VERO BEACH — A baseball-related organization is reportedly close to signing a five-year agreement for the use of Dodgertown.

County officials are declining to release the name of the proposed new tenant, although county officials previously met with Minor League Baseball President Pat O’Conner about the facility.

While the deal expected does not involve a Major League team, it leaves open the possibility of one using Holman Stadium for spring training in the future.

“I think we’re happy it’s a baseball-related tenant who is coming in to take over the facility,” said Indian River County Commissioner Peter O’Bryan.

O’Bryan said a key component was that the facility would remain open for a spring-training tenant, such as the Baltimore Orioles.

Negotiations with that organization as the sole tenant collapsed last year.

“From a taxpayer’s point of view (the new deal) is much more appealing.” said O’Bryan.

County and city officials will discuss details of the agreement in separate meetings Tuesday and a press conference announcing the deal is scheduled for Wednesday.

The organization is expected to use the field for baseball clinics and combines, player assessments, instructional leagues, and umpire training.

Although it won’t generate the excitement or tourism that spring training games have in the past, county officials believe the deal will help fill up hotel rooms during the off-season.

O’Bryan said youth baseball tournaments that may be hosted as part of the deal would be a boon to hotels as families travel with children to such tournaments.

Officials said the deal will not be as costly as the proposed deal with the Baltimore Orioles. Under that deal, the county was going to be making around $13 million in improvements to Holman Stadium. Vero Beach was going to allow the team the use of the adjacent 37.6 acres the city owns.

A NEW DEAL

A tenant appears close to signing an agreement for use of Dodgertown. Some key points of the deal include:

• Five-year lease with additional five years options with a baseball-related tenant, which will run baseball clinics, combines, player assessments, instructional leagues, and umpire training at the facility. Youth baseball tournaments also may be held at the field.

• The tenant will take over maintenance of the fields on May 1. County will provide a maintenance subsidy of up to $100,000 per month until December. Remainder of contract will be similar to the agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where the team paid $1 a year and maintained the fields. Tenant must give written notice of its intentions by sixth month of the fourth year of each five-year lease, which will give the county 18 months’ advance notice.

• The tenant will make the facility available for use as a spring-training facility for a Major League Baseball team under a sub-lease agreement if a deal can be brokered.

• Major League Baseball may also join the tenant in using the field in the future.

• Other organizations, including ones such as Russmat Baseball that conducts college baseball tournaments, may use the facility with permission of the new tenant.

• County is expected to spend up to $1 million to install lighting at four fields at Dodgertown. In addition, the county agrees to pay $100,000 for replacing signs and other rebranding at Dodgertown.

• The tenant will have right of first refusal for the use of the 37.6 acres of land the city owns adjacent to Dodgertown.

• Tenant agrees to interview all former Dodgertown workers, although is not obligated to hire them.

• Tenant agrees not to change name and/or sell naming rights to Holman Stadium.

• Officials are declining to release the name of the tenant, although it is known that county and city officials have met previously with Minor League Baseball President Pat O’Conner about possible opportunities the county could pursue for the use of the field.

By Ed Bierschenk

Tags: appeals, baseball, beach, children, college, commissioners, contract, Dodgers, dodgertown, emergency, hotel, name, orioles, spring, tourism, travel

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 at 9:34 am and is filed under Economy, Entertainment, Indian River County, Treasure Coast business, Vero Beach. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.