The Braves’ current spring training home at Disney World is less-than-ideal. It’s far from almost every other Florida spring training ballpark, which are primarily located on the coasts. Once the Astros leave Kissimmee next year it will leave only the Tigers in Lakeland less than an hour away. Most parks are a couple of hours, actually. Between that and the fact that Disney controls everything on-site, ticket prices included, the Braves have been seeking a new spring training home for after their lease is up following spring 2017.
A few months back the Braves were talking to St. Petersburg, but that went nowhere, likely because the Rays don’t want a spring facility in their Major League town. They’ve talked with Palm Beach too, but nothing’s doing there either. But now there is progress elsewhere.
Tim Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports today that the Sarasota County Commission has voted to move forward in negotiations with the Braves regarding a parcel of land on which the club could build a new facility. Ideally a deal would move quickly so the Braves could get in for 2018, but if it doesn’t the thinking is that they can go one more year at Disney.
The location sounds utterly baffling, geographically speaking:
Eh, who cares. Everyone has GPS now. We’ll find it. Just don’t name the park East Pointe or something as it’s already confusing enough.