Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Citizens try to save Orlando's Tinker Field - FOX 35 News Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) -
A group of citizens spoke up at the Orange County Commission on Tuesday, urging commissioners to stop the demolition of Orlando's historic baseball venue, Tinker Field, but they may not be in the right place with their concerns.
People like Katherine Buchannon used the county's allotted time for addressing public concerns to blast the City of Orlando for announcing they would tear down the old field as part of the reconstruction of the Florida Citrus Bowl.
"All I'm asking is, please don't erase our field of dreams, and don't erase our heart," she said.
Mick Dolan told commissioners that they should try to find other options.
"We can preserve it. There's ways we can do this," he said. "We need to talk about it, and gather ideas. The little league aspect is a great thing, a smaller field, just make it a museum if you have to. Save it."
Orange County is using tourist taxes to fund the reconstruction of the Citrus Bowl, but tearing down Tinker Field is not listed in any of their funding agreements with Orlando, so they do not feel like they are paying for the demolition of Tinker Field. Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell seemed to relay the consensus of the commission when she told the speakers the county could not force Orlando to act.
"That's a separate jurisdiction. That's like somebody telling us how to maintain the Convention Center."
Commissioner Pete Clarke wants Tinker Field saved, as do many of the other commissioners, but for now, all Mayor Teresa Jacobs can do is go meet with Orlando officials and ask nicely.
"We don't have any jurisdiction. I have told Mayor Dyer, and I have told the commissioners we stand ready to help in any way possible to preserve this property, and I suspect that means some contribution of funding."
On Monday, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced that the stands at Tinker Field would not come down just yet. They are trying to get more public input and a more comprehensive plan.
So far, the city has not taken any type of formal vote on the demolition of Tinker Field. It was simply presented to council during a workshop on Citrus Bowl construction. It is unclear whether or not they will even be required to vote on the matter.
Read more: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/24697434/citizens-try-to-save-orlandos-tinker-field#ixzz2tmPhuTNH
Monday, February 17, 2014
Pro baseball stadium talks strike out with Crotty
So Crotty, the Orange County mayor, is handing off negotiations to his successor, Teresa Jacobs.
After seeing the early project outlines, Crotty wrote Armando Gutierrez Jr., to say he had too many land, lease and cost concerns to work out before leaving office.
After seeing the early project outlines, Crotty wrote Armando Gutierrez Jr., to say he had too many land, lease and cost concerns to work out before leaving office.
"I regret your proposal bears no resemblance to our initial conversations," Crotty wrote to Gutierrez on Oct. 28. "Unfortunately, it is not even in the ballpark."
Gutierrez and other investors want to lure the New York Yankees' Class A affiliate from Tampa and build a $20 million, 6,500-seat stadium where the team can play. The plan also envisions a baseball museum and a retail venture, all built on county-owned land near International Drive and the BeachLine Expressway.
Gutierrez said the early talks with county officials were "going good," and he downplayed cost concerns raised by Crotty's staff, saying, "We are not going to take any public money from the county."
But both sides are still so far apart that each agrees negotiations will basically wait for Jacobs, who will be sworn in Jan. 4. Jacobs said she could not comment on the proposal until she had time to study it.
Four months after launching a bid last year for Congress against U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, Gutierrez, 29, suddenly dropped from the race in February to pursue a pro baseball franchise.
Skeptics were rampant. Florida's major-league teams — the Miami-based Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays — struggle to attract fans. The last minor-league team in Orlando left for Montgomery, Ala., in 2003.
In early September, Gutierrez said he was negotiating with Yankees officials to bring a team to play in Orlando. Last month, Gutierrez's group, Baseball Enterprise LLC, laid out more specifics, including a proposed license and lease deal, tax-revenue projections and site renderings.
Crotty balked and listed his concerns in a six-page memo.
Initial talks centered on 12 to 15 acres of county-owned land for the project, but the actual proposal seeks 25 acres with an option on seven more, which would include room for 60,000 square feet of commercial space. That much public land is thought to be worth about $25 million, county officials estimate, and it's not clear that a private company can use it for profit-making enterprises.
State law bars certain commercial uses on public land, and the deal proposed by Baseball Enterprises would amount to "a lease, if not a donation, of county land," that might be needed for other public projects and subject to bidding rules, Crotty's memo states.
