Dunedin ponders new ideas to keep Blue Jays

Commissioners hold a special meeting to find ways to appease their spring training tenant.

By LEON M. TUCKER

© St. Petersburg Times,
published November 3, 2001

DUNEDIN -- Despite a hard-line stance from Mayor Tom Anderson to not put more city money into renovating the Toronto Blue Jays spring training facility, he and other city commissioners agreed Friday to take another shot at striking a deal with the team.

The Jays have threatened to leave town if they don't get another $2-million to add to the $12-million being spent on improvements to their spring training facility.

The Jays have suggested the city kick in $500,000, borrow another $500,000 from them and then secure a $1-million match from the state.

Anderson has opposed that, saying the Jays signed a contract for $12-million and should hold to it.

But at a special meeting Friday, city commissioners elected not to reject the team's proposal. Instead they spent more than than two hours going over construction costs and alternative plans to find the extra money.

Three options emerged. City officials plan to share the ideas with the Jays on Monday and hope to have a deal by the end of next week.

"We are on a very tight timetable," said City Manager John Lawrence, "We want to move this along, get that state money and settle this issue."

The city and the team originally agreed to $12-million in renovations, but realized the package of improvements could not be done for less than $12.5-million.

The city started construction at Dunedin Stadium in February and has spent as much as $5-million relocating little league fields and erecting the super structure for a new clubhouse. The city has said it will finish the work, even if the team leaves.

On Friday, Anderson reiterated his postion.

"In view of what happened (Sept. 11), I still would not be willing to ask the state for more money unless the Blue Jays contributed money," he said. "This could be a good opportunity for not only the team to look good but the country of Canada as well."

And among the possible revenue streams the city is considering is money it would receive if the rights to rename Grant Field at Dunedin Stadium are sold.

Naming rights have created an additional source of revenue for sports teams and cities alike, and are sold for thousands and sometimes millions of dollars.

In 1998, for example, Florida Progress Corp. agreed to pay the city of St. Petersburg more than $150,000 a year until 2007 to rename the Tampa Bay Devil Rays spring training field Florida Power Park.

The three possible compromises commissioners considered Friday were developed by two city advisory boards.

The fiscal review committee suggested two alternatives:

1. Increase the money available from $12-million to $13-million, with the city contributing $250,000, the team putting in $250,000 and then using that money to get a $500,000 match from the state.

2. The city would contribute $250,000, accept a $250,000 loan from the team at 5 percent interest and get the $500,000 state match.

This route, however, would call for a flat 8 percent share of ticket sales, higher than a sliding percentage based on attendance. It also calls for a guaranteed $25,000 payment from the team for naming rights.

The other committee, the board of finance, offered a plan that mirrors what the Jays propose, but includes a $75,000 guarantee in naming rights money.

"We've already told them we will give them the naming rights," said Ken Carson, director of Florida operations for the Jays. "But we don't want to guarantee it because if we do that, it will take the initiative away from trying to get it sold."

- Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.

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