UPDATE: Braves eye Sarasota County for stadium

Sarasota County staff will continue negotiations with the Atlanta Braves for a spring training facility in North Port, following a unanimous vote from commissioners this morning.

“This is a very, very big deal,” said Commissioner Chairman Alan Maio. “If it happens, it's a great point of pride for the whole community.”

While the news confirms year-long rumors about interest from the Major League Baseball team, County Administrator Tom Harmer warned that it's very early in the process of actually becoming a reality.

“It's an important step, but there's a lot of steps left,” Harmer said.

And there’s no guarantee the team will strike a deal with the county and the West Villages Improvement District for a 7,500-seat stadium and practice facilities southwest of the intersection of U.S. 41 and River Road.

“I think it’s a great idea, but it could go absolutely nowhere,” said Commissioner Carolyn Mason.

Earlier: At 8:06 p.m. yesterday, Sarasota County Administrator Tom Harmer confirmed a year-long rumor: the Atlanta Braves may move their spring break operations to the region.

According to a memo from Harmer to county commissioners, the team is eyeing North Port as the site for a new stadium, practice fields and other unnamed features. Commissioners will discuss allowing staff to move forward with talks about the proposal during a meeting today.

Click here to read the document.

“The team has indicated the site is acceptable and they are interested in advancing negotiations toward a potential agreement,” Harmer wrote in the memo.

The county would be required to contribute tourist development tax dollars via a bond to cover construction costs. The proposed site is located southwest of the intersection of U.S. 41 and River Road, which would fall under the authority West Villages Improvement District.

The stadium would seat 7,500 fans on a site in excess of 100 acres, according to a news release from the West Villages. 

“We are excited and appreciative that West Villages and Sarasota County are working with us to potentially secure a beautiful, state-of-the-art, future spring training location for the Braves,” said Braves President John Schuerholz in the release.

The special taxing district may be eligible to apply for a state grant to cover financing, while the county would assume ownership and manage the facility in the longterm.

As part of a potential agreement, the Braves would sign a 30-year licensing agreement, with two five-year extensions, and pay an undisclosed annual lease payment.

“This project is consistent with our goals to expand sports tourism throughout the county and would have a significant economic impact for the south county area,” said Jeff Maultsby, the county's director of business and economic development, in the release. “We look forward to supporting the West Villages proposal and participating in the discussions with the team.”

This is a developing story and more information will be added as it becomes available.