In addition, Baseball Enterprises sought to avoid paying property taxes, impact fees
and requested a 99-year lease, with two renewal options of the same length, the memo said. The early plan turned over to Crotty also envisioned construction of a pedestrian bridge over the BeachLine, a chilled-water plant and possible extension of utilities at the site to be paid by the county.
Gutierrez and other investors want to lure the New York Yankees' Class A affiliate from Tampa and build a $20 million, 6,500-seat stadium where the team can play. The plan also envisions a baseball museum and a retail venture, all built on county-owned land near International Drive and the BeachLine Expressway.
Gutierrez said the early talks with county officials were "going good," and he downplayed cost concerns raised by Crotty's staff, saying, "We are not going to take any public money from the county."
But both sides are still so far apart that each agrees negotiations will basically wait for Jacobs, who will be sworn in Jan. 4. Jacobs said she could not comment on the proposal until she had time to study it.
Four months after launching a bid last year for Congress against U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, Gutierrez, 29, suddenly dropped from the race in February to pursue a pro baseball franchise.
Skeptics were rampant. Florida's major-league teams — the Miami-based Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays — struggle to attract fans. The last minor-league team in Orlando left for Montgomery, Ala., in 2003.
In early September, Gutierrez said he was negotiating with Yankees officials to bring a team to play in Orlando. Last month, Gutierrez's group, Baseball Enterprise LLC, laid out more specifics, including a proposed license and lease deal, tax-revenue projections and site renderings.
Crotty balked and listed his concerns in a six-page memo.
Initial talks centered on 12 to 15 acres of county-owned land for the project, but the actual proposal seeks 25 acres with an option on seven more, which would include room for 60,000 square feet of commercial space. That much public land is thought to be worth about $25 million, county officials estimate, and it's not clear that a private company can use it for profit-making enterprises.
State law bars certain commercial uses on public land, and the deal proposed by Baseball Enterprises would amount to "a lease, if not a donation, of county land," that might be needed for other public projects and subject to bidding rules, Crotty's memo states.
In addition, Baseball Enterprises sought to avoid paying property taxes, impact fees
and requested a 99-year lease, with two renewal options of the same length, the memo said. The early plan turned over to Crotty also envisioned construction of a pedestrian bridge over the BeachLine, a chilled-water plant and possible extension of utilities at the site to be paid by the county.
"This is an unacceptable burden on the public," Crotty wrote.
But Gutierrez said that as far as utility and road costs are concerned, "as a show of good faith, we'll pay those expenses." State transportation officials, not county taxpayers, would be approached for funding a pedestrian bridge, he said.
David Damron can be reached at ddamron@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5311
But Gutierrez said that as far as utility and road costs are concerned, "as a show of good faith, we'll pay those expenses." State transportation officials, not county taxpayers, would be approached for funding a pedestrian bridge, he said.
David Damron can be reached at ddamron@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5311
Leaders Balk At Baseball In Orlando
Orange County's Chairman And Orlando's Mayor Said They Won't Make Any Effort To Lure The Devil Rays.
Orange County Chairman Rich Crotty and Mayor Glenda Hood said emphatically Friday there will be no effort by government to lure the Tampa Bay Devil Rays major-league baseball team to Orlando.
"The answer is no," said Hood, who led an unsuccessful drive for Major League Baseball six years ago. "There's no way the city is going to be involved in anything."
"The answer is no," said Hood, who led an unsuccessful drive for Major League Baseball six years ago. "There's no way the city is going to be involved in anything."
Added Crotty: "Right now, we're trying to make sure our existing professional sports team stays in town. This is just a very difficult time to start a debate."
Crotty was referring to the sometimes-heated negotiations between the county, city and the Orlando Magic basketball team over the squad's push for a new arena built mostly with tax dollars.
Devil Rays officials, losing money and suffering from poor attendance, announced Friday they would entertain offers to sell the last-place team.
Hood and Crotty were almost irritated they had to talk about the Devil Rays, the expansion team that was awarded to Tampa Bay instead of Orlando in 1995.
Unless a prospective owner wants to build a new stadium in Orlando with private funds, Hood and Crotty said, they want nothing to do with luring a team to the area.
Their stand was seconded by County Commissioner Ted Edwards, a lawyer employed by International Drive hotelier Harris Rosen to fight the 1995 drive to build a baseball stadium with the so-called tourist tax.
