ST. LOUIS – Plans for an $81 million upgrade of the Toronto Blue Jays’ spring facilities in Dunedin, Fla., received a partial green light Tuesday from the Pinellas County Commission, which voted to advance the project into negotiations but withheld final approval.
The decision is seen as a positive development for the club but it now must finalize details of the proposal with the county, which is to provide $46.5 million, along with $13.6 million from the state government and $5.6 million from Dunedin.
The Blue Jays are providing $15.7 million and will be responsible for all maintenance, grounds keeping and operational costs at the facilities over a period of 25 years, a cost currently at $1.2 million.
How long it will take to complete the arrangements are unknown, but the Blue Jays’ lease at Dunedin expires Dec. 31, so there’s some urgency to the matter on their end. Once negotiations are complete, they’ll need to return to the commission for final approval.
The Blue Jays’ proposal will refurbish Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, its current spring home, and build a new, state of the art complex at the Bobby Mattick Training Center, where their minor-league operations are based.
They already have some design plans for the stadium but remain at the concept stage for the complex, which has been on hold pending the approval. Subsequent steps include the creation of construction plans and the seeking of permits.
The Blue Jays are aiming to tap into county funding from its Tourist Development Council bed tax. Dunedin has been their only spring home since the club’s inception in 1977.
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