UPDATED: Atlanta Braves to enter talks about Spring Training Facilities in North Port
The Atlanta Braves are expected to begin negotiations with Sarasota County about relocating spring training to North Port. According to an email sent by County Administrator Tom Harmer to county commissioners, the Major League Baseball team wants to make a move because two other teams are moving spring training away from Central Florida next year. County Commissioners voted 5-0 today to start negotiations. “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. The Washington Nationals and Houston Astros, who train in Viera and Kissimmee respectively, will both move to Palm Beach County in Spring of 2017. While the Atlanta Braves have trained at the ESPN Wide World of Sports facilities at Walt Disney World for 19 years, the relocation of other teams has prompted a search for a site further south, according to Harmer's email. "The team, through their representatives, contacted Sarasota County to advise us that they are evaluating several potential Florida locations, including Sarasota County," reads a memo penned by Jeff Maultsby, Sarasota County director of business and economic development. The West Villages Improvement District has proposed a site near State Road 41 and River Road to accomode a stadium, practice fields and other facilities. Maultsby's memo outlines an early concept to be discussed:
"This is an excellent opportunity for our county as well as the entire region," said Sarasota County Commission Chairman Alan Maio. "I believe the West Villages is uniquely positioned to partner with the Braves and the county to move these negotiations forward." Officials with the improvement district, which looks to be playing a significant role in negotiations, also postured a competitive stance for coming negotiations. “The opportunity to provide the Braves with a world class home for spring training matches our desire to create an intergenerational destination focused on an active lifestyle to make this possible,” stated West Villages General Manager Martin Black. “We think this part of the Suncoast is ideally suited for the Braves. The Braves are an icon in America’s sport and reflect the quality and values that the community will welcome and support. Our entire region will benefit from the dynamic economic impact.” A release from the district said the proposed property is located in south Sarasota County just off U.S. 41 in the new commercial core of the master-planned community of West Villages, adjacent to the State College of Florida-Venice campus and a future Sarasota Memorial Hospital 28-acre medical and wellness complex. This would be the first major commercial project in the master-planned community. Main Street Ranchlands, the commercial developers in West Villages, and the Sembler Company announced a joint venture to develop the Marketplace at Coastamar in West Villages, with the shopping and entertainment district set to open in 2018.
Filed under Sports Tags: Atlanta Braves ESPN Wide World of Sports featured Major League Baseball Spring Training 
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