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In catbird seat, Blue Jays demand 'basics'By LEON M. TUCKER
© St. Petersburg Times, DUNEDIN -- City leaders admit there is little they can do to stop the escalating price tag of renovating the Toronto Blue Jays' spring training facility. It was just seven months ago that the team and city signed a contract that capped the project's cost at $12-million. But last week, city leaders voted to give the team another $500,000 and are seeking $1.5-million in additional government funding. How could this happen? In a word: leverage. The Blue Jays have it, and Dunedin doesn't. The Blue Jays say the facility must have features like decorative blocks for the stadium's outside walls and a high-end scoreboard. But such features, described by Jays officials as basic, are described by the city as luxuries. Because the Blue Jays won't budge from these items, the city is left with three options: Fight the team in court, in hopes of making it honor the $12-million contract. Forget the deal and let the team move out of town. Pay the money. Right now, the third option is the only realistic one, city officials say. "A legal battle with the Blue Jays to keep them here is not a desirable option because nobody wins," said John Lawrence, city manager. "Either we lose and they leave -- and we have a half-finished facility -- or we win and they stay, but we have an unhappy client." Although Dunedin city officials say they can complete the renovations with the $12-million in city, Pinellas County and state money, the city has opted to put up the extra cash to protect its investment. "We are so far down the road at this point that it is worth another $2-million -- but it is not worth more than that," said Mayor Tom Anderson. "If we can make this happen by getting the additional money from the state and county, I think we can satisfy their additional requirement without getting into a legal battle." Jays officials say the type of spring training facility they are asking for is considered standard throughout the league -- not extra. "We are not asking for anything new or more," said Lisa Novak, vice president of business affairs for the Blue Jays. "All we are asking for are the basic things that were promised to us and originally proposed to us." Though the team has agreed to cost-cutting measures such as replacing the turf with real grass, it has not budged on items such as the scoreboard. This month the city asked the state for another $1-million, which it will likely get it if the county kicks in $500,000. Although the city's portion would act as a match to the $1.5-million in state and county money the city hopes to secure, it is unclear whether the cash-strapped Pinellas County Commission will agree to join in. Doug Hutchens, Dunedin's assistant public works director, says many of the delays so far can be attributed to a tight schedule, a tight budget and numerous parties involved in the decisionmaking. "Making decisions by committee is always harder," said Hutchens, who also manages the renovation project. Lawrence and Hutchens plan to meet with Novak and Blue Jays officials Thursday and Friday to discuss the planned renovation.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
