Previous entry: 
Next entry:
Orioles’ plan to overhaul Fort Lauderdale Stadium still not finalized
Next spring will mark the Baltimore Orioles’ 13th year consecutive year holding spring training at Fort Lauderdale Stadium. The Fort Lauderdale City Commission on Tuesday agreed to grant the team another year at the aging stadium, and a second year option for 2009 that’s up to the team.
But even with state dollars and an agreement forged earlier this year among the team, city and Broward County to finance a $40 million overhaul of the stadium and addition of soccer and baseball fields for public use, it’s still not clear the Orioles plan to continue making Fort Lauderdale their spring home.
Publicly, the team has repeatedly said it wants to remain in Fort Lauderdale, but the stadium upgrade is not underway because the city has yet to receive approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for the project, which is needed since the stadium is next to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
And speculation continues that the Orioles are the “mystery” team negotiating with Indian River County to move to Dodgertown in Vero Beach. The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to move out of Vero to Glendale, Ariz., where they will share a new complex with the Chicago White Sox. That move could take place as soon as 2009. The Cincinnati Reds are also rumored to be in talks with the Indian River County, in part because Sarasota voters last month rejected a $16 million bond referendum to help fund a $45 million upgrade of Ed Smith Stadium.
Indian River County Administrator Joe Baird says he has been in talks with a Major League Baseball team since July, but has refused to name the team. Baird got approval Tuesday – coincidentally the same day the Orioles got their lease extension in Fort Lauderdale – to negotiate “behind closed doors” a deal with a team to replace the Dodgers.
Alan Koslow, a Hollywood attorney representing the Orioles, is insistent the team wants to stay in Fort Lauderdale, but wants to be able to begin the overhaul project. He said he has sought the help of U.S. Rep. Ron Klein to try to arrange a meeting with the FAA in an effort to speed a resolution and he hopes make way for the construction.
“The Orioles are committed to Fort Lauderdale, provided we can get FAA approval,” Koslow said.
Comments
this is typical ft. lauderdale b.s. they will blame the F.A.A.when the orioles move out. when in fact they could push the approval along faster if they want to. so long orioles we miss you already
Posted by: ART B. | May 17, 2008 6:25 PM
Is bad to leave So. FL...is VERY bad.
Posted by: Pedro | March 29, 2008 8:00 PM
Orioles need to move and head to Vero Beach.It would benefit Baltimore Fans visiting for the spring and its only 90 minute drive to Walt Disney World for the kids. and a 40 minute drive to Melborne international airport. Vero also has a Huge Mall not far from Dodgertown where you can shop. So i hope my birds leave that old Yankee dump in Fort Lauderdale and move into Dodgertown.
Posted by: Steve | January 14, 2008 5:14 PM
I think the O's like Ft Lauderdale. They have a long history in South Florida and would like nothing better than to get the FAA approval.
If the renovations get done in Broward, the O's will probably move their minor league camp to Ft Lauderdale as well. No team likes having them separate.
Posted by: Mike P | December 22, 2007 12:01 PM
I think everyone should be a little skeptical about anything the Orioles say about Ft.Lauderdale. It is obvious they want a palace for a spring training facility. The Orioles still have their minor league camp in Sarasota. They have had it in Sarasota since they left St.Thomas University (Miami Gardens) in 1988 when they trained at Miami Stadium. I think it is going to take an expensive stadium deal with a deal to build a minor league facility in Broward or Palm Beach County to keep them in the backyard of the Florida Marlins. I also believe that Peter Angelos will double deal Broward County because he feels Ft.Lauderdale will let him stay their while Angelos asks Indian River County to give the Orioles a deal that they can't refuse.
Posted by: Anthony | December 5, 2007 11:03 PM