RealGM

Their situation in Dunedin no longer up to par, the Toronto Blue Jays will use the next 12 months to shop for a new spring training home, and may consider sharing a facility with the Washington Nationals or Houston Astros.

The Jays’ lease on Florida Auto Exchange Stadium expires in 2017, the Astros’ on Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee in 2016, and the Nationals’ on Space Coast Stadium in Viera in 2017. As well, the New York Mets are looking for a partner in Port St. Lucie. It would be a two-year process for approvals and construction if the Jays decide to move into a new location.

Possible destinations could include Naples, Fort Myers and Pasco County on the Gulf Coast; Vero Beach, Daytona Beach and Palm City on the East Coast. The Dodgers trained in Vero Beach for 60 years before moving to Arizona.

LittleOzzy wrote:After almost 40 years I would hope they could just rebuild in the same area.

City commissioners are poised to move forward on a plan to keep the Toronto Blue Jays in town for spring training. It's a strategy that stresses a regional approach to negotiating with the team and so far doesn't rule out the possibility of building a new stadium.

Parks and Recreation director Vince Gizzi told commissioners the city's longstanding status as The Blue Jays' sping training home doesn't make the city immune to the potential departure of the team.

"Since 2000, Florida has lost six spring training teams to Arizona," Gizzi said.

The Blue Jays are Canada's only Major League Baseball club and have played in Dunedin since the team's inception in 1977. Toronto, which still has four years remaining on its contract to play at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, is one of five teams whose contract with their respective spring training host expires in the next five years.

Despite the team's positive, even nostalgic, relationship with the city, there has been speculation that the Blue Jays might be looking for a new training site. Team officials told Dunedin Mayor Dave Eggers earlier this month they are exploring their options.

The talk follows Gov. Rick Scott's proposal to set up a permanent fund aimed at keeping Florida's spring training facilities competitive. The state estimates spring training has an economic impact in Florida of about $750 million.

Eggers said that although the Blue Jays have become ingrained in the city's cultural fabric, team officials are dissatisfied with the stadium's distance from its practice field.

The plan to entice the team to stay in its original digs includes estimating the economic impact of spring training in Dunedin, forming a negotiating team and working with the Blue Jays to assess the team's facility needs.

City officials also will study how other Florida cities that host spring training have worked with their teams to keep both sides happy. Gizzi said talking to team officials about what they want in a spring training facility is paramount, as is assessing the economic impact of spring training in Dunedin.

In 2000, the state helped fund $10 million in stadium renovations in Dunedin, Gizzi said.

City commissioner Julie Ward-Bujalski said the team needs to seek input from residents, businesses and county and state officials. Such unified support would be key if the city wants to seriously consider building a new stadium.