"There just isn't enough money," Edwards said. "Sure, I'd love to have baseball. And if a team could pay for most of its own stadium, we'd welcome them. But right now, the money isn't there."
Without support -- and money -- from the city and county, Greater Orlando's chances for landing baseball essentially are nil.
That's because team owners invariably expect local governments to contribute most, if not all, of the money needed to build stadiums. And Crotty and Hood are too busy scrambling to find enough money to replace the 12-year-old TD Waterhouse Centre, the Magic's home court.
The Magic is seeking more than $200 million from Orlando and Orange County for a building expected to cost at least $250 million.
City and county officials have balked at that request, saying the Magic must come up with more team money, although no specific number has been named.
Crotty was referring to the sometimes-heated negotiations between the county, city and the Orlando Magic basketball team over the squad's push for a new arena built mostly with tax dollars.
Devil Rays officials, losing money and suffering from poor attendance, announced Friday they would entertain offers to sell the last-place team.
Hood and Crotty were almost irritated they had to talk about the Devil Rays, the expansion team that was awarded to Tampa Bay instead of Orlando in 1995.
Unless a prospective owner wants to build a new stadium in Orlando with private funds, Hood and Crotty said, they want nothing to do with luring a team to the area.
Their stand was seconded by County Commissioner Ted Edwards, a lawyer employed by International Drive hotelier Harris Rosen to fight the 1995 drive to build a baseball stadium with the so-called tourist tax.
"There just isn't enough money," Edwards said. "Sure, I'd love to have baseball. And if a team could pay for most of its own stadium, we'd welcome them. But right now, the money isn't there."
Without support -- and money -- from the city and county, Greater Orlando's chances for landing baseball essentially are nil.
That's because team owners invariably expect local governments to contribute most, if not all, of the money needed to build stadiums. And Crotty and Hood are too busy scrambling to find enough money to replace the 12-year-old TD Waterhouse Centre, the Magic's home court.
The Magic is seeking more than $200 million from Orlando and Orange County for a building expected to cost at least $250 million.
City and county officials have balked at that request, saying the Magic must come up with more team money, although no specific number has been named.
As far as the Magic is concerned, most of the public's contribution to a new arena would come from the county's 5 percent tax on hotel rooms -- a levy that generates $120 million a year. It has been used to retrofit the Florida Citrus Bowl and paid for almost half of the $110 million Waterhouse Centre.
County and city officials passed a fifth penny on the tourist tax six years ago to pay for a baseball field if Orlando won a team. When would-be owner Norton Herrick of Boca Raton was turned down by Major League Baseball, that penny went toward promoting tourism and expanding the Orange County Convention Center.
All five pennies now are committed largely to a $750 million expansion of the already massive convention center. And tourism executives have vowed to intensely fight any move that could take significant amounts of money away from the center or advertising their industry.
Herrick, a real-estate investor, has said he would be interested in pursuing baseball again if Orlando would be willing to build the stadium and turn over most of the revenue to him, as was promised before. He could not be reached Friday.
As far as Crotty is concerned, the choice between the Magic and the Devil Rays is simple: "Constituencies sometimes get upset if you deny them something, but they become irate if you take something away."
County and city officials passed a fifth penny on the tourist tax six years ago to pay for a baseball field if Orlando won a team. When would-be owner Norton Herrick of Boca Raton was turned down by Major League Baseball, that penny went toward promoting tourism and expanding the Orange County Convention Center.
All five pennies now are committed largely to a $750 million expansion of the already massive convention center. And tourism executives have vowed to intensely fight any move that could take significant amounts of money away from the center or advertising their industry.
Herrick, a real-estate investor, has said he would be interested in pursuing baseball again if Orlando would be willing to build the stadium and turn over most of the revenue to him, as was promised before. He could not be reached Friday.
As far as Crotty is concerned, the choice between the Magic and the Devil Rays is simple: "Constituencies sometimes get upset if you deny them something, but they become irate if you take something away."
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County Session Notes
WORKSESSION - TOURIST TAX
Staff Report County Attorney Tom Wilkes reviewed the uses of the fourth and fifth cents of the Tourist Development Tax. Mr. Wilkes explained the "fourth cent" is for debt on the convention center, sports debt, the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau, convention center operations, and capital improvements. He continued that the "fifth cent" is restricted to existing sports debt for the Orlando Arena and the Citrus Bowl or other professional sports franchise facilities.
