House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves Conspiratorial Morning Chop

By Alan Carpenter

Jun 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves interim manager Brian Snitker (43) argues with umpire Mike Everitt (57) and is thrown out of the game against the New York Mets during the seventh inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves interim manager Brian Snitker (43) argues with umpire Mike Everitt (57) and is thrown out of the game against the New York Mets during the seventh inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 17, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; A general view of Space Coast Stadium during a game against the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves. The Washington Nationals won 9-7. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; A general view of Space Coast Stadium during a game against the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves. Maybe the Braves could use this for a year?  Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /

South Florida counties competing to be Atlanta Braves’ spring training home

LAURA LAYDEN / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE/ALBANY HERALD

More from Tomahawk Take

NAPLES, Fla. (TNS) — Collier County is not the only county with skin in the game as the Atlanta Braves once again eye sites for a new spring training stadium.

Sarasota County and Palm Beach County are still making a play for the ballpark. Other counties could still be in the running too, with the team extending its time line to move into a new stadium by a year — to 2019.

In early May the team called off what was to be the first face-to-face meeting between its representatives and Collier County leaders because it knew the county couldn’t meet the tight deadline for having a new stadium built by spring 2018.

Collier County Manager Leo Ochs will ask county commissioners on Tuesday to allow county staff to evaluate the opportunity with the Braves and to report the results back to the board for action. If commissioners give the go-ahead at this week’s meeting, Collier Commissioner Georgia Hiller expects a proposal to come back for a vote by the fall if a suitable agreement for both sides can be reached. A preferred site has been identified at City Gate, a 288-acre commercial project off Collier Boulevard, near Interstate 75.

“We have a good shot,” Hiller said. “There is no question.”

Meanwhile, other counties aren’t throwing in the towel on luring the Braves away from the current spring training home in Orlando.

…

[ Ed. note:  In case you missed it, the Braves will be stuck with lengthy Spring road trips for all of 2017 and 2018 now that their timeline for getting into a new facility for 2018 has fallen by the wayside.

As noted here, that brings the Ft. Myers/Port Charlotte area back into the mix.  So as of today, the competing counties are Sarasota, Collier, and Palm Beach.

There is no timetable for anything right now, but I expect the Braves would wish to have a firm commitment by the end of the year.

Next: He is What He is.... or is He?

This being an election year, politics will undoubtedly come into play, though as various city/county council members try to assess whether their jobs would be best suited by jumping on board the Braves’ Caravan… or trying to stop it. ]

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