The Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida State League) are close to a deal on a new ballpark at Winter Park’s Alfond Stadium site, with two hearings on the project set for today. Winter Park is a suburb of Orlando. The team, currently playing at Viera’s Space Coast Stadium (spring home of the Washington […]
Tag Archives | orlando
Tinker Field receives reprieve after community outrage
The demolition of Orlando’s Tinker Field is on hold, after politicos and community leaders expressed outrage that the historic facility was set to meet the wrecking ball with little notice. Mayor Buddy Dyer announced that plans to demolish the former home to spring training and Minor League Baseball in Orlando would be put on hold […]
Movement to save Tinker Field emerges
A movement to save historic Tinker Field, the longtime home of spring training in Orlando, is afoot, as preservationists want to see it declared a landmark, with accompanying protections. The call to preserve Tinker Field comes from Orlando’s Historic Preservation Board, which oversees the management of historic properties for the city. Last week Mayor Buddy […]
That first whiff of spring: batting practice
Was doing some advance scouting for spring training today in the greater Orlando area, and stumbled upon a magical sight: batting practice at Alfond Stadium, home of the Rollins College Tars, in downtown Winter Park. There’s nothing like a crack of the bat and a temperature in the 70s to make you yearn for baseball. […]
Winter Park moves ahead with ballpark feasibility plan
The Winter Park (Fl.) City Commission voted to move forward with a ballpark-feasibility plan over the next 45 days, as city staff will research potential funding plans, locations and more. The Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida State League) have explored a move to the Orlando suburb for several years now, with the several […]
New Manatees ballpark pitched for Winter Park — again
A new ballpark for the Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida State League) has been pitched once again to Winter Park officials, as the team continues to look for a new home in the Orlando area. We’re talking about the beginning of the process here, as the Winter Park City Commission yesterday discussed potential […]
Nats, Osceola County talking new spring-training facility?
With the Washington Nationals definitely leaving Viera for spring training, talk is that the team is negotiating with Osceola County for a new facility in Kissimmee. This is not new: we’ve reported in the past that the Nats have met with the county via an initiative from the Kissimmee Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to bring […]
Pro baseball an endangered species in Viera?
Pro baseball has never been an overwhelming success in Viera, and now it looks like there’s a serious chance the Florida city may lose both spring training and Class A ball at Space Coast Stadium. Currently Space Coast Stadium hosts Washington Nationals spring training and the Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida State League). It’s no secret the […]
Selig: A’s can leave Oakland — but not for San Jose
Speaking at the quarterly owners’ meetings, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said the A’s were free to move from Oakland under baseball’s relocation process — just not to San Jose. The stalemate between the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants ownership groups remains in place, Selig said; in past months he’s said it’s up for the teams […]
O’Conner, San Diego make news in slow Winter Meetings
During an unusually slow Winter Meetings, two events made headlines: Pat O’Conner was re-elected unanimously as Minor League Baseball president and San Diego was awarded the 2014 event. We’re talking slow in terms of activity among owners: normally there’s plenty of chatter about teams on the market and potential buyers, but this year the talk […]
Orange County rejects Yankees farm-team ballpark
Saying she had doubts about promises a relocated Tampa Yankees (High Class A; Florida State League) would draw 3,500 fans a game, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs rejected a plan to use county land for a proposed ballpark. Armando Gutierrez Jr. and Orlando Baseball Ventures had proposed a $47-million ballpark, Yankees museum on 12 acres […]
Orlando baseball plan changes; county still not impressed
Despite shifting the location of a proposed Orlando ballpark for a New York Yankees farm team closer to a convention center, Armando Gutierrez Jr. still faces a huge challenge in persuading Orange County officials to give up a prime parcel of land for a relatively low price. The original proposal had the ballpark located on […]
Nats, Astros eying new Osceola County spring-training complex
The Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros are discussing a new joint spring-training complex with Osceola County officials, as a site near DisneyWorld is under consideration. The complex, we’re told, would be south of DisneyWord and in the very northwestern corner of Osceola County, an area served by I-4 and Florida Toll 429. Both teams […]