May 2, 1995 Page 259
May 2, 1995 Page 259
Mr. Wilkes further explained a "freed up" portion of the "fourth cent" would first be used to increase the subsidy to the convention center; the remainder would be used for the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau and, also, for the Florida Citrus Sports Association.
Mr. Wilkes continued that the surplus "fifth cent" will be deposited into the Tourist Development Trust Fund to be used for baseball. He added that March 9, 1997, is the deadline for acquiring a baseball team. Mr. Wilkes noted that if Orange County gets a baseball team, the accumulated surplus in the trust fund will be used for the design and construction of a stadium; however, if the County does not get a baseball team, the accumulated monies would be used to redeem all existing sports debt for the Orlando Arena and the Citrus Bowl. He pointed out that the sports debt cannot be paid in advance; the earliest it could begin to be paid is 1998.
Discussion The Board discussed the possibility of changing the terms of the two-year agreement with Norton Herrick, the likelihood of changing legislation on this issue, and use of the tourist tax for transportation improvements in the tourism district.
Motion Upon a motion by County Chairman Chapin, seconded by Commissioner Butler, and carried with County Chairman Chapin and all commissioners present and voting AYE by voice vote, the Board approved retaining the "fifth cent" Tourist Development Tax as presently provided for by Ordinance No. 94-25.
For the record, Commissioner Hoenstine stated that although he does not agree with continuing to collect the "5th cent," he will stand by it since this was part of the agreement with Norton Herrick.
In conclusion of the worksession, County Chairman Chapin read a portion of a poem entitled "Herrick at the Bat."
Staff Report County Attorney Tom Wilkes reviewed the uses of the fourth and fifth cents of the Tourist Development Tax. Mr. Wilkes explained the "fourth cent" is for debt on the convention center, sports debt, the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau, convention center operations, and capital improvements. He continued that the "fifth cent" is restricted to existing sports debt for the Orlando Arena and the Citrus Bowl or other professional sports franchise facilities.
May 2, 1995 Page 259
May 2, 1995 Page 259
Mr. Wilkes further explained a "freed up" portion of the "fourth cent" would first be used to increase the subsidy to the convention center; the remainder would be used for the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau and, also, for the Florida Citrus Sports Association.
Mr. Wilkes continued that the surplus "fifth cent" will be deposited into the Tourist Development Trust Fund to be used for baseball. He added that March 9, 1997, is the deadline for acquiring a baseball team. Mr. Wilkes noted that if Orange County gets a baseball team, the accumulated surplus in the trust fund will be used for the design and construction of a stadium; however, if the County does not get a baseball team, the accumulated monies would be used to redeem all existing sports debt for the Orlando Arena and the Citrus Bowl. He pointed out that the sports debt cannot be paid in advance; the earliest it could begin to be paid is 1998.
Discussion The Board discussed the possibility of changing the terms of the two-year agreement with Norton Herrick, the likelihood of changing legislation on this issue, and use of the tourist tax for transportation improvements in the tourism district.
Motion Upon a motion by County Chairman Chapin, seconded by Commissioner Butler, and carried with County Chairman Chapin and all commissioners present and voting AYE by voice vote, the Board approved retaining the "fifth cent" Tourist Development Tax as presently provided for by Ordinance No. 94-25.
For the record, Commissioner Hoenstine stated that although he does not agree with continuing to collect the "5th cent," he will stand by it since this was part of the agreement with Norton Herrick.
In conclusion of the worksession, County Chairman Chapin read a portion of a poem entitled "Herrick at the Bat."
Chapin Puts Baseball Tax Before Tourist Council
The Chairman Wants A Recommendation On Whether To Repeal Or Keep Collecting The Tax.
Should Orange County continue to collect the tourist tax to build a Major League Baseball stadium if a team isn't on the immediate horizon?
That's the issue Orange County Chairman Linda Chapin wants the community and tourism officials to debate next month.
Last week, Chapin announced she wants to consider repealing the tourist tax increase from 4 to 5 cents on the dollar that went into effect Feb. 1.
That's the issue Orange County Chairman Linda Chapin wants the community and tourism officials to debate next month.
Last week, Chapin announced she wants to consider repealing the tourist tax increase from 4 to 5 cents on the dollar that went into effect Feb. 1.
