doing. They will not be the big dog in town" (ORLANDO
SENTINEL, 2/28). CNN featured the Braves as part of a piece on
spring training. Palm Beaches Chamber of Commerce Exec Dir
Dennis Grady: "What is occurring now is a lot of the communities
are building newer facilities and often they attract teams to
relocate their spring training operations to their communities --
much similar to what we've seen go on with NFL franchises"
("Moneyline," 2/27).
