Tuesday, April 2, 2013
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…
"That day they were able to get an autograph from J. P. Arencibia, a fan favorite, Reave said. They flagged him down after the game, in which he hit two home runs and a double."
Baseball is not just a game. It is an economic driver, from the tourists who journey to the Sunshine State to take in a game, to the grounds crews, ticket takers and concessionaires who depend on those salaries. As the 67th spring training season in Clearwater comes to a close on a brisk spring Thursday, March 28, baseball seems as popular as ever. Crowds jam the roads leading to Bright House Field for their chance to see the Philadelphia Phillies and aging ace Roy Halladay close out the Grapefruit League season with a game against spring training city rivals, the Toronto Blue Jays, who play in Dunedin. It is 12:38 p.m., and Don Guckian begins announcing the lineup for the Blue Jays. Jose Reyes will lead off. Jose Bautista hits in the …
Will the Blue Jays leave Dunedin? What should the city do maintain its relationship with the organization?
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Will the Blue Jays leave Dunedin? What should the city do maintain its relationship with the organization?
Last week news broke that the Toronto Blue Jays are going to explore spring training stadium options outside of Dunedin before their lease at Auto Exchange Stadium expires in 2017. This week, Dunedin city commissioners will be discussing ways to maintain the Blue Jays presence in Dunedin. The news of the Blue Jays position sparked a wide array of responses from Dunedin Patch readers. Are the Blue Jays not worth the hassle? Will Dunedin not be the same without them? Here's what some Patch readers had to say. "Toronto has to stay! Dunedin loves having all of our Canadian friends down for spring training! It will be a very sad day for us if they decide to move from Dunedin," wrote Ian Brown on our Facebook page. Lisa Brackens Hunt …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
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…
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
According to a report by the The Globe and Mail in Toronto, the franchise will spend the next 12 months exploring stadium options outside of Dunedin.
Since 1977, the Toronto Blue Jays have called Dunedin home during spring training. However, according to a report by the The Globe and Mail, the Blue Jays are exploring spring training options outside of Dunedin. The Blue Jays' lease at Auto Exchange Stadium is set to expire in 2017, according to the report, and Blue Jays officials are using that timeframe to explore new spring training locations. The Globe and Mail report said possible new locations include Naples, Vero Beach, Fort Myers, Palm City, Daytona Beach or even Pasco County. Toronto Blue Jays president Paul Beeston told the paper that in an ideal world the team would stay in Dunedin, but they will look in other areas due to stadium conditions and stadium proximity to the …
Monday, March 11, 2013
Have you seen Dunedin Patch's latest Facebook cover photo? Get to know the Dunedin woman who snapped the photo!
Dunedin resident Anne Hansen snapped a spring training moment at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium capturing this month's Dunedin Patch Facebook cover photo. Her shot captures a Toronto Blue Jays player in mid-air as he's turning a double play on Tampa Bay Rays prospect Wil Myers sliding into second base. We noticed Hansen's photo in the Dunedin Patch online community scrapbook and thought it would be a great way to celebrate spring training in Dunedin during March. It isn't the first time we've noticed her sports photos, especially of the Tampa Bay Rays, so we thought we'd learn more about the photographer who is behind the amazing shots. Name: Anne Hansen Lives In: Formerly of Port Richey, she is now a happy 12-year resident of Dunedin with …
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
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 …
Friday, March 1, 2013
Scott's proposed $5 million annual fund is aimed at renovating stadiums and keeping teams like Dunedin's Blue Jays, whose lease expires in 2016, in Florida for spring training.
Gov. Rick Scott is proposing a $5 million annual fund aimed at renovating stadiums and keeping Major League Baseball teams in Florida for spring training. Scott unveiled the plan Wednesday during a stop at the Detroit Tigers' spring facility in Lakeland. The funds would be used only for spring training facilities, Scott's office said, and local governments would be required to match at least 50 percent of project costs. State contributions would be capped at $20 million, and the Department of Economic Opportunity would review and approve the match "to ensure it provides a return on investment for taxpayers," Scott's office said. Scott said the initiative fits with his goal of growing jobs in Florida. "We must protect and enhance this vital…
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Sportsnet, a sports broadcasting network, is planning weeks of coverage from Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, as the sports world keeps all eyes on Dunedin at the start of Spring Training season.
With some experts predicting Toronto to win Major League Baseball's World Championship this year, the sports world is keeping all eyes on Dunedin as the 2013 Spring Training season gets underway. Sportsnet, a sports broadcasting network, filmed its show "Connected" live in front of Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on Monday, Feb. 18, and reports that it has every intention of continuing its coverage from Dunedin. In a Facebook photo Monday, Janette Donoghue, Dunedin Blue Jays president, tagged Toronto Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia being interviewed by Sportsnet in front of the same Douglas Avenue stadium where she works every day. She wrote: "Spring Training is almost here!!!" Here's a look at Sportsnet's upcoming plans in Dunedin: …
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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 ›