The tax, collected on all hotel, motel, timeshare and campgrounds, will raise about $13 million this year, $8.1 million for a stadium if Orlando wins a team.
After baseball owners didn't award an expansion team to Orlando this month, Chapin started having second thoughts about continuing to collect the tax. On Wednesday, she asked the Tourist Development Council, which advises county commissioners, to give its recommendation.
The public will be invited to air its views at the tourist council meeting, tentatively slated for April 12 or 19.
''I think it is a very important public policy issue,'' Chapin said. ''There are plenty of options for how to spend the tax, and there are plenty of people who want to discuss this issue. This is the best forum to do it.''
Plenty of debate is expected.
Pro-baseball factions, led by would-be team owner Norton Herrick and Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, will argue not to tinker with the tax. Any wavering sends the wrong signals to baseball owners about the city's big-league aspirations, they say.
On March 9, baseball owners awarded expansion teams to Tampa Bay and Phoenix. They start play in 1998. Orlando is in the running for the next wave of expansion; two more teams could be awarded to start play in 2000 or 2001.
Herrick says the community has already shown its support of baseball and the resort tax increase. He points out that the increase was already ratified by local hoteliers, the tourist council, the Orlando City Council and the County Commission - all after Chapin survived a nasty re-election bid in which her opponent made baseball and the tax a key issue.
Under the current plan, if Herrick doesn't win a team, the money set aside for stadium construction would be used to retire debt on the Orlando Arena and Florida Citrus Bowl and then the fifth cent would sunset in 2000.
''I don't know anywhere in America where you go back and redo something that was so unanimously agreed to. For what? Why?,'' Herrick said. ''The absolute worst case for the city and county is we don't get baseball and they still have all of the money in place to pay down the (Citrus Bowl and Arena) debt.''
Another faction of tourism leaders will likely argue to keep the tax in place, but for different reasons than Herrick.
Besides the $8.1 million a year set aside for the stadium, the fifth cent also generates $4.8 million for expanding county convention center operations, new tourism ads and money to promote the annual Citrus Bowl football game.
After baseball owners didn't award an expansion team to Orlando this month, Chapin started having second thoughts about continuing to collect the tax. On Wednesday, she asked the Tourist Development Council, which advises county commissioners, to give its recommendation.
The public will be invited to air its views at the tourist council meeting, tentatively slated for April 12 or 19.
''I think it is a very important public policy issue,'' Chapin said. ''There are plenty of options for how to spend the tax, and there are plenty of people who want to discuss this issue. This is the best forum to do it.''
Plenty of debate is expected.
Pro-baseball factions, led by would-be team owner Norton Herrick and Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, will argue not to tinker with the tax. Any wavering sends the wrong signals to baseball owners about the city's big-league aspirations, they say.
On March 9, baseball owners awarded expansion teams to Tampa Bay and Phoenix. They start play in 1998. Orlando is in the running for the next wave of expansion; two more teams could be awarded to start play in 2000 or 2001.
Herrick says the community has already shown its support of baseball and the resort tax increase. He points out that the increase was already ratified by local hoteliers, the tourist council, the Orlando City Council and the County Commission - all after Chapin survived a nasty re-election bid in which her opponent made baseball and the tax a key issue.
Under the current plan, if Herrick doesn't win a team, the money set aside for stadium construction would be used to retire debt on the Orlando Arena and Florida Citrus Bowl and then the fifth cent would sunset in 2000.
''I don't know anywhere in America where you go back and redo something that was so unanimously agreed to. For what? Why?,'' Herrick said. ''The absolute worst case for the city and county is we don't get baseball and they still have all of the money in place to pay down the (Citrus Bowl and Arena) debt.''
Another faction of tourism leaders will likely argue to keep the tax in place, but for different reasons than Herrick.
Besides the $8.1 million a year set aside for the stadium, the fifth cent also generates $4.8 million for expanding county convention center operations, new tourism ads and money to promote the annual Citrus Bowl football game.
Theme park giants such as Walt Disney World are expected to argue to maintain the fifth cent for new tourism promotions.
''Our position is that the fifth cent is a really important source of advertising and promotion dollars which we really need,'' said Bill Warren of Walt Disney World.
Bill Davis, general manager of Sea World, said his organization supports collecting the portion of the fifth cent that will pay for the convention center, new promotions and the Citrus Bowl game.
