Dunedin Jays Make History on AM Radio

Many remaining Dunedin Blue Jays home games will be broadcast on the local Tan Talk Radio Network, according to a news release.

Fans can now listen to the Dunedin Blue Jays games on AM radio for the first time. About 50 remaining games, mostly played at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium and some select road games, are going to be broadcast on AM 1340 WTAN, according to a recent Dunedin Blue Jays news release. It is the first time in the team's history games will be carried on AM radio, the news release states. Tyler Murray is the play-by-play announcer. The Tan Talk Radio Network will also air a few of the night games on two neighboring stations in New Tampa (AM 1400 WZHR) and Zephyrhills (AM 1350 WDCF). Road games will continue to be streamed on DunedinBlueJays.com via MiLB Gameday Audio, according to the news release. Sign up for the free Dunedin Patch email …

• Photos (1)

Could the Blue Jays Really Leave Dunedin?

What should the city do, if anything, to keep the Toronto Blue Jays here for many springs to come? And if they do leave, would you be sad to see them go?

There's a chance the Toronto Blue Jays, spring visitors in Dunedin since 1977, could soon be leaving town for good. The Major League Baseball club has hinted that it's considering relocating its spring training facilities across the state to Palm Beach Gardens, to share a stadium there with the Houston Astros once the team's lease with Dunedin expires in 2017. City leaders have been working on a plan to keep the Blue Jays here, TBO.com reports, where they can be in close proximity with other MLB teams that spend their spring in the Tampa Bay area. But the team's practice facilities in Dunedin remain separated from Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, where the Blue Jays play their spring games. Most major league clubs have an integrated stadium …

•  29 Comments
• Photos (2)

Fans Flock to Wings Night at Jays Game

All-you-can-eat chicken wings and a Blue Jays ball game were the perfect combination Thursday at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

Thursday night was the 5th Annual Wings Night at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. For just 10 bucks, folks got their ballgame ticket plus a ticket for all-you-can-eat wings. Now that's a deal! The Blue Jays beat the Brevard County Manatees, 8-2. But much of the action was in the stands. There was a chicken wing eating contest, and more than a few contenders willing to scarf down the poultry finger food in a friendly competition. Take a look at the photos, courtesy of the Dunedin Blue Jays. On Deck at the Ballpark: Sign up for the free Dunedin Patch email newsletter to stay connected to your community.

• Photos (10)

Spending Package May Help Blue Jays Move to East Coast

Money from Tallahassee could help Palm Beach Gardens in its efforts to develop a stadium for the Blue Jays and Houston Astros.

Are the Toronto Blue Jays about to take flight? State lawmakers are poised to provide the money for ballpark expansions that could help Palm Beach Gardens land the Blue Jays and Houston Astros for spring training, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Legislators are close to reaching final agreement to spend $3.3 million a year starting in 2015 to help cities and counties develop or expand ballparks for spring training. "This incentive is aimed at helping pay for a proposed stadium that would be used by the Blue Jays and Houston Astros in Palm Beach Gardens," according to an article in the Tampa Bay Times. The Blue Jays' lease in Dunedin expires in four years. The team has expressed the desire to have a practice field closer to the stadium. …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

D-Jay's Birthday Bash is Saturday

Join the lovable mascot of the Dunedin Blue Jays, D-Jay, for his annual birthday bash Saturday night.

Dunedin Looks to Reaffirm Commitment to Toronto Blue Jays

City officials look to pass a resolution urging county and state entities to align with Dunedin in its Major League Baseball retention efforts.

Retaining Major League Baseball in Dunedin isn't just a city issue. It's one state and county leaders should also have on deck, city officials say. That's precisely why Dunedin leaders look to pass a resolution during a Thursday, April 4 commission meeting urging several state and county groups to reaffirm commitment, along with the city, to keeping the Toronto Blue Jays. The resolution comes on the heels of the team's recent public statements that it is using the final four years of its license agreement with Dunedin to look at other spring training locations. Dunedin leaders talked strategy during a March 21 public meeting, sharing pieces of their retention efforts, which includes the possibility of hiring a professional negotiation firm…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Mathew Eberius, CPRP

6:07 pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Let's keep in mind that not only do the Blue Jays contribute for the spring months, but they also house a minor league affiliate in the stadium from Apr-Sept. That creates events, family days and more to stimulate the area in what would be a dead summer heat.   more ›

Maintaining Major League Baseball in Dunedin: Officials Talk Strategy

A looming December 2017 expiration on Dunedin's license agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays has city officials getting serious about retention efforts.

The Toronto Blue Jays have about four years before deciding the fate of its 35-year relationship with Dunedin. Team officials recently told a Canadian reporter that they were using the time to look at other locations, citing Dunedin's stadium conditions and its three-and-half mile distance from the clubhouse as reasons for leaving. The looming expiration has prompted city officials to develop strategies for keeping the team happy to call Dunedin its home. "There are still approximately four and a half years remaining on the current agreement, and it is advisable to use that time wisely to secure a contract extension," Vince Gizzi, parks and recreation director, wrote in a March 13 memo to Rob DiSpirito, city manager.  They'll be discussing…

•  12 Comments
• Photos (4)

r. murphy

5:40 pm on Thursday, April 25, 2013

Hi Mark, Its April 25th and here we are for 10 days, staying at Innisbrook, spending money at the Black Pearl, Dunedin Brewing Co, the local Barbershop and Leukins.As Canadians, we visit all during the baseball season and many elect to stay, buy property and become tax payers. If the team and the city can't come to an agreement we'll follow them, and their minor league team wherever they go. I …   more ›

City Retreat: Would Trips to Scotland, Canada Preserve Dunedin's Sister City, Spring Training Relationships?

Commissioners discussed the possibility of sending a local delegation to Stirling and Toronto in order to preserve and maintain the city's international partnerships during a Feb. 28 retreat on Dunedin's future.

The last thing any Dunedin official wants to see is an empty stadium on Douglas Avenue. And it would be a faux pas not to attend sister city Stirling, Scotland's rather important anniversary celebration next year.  To avoid either scenario, Dunedin commissioners proposed budgeting to send at least one among them to Toronto and Stirling to keep up its long-distance partner relations, during an all-day commission retreat focused on Dunedin's future Feb. 28. Travel to Canada Protects Blue Jays Relationship, Officials Say As the agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays nears its 2015 expiration date, so are fears the team will vacate Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in favor of another city. Many residents in recent months have called for swift and …

•  15 Comments
• Photos (1)