The Dunedin City Commission has approved a 25-year deal as part of Toronto Blue Jays spring training renovations that will keep the team at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium and the off-site Englebert Complex.
It’s the latest piece of the puzzle that also includes approvals and contributions from the team, Pinellas County and the state of Florida. In the financial framework, the Blue Jays will contribute $20 million. Pinellas County is expected to allocate $41.7 million in hotel tax revenue, the City of Dunedin will pay $5.6 million, and Florida Department of Economic Opportunity could cover the balance of the project’s cost in the form of a grant that will be paid out $1 million annually over 20 years.
The next step: approval from Pinellas County Commissioners as soon as December.
As part of the upgrades, Florida Auto Exchange Stadium would be modernized to feature some of the amenities found at other Grapefruit League parks. The ballpark would be equipped with a 360-degree concourse and 6,000 fixed seats, with standing room, berm, and alternate seating spaces bringing the overall capacity to 8,500.
There are more details on this deal on our sister site, Ballpark Digest.
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