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MiLB signs lease for Dodgertown

Minor League Baseball President Pat O’Conner signed agreements with Indian River County and the City of Vero Beach today for the governing body of the sport to officially operate the 73-acre Dodgertown facility in Vero Beach, Fla.Minor League Baseball President Pat O’Conner signed agreements with Indian River County and the City of Vero Beach today for the governing body of the sport to officially operate the 73-acre Dodgertown facility in Vero Beach, Fla. The agreements were unanimously approved last week through 5-0 votes by both the Indian River County Commission and the Vero Beach City Council.

"Minor League Baseball is honored and excited to have the operating agreements in place for the Dodgertown facility,” said O’Conner. “The rich traditions of the Dodgers, Vero Beach and professional baseball on the Treasure Coast make it one of the most storied facilities in the country. We look forward to preserving those athletic and social traditions as we develop future generations of baseball players, fans, administrators and executives at the complex."

MiLB plans to host year-round events, including youth, high school and college tournaments; baseball, umpire, groundskeeper and fantasy camps; conferences; and other sports and non-sports related programming. The facility is where the Dodgers held their spring training camp from 1948-2008. It was also the home of a Class A Florida State League club from 1980-2008.

The baseball facilities at Dodgertown in Vero Beach consist of five full fields, including Holman Stadium; two half fields; indoor and outdoor batting tunnels; offices; and state-of-the-art training rooms. Other amenities include a conference center; restaurant & lounge; Olympic-size swimming pool; basketball court; tennis courts; game room; movie theater; and 88 hotel-style villas in which event participants can stay.

Groups interested in using the complex for an event should contact MiLB Senior VP, Business Operations John Cook at (727) 456-1710, or via email at johncook@milb.com, for details and availability.

Managing the facility: Craig Callan, the new Vice President, Minor League Baseball-Vero Beach. Callan had been the director of the facility for the Los Angeles Dodgers since 1988, until recently retiring from the organization.“Craig Callan has a wealth of experience and years of connection to the Dodgertown complex,” O’Conner said. “We are pleased he has agreed to join our operation and take the leadership role in Vero Beach. Under Craig's direction, we look forward to continuing the first-class operations that have been the trademark of Dodgertown for decades." Callan will be responsible for securing, facilitating and overseeing events, such as tournaments, camps and conferences, at the 73-acre complex.

RELATED STORIES: O'Conner lays out initial plans for Dodgertown; O'Conner: We'd like to retain Dodgertown name for Vero Beach facility; MiLB to lease Dodgertown

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