Atlanta Braves Morning Chop/Box: Read ’em and Weep

How the Atlanta Braves are challenging Collier County’s willingness to play major league ball

LAURA LAYDEN / NAPLES DAILY NEWS

Collier County could be looking at its last chance to score a Major League Baseball spring training team.

But will the county strike out because it’s not ready or willing to play ball?

That’s a question Gary Price hopes to answer soon, with his private firm Fifth Avenue Advisors in Naples ready to hand over to the county negotiations it started with the Atlanta Braves for a spring training home proposed off Collier Boulevard near Interstate 75.

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The group hopes the project they’ll present to commissioners Tuesday will at least start a conversation about whether the county, ranked as one of the fastest growing areas in the country, is doing enough to set aside land for future needs, such as parks. The multimillion-dollar stadium, the first of its kind in Collier County, could include soccer and baseball fields for local play that could also be a draw for regional and national sporting events.

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The Braves’ preferred location is 160 acres directly off Collier Boulevard south of Forest Glen Golf & Country Club and across the street from Naples Heritage Golf & Country Club. The land is owned by Naples-based Stock Development and residentially zoned. It would need a supermajority of commissioners — four out of five — to agree to change its zoning.

One commissioner already has expressed opposition, while another raised concerns about putting it so close to so many homes. Beyond those concerns, larger questions loom about whether there is the political will or community desire to have a stadium.

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It wasn’t that long ago when the same group of businessmen worked on a bid to bring the Chicago Cubs to Collier for spring training. That effort was different because the group never brought a proposal to the county before the Cubs decided to stay in Mesa, Arizona, so county commissioners never got a chance to really debate the idea.

“We’ve learned since last time that this is bigger than baseball. This is about a comprehensive park solution that includes the Braves as tenants,” Price said.

Commissioners haven’t yet publicly discussed what incentives they might offer to build a stadium or where they would consider allowing one. But a majority have said they would support bringing a ballpark to Collier County if the location and the amount of public dollars it would take to build one make sense. The public side of the project could cost up to $70 million.

Commissioner Tim Nance said a stadium could be an economic driver for the county and Commissioner Tom Henning said that building a stadium, as with any economic development project, depends on whether the benefits outweigh the costs.

Ed. note – meanwhile, plans are being presented in Pam Beach County…

“The Atlanta Braves want to build a 10,000-capacity spring training stadium and dorms for younger players, ideally in John Prince Park west of Lake Worth, three team officials told Palm Beach County Administrator Verdenia Baker during a private meeting Friday.” (source)

Nothing is ‘done’ yet, but activity is high on both coasts.

Next: Continuing Minor Developments

We’ll continue to keep abreast of this story.