Davis said leaders should consider suspending that part of the tax dedicated to baseball and reinstating the tax if Herrick wins an expansion club or buys a team.
Another key group is the Central Florida Hotel-Motel Association, which represents most of the properties generating the tax revenue. The group, which gave a mixed but positive endorsement for baseball last year, meets today to discuss Chapin's call to repeal the tax.
One tourist council member is awaiting the hotel group's decision.
''I feel that the hoteliers have a great deal of input,'' said Cathy Kerns, a 20-year local tourism advocate. ''If they were vehemently opposed to it (the fifth cent), I'd have to listen.''
Kerns supports keeping the fifth cent, but restructuring the payoff to reduce Citrus Bowl and Arena debt and spend more for the convention center and tourism advertising.
''Promotion in this community is devastatingly needed,'' Kerns said. ''We need to start fighting for our lives as an industry.''
''Our position is that the fifth cent is a really important source of advertising and promotion dollars which we really need,'' said Bill Warren of Walt Disney World.
Bill Davis, general manager of Sea World, said his organization supports collecting the portion of the fifth cent that will pay for the convention center, new promotions and the Citrus Bowl game.
Davis said leaders should consider suspending that part of the tax dedicated to baseball and reinstating the tax if Herrick wins an expansion club or buys a team.
Another key group is the Central Florida Hotel-Motel Association, which represents most of the properties generating the tax revenue. The group, which gave a mixed but positive endorsement for baseball last year, meets today to discuss Chapin's call to repeal the tax.
One tourist council member is awaiting the hotel group's decision.
''I feel that the hoteliers have a great deal of input,'' said Cathy Kerns, a 20-year local tourism advocate. ''If they were vehemently opposed to it (the fifth cent), I'd have to listen.''
Kerns supports keeping the fifth cent, but restructuring the payoff to reduce Citrus Bowl and Arena debt and spend more for the convention center and tourism advertising.
''Promotion in this community is devastatingly needed,'' Kerns said. ''We need to start fighting for our lives as an industry.''
Chapin-hood: Tax Tourists For Baseball
''team Orlando'' Hopes To Woo The Tourism Industry With Ad Money, Then Save The Balance For A Possible Stadium.
Orlando's effort to entice a baseball expansion team kicked off Wednesday with its top two elected officials asking tourism leaders to support raising the resort tax to fund a Field of Dreams.
In setting out their first push to woo Major League Baseball, Orange County Chairman Linda Chapin and Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood got a lukewarm response from the tourism industry. But officials are expected to give their symbolic support to the tax increase beginning today.
In setting out their first push to woo Major League Baseball, Orange County Chairman Linda Chapin and Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood got a lukewarm response from the tourism industry. But officials are expected to give their symbolic support to the tax increase beginning today.
Chapin and Hood unveiled a ''Team Orlando'' logo for baseball promotions and asked tourism leaders to ''join the team'' by supporting a penny increase in the 4-cent tax on hotel rooms.
The extra penny would raise $12 million a year and be used to create blueprints for a 40,000-to-50,000 seat stadium near downtown's Florida Citrus Bowl. Most of the money would be salted away to build the stadium if baseball owners award Orlando a team.
The county has an existing contract with HOK, the award-winning firm that designed Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles. HOK also prepared the stadium models Orlando used in its unsuccessful 1991 bid for National League teams, which went to Denver and Miami.
Orlando's strategy centers on the expected expansion of Major League Baseball between 1995 and 1997 - when owners are expected to realign the American and National Leagues into three divisions each. Last month, Chapin nixed plans to land a spring training team, saying Orlando should concentrate on a big-league squad of its own.
Chapin and Hood believe they can get the tourism industry's support for several reasons.
First, an undetermined part of the new penny - but as much as $2.5 million a year - would expand tourism promotion efforts. Second, baseball and tourism are a natural fit, Chapin said.
While several larger cities with better demographics and financial clout are expected to vie for an expansion team, including Charlotte and St. Petersburg, Orlando is the only one that can boast 14 million tourists a year, including a large international family market.
Chapin said baseball - which is looking to expand its ties to international markets - will be impressed by Orlando's ability to fill a ballpark with families from ''Cedar Rapids, Salt Lake City and Singapore'' enjoying wholesome vacations. Those same families will be filling more than 57,600 Orange County hotel rooms.
