Indian River County considers bringing in college baseball teams to play at Holman
December 26th, 2008 by TCPalm.comVERO BEACH — Bringing in college teams from around the country to play at Holman Stadium is one of the options being explored now that the county has rescinded its offer to the Baltimore Orioles.
Indian River County Commissioner Gary Wheeler believes the college teams can have even more of an economic impact for the community than a minor league team. He said relatives, coaches and fans of the teams could fill hotel rooms during the slow summer months of June, July and August.
Wheeler is not suggesting that the college teams would have more impact than a combined major league and minor league team, but notes not every major league team brings a minor league team with it.
For instance, he said the Dodgers did not have a minor league affiliate playing at Dodgertown for a number of years. In such instances, college baseball teams playing in the summer months would be compatible with a Major League Baseball team that would be using the fields in February and March.
In addition to a college baseball tournament, other possibilities mentioned for Dodgertown include a New York Yankees fantasy baseball camp and bringing in teams from Asia, a rapidly growing baseball market. There also is the possibility that another major league baseball establishment could be interested in the facility at some point.
Wheeler was scheduled to discuss the college baseball proposal earlier this week with Indian River County Administrator Joe Baird and Vero Beach City Manager Jim Gabbard, but called it off until the situation with the Baltimore Orioles is resolved. Baird, Gabbard and Tallahassee attorney Bob Reid all participated in the negotiations with the Orioles.
Baird and Gabbard, however, say the Orioles are currently out of the picture. Gabbard stressed the 37.6 acres the city owns next to Dodgertown was no longer on the table.
As part of its vote Dec. 16, the County Commission imposed a 30-day cooling off period during which county officials said they would not engage in talks with the team. Commissioners also said they would not agree to a confidentiality agreement as they did in prior negotiations with the team.
Although Indian River County Commission Chairman Wesley Davis said earlier that the commission might be flexible on that deadline, other officials said they need to close dealings with the Orioles in order to entertain some other offers
By Ed Bierschenk, TCPalm.com
Tags: Holman Stadium, Indian River County, orioles
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December 27th, 2008 at 10:05 am
This Wheeler guy must be a complete idiot. College baseball is played in the spring. What’s he going to do, petition the NCAA to change the season ?
December 30th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Rob - first of all, I don’t get to have an opinion on what they should do with the stadium because I live in WPB. However, I do know quite a lot about the NCAA, so before you call someone an idiot, be informed on the subject. The NCAA currently endorses and sponsors seven leagues all over the country for college baseball players during the months of June, July, and August. There has been many attempts over the years to form a summer league in Florida, but they have failed due to the lack of funding from a league president and administration of the proposed league.