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Orioles Most Likely Headed Out of Ft. Lauderdale Following FAA Ruling

The FAA has declined the City of Ft. Lauderdale's request to keep rent for the Orioles artificially low at Ft. Lauderdale stadium, and as a result, Baltimore will most likely relocate north for the 2010 season. The Orioles are not expected to pay $1.3 million annually to stay in Ft. Lauderdale, which is what the FAA wants to charge them. They are paying between $70,000-$120,000 currently.

The FAA's decision might be appealed, but barring a reversal at a higher level it could spell the end of a nearly-50 year tradition of spring training in Ft. Lauderdale. The $40 million renovation plan for Ft. Lauderdale Stadium was contingent upon the FAA exempting the Orioles and the City from "fair market value" lease payments.

Though I am the Rays blogger here locally at SBN, I do consider myself a connoisseur of Florida Spring Training, and this is of interest to me. On the one hand, I am happy at the prospect that Dodgertown would be returned to service, but on the other hand I'm sad to see another tradition abandoned in Ft. Lauderdale. Still, this decision meets with the economic realities of a "grown-up" Florida, and Spring Training became less and less valuable to Ft. Lauderdale as the city grew into a large part of a major metro area. ST is far more integral to a place like Vero Beach.

It's definitely a shame to see these old sites left behind; we're going through the same thing currently with Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg, and it is kind of chickenshit how the FAA is scuttling this deal. They're going to torpedo an economic booster to the area just because they decide now is the right time to jack up the rent. It is the eptiome of know-nothing, disconnected government.

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Wow

A front page post, I’m honored.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jul 3, 2008 6:01 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Hey, it was relevant.

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Jul 3, 2008 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dodgertown

This is a good thing, right? Isn’t Dodgertown a better site where all the fields are at least together? Would someone in the know fill me in? Just as long as they don’t move to Arizona I’ll be happy.

by brooksflow on Jul 3, 2008 6:39 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

All the fields are together

but the place is in a bit of disrepair, if I recall correctly. The plan for Ft. Lauderdale was to expand so all the fields could be in one complex. Dodgertown is really an OK option at best.

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Jul 3, 2008 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Orioletown…or…dare I say…

BIRDLAND

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Jul 3, 2008 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's awesome

They must do this!

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Jul 3, 2008 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ft. Lauderdale is really far away anyway.

I never liked that it was so far away. People never sent their real major leaguers there.

by pipkin on Jul 3, 2008 11:00 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It's not far away if you live in Miami...

Someone make this stop, please. If they can’t play in Bobby Maduro, at least keep them south of Lake Okeechobee.

by MiamiMagic on Jul 4, 2008 4:10 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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