If the baseball bid fails, tourism leaders said they want the money to pay off early more than $128 million in debt on the Orlando Arena, the Citrus Bowl and the county convention center.
Chad Martin and Dan Mahurin, president and president-elect of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said they will recommend supporting the tax increase. The directors of the Central Florida Hotel-Motel Association will ask their members today to support the plan.
Support would mark a reversal for the industry, which two years ago balked at a half-cent tourist tax increase for a stadium.
The extra penny would raise $12 million a year and be used to create blueprints for a 40,000-to-50,000 seat stadium near downtown's Florida Citrus Bowl. Most of the money would be salted away to build the stadium if baseball owners award Orlando a team.
The county has an existing contract with HOK, the award-winning firm that designed Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles. HOK also prepared the stadium models Orlando used in its unsuccessful 1991 bid for National League teams, which went to Denver and Miami.
Orlando's strategy centers on the expected expansion of Major League Baseball between 1995 and 1997 - when owners are expected to realign the American and National Leagues into three divisions each. Last month, Chapin nixed plans to land a spring training team, saying Orlando should concentrate on a big-league squad of its own.
Chapin and Hood believe they can get the tourism industry's support for several reasons.
First, an undetermined part of the new penny - but as much as $2.5 million a year - would expand tourism promotion efforts. Second, baseball and tourism are a natural fit, Chapin said.
While several larger cities with better demographics and financial clout are expected to vie for an expansion team, including Charlotte and St. Petersburg, Orlando is the only one that can boast 14 million tourists a year, including a large international family market.
Chapin said baseball - which is looking to expand its ties to international markets - will be impressed by Orlando's ability to fill a ballpark with families from ''Cedar Rapids, Salt Lake City and Singapore'' enjoying wholesome vacations. Those same families will be filling more than 57,600 Orange County hotel rooms.
If the baseball bid fails, tourism leaders said they want the money to pay off early more than $128 million in debt on the Orlando Arena, the Citrus Bowl and the county convention center.
Chad Martin and Dan Mahurin, president and president-elect of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said they will recommend supporting the tax increase. The directors of the Central Florida Hotel-Motel Association will ask their members today to support the plan.
Support would mark a reversal for the industry, which two years ago balked at a half-cent tourist tax increase for a stadium.
''Life is fluid,'' said Bill Peeper, executive director of the visitors bureau. ''Things change . . . Heaven forbid we put our feet in concrete and never revisit a situation. There was no economic merit for spring training. Major league is a different game.''
Not everyone was sold on the proposed tax increase.
Chapin and Hood were surprised that their announcement received a less than enthusiastic response from 1,200 tourism workers at the Buena Vista Palace.
''Tourism industry taxes should support things that drive the industry, like expansion of the convention center, where there is always a payback,'' said Jim Haughney, general manager of the Hilton at Walt Disney World.
Haughney said a higher tax will increase hotel bills by hundreds or thousands of dollars for large conventions. And that, he fears, might dissuade some businesses from meeting here.
''I would say that we have to be cautious,'' he said. ''I think we may be at the end of the funding (from tourists) in this area.''
Rather than putting together a last-minute baseball bid as they did in 1991, Orlando officials want to get community support for baseball early. And with the symbolic support of the tourism industry, Orange County commissioners are likely to vote to increase the bed tax.
If that happens, Hood said, the city would spend millions to buy land for the stadium and begin improving nearby roads.
The next part of the strategy is to gather an attractive ownership group to lead Orlando's effort.
Chapin and Hood have made no secret about their plans to recruit an ownership group led by a prominent minority business leader. This strategy is aimed directly at major-league owners, who continue to bristle at criticism that minorities have been shut out from upper management and team ownership.
''We've got an attractive market, an attractive community, a growing area, 14 million tourists, a large number of international visitors,'' Chapin said. ''An ownership group led by a prominent member of the minority community has got to be a winner.''
The rumored front-runner on the list is Jean Fugett, chief executive officer of the multibillion dollar Beatrice Foods conglomerate, America's largest black-owned business.
Fugett, a former NFL tight end, and a group of investors were recently outbid in the sweepstakes to buy the Baltimore Orioles.
Chapin and Hood refused to say whether they have approached Fugett. He could not be reached
Not everyone was sold on the proposed tax increase.
Chapin and Hood were surprised that their announcement received a less than enthusiastic response from 1,200 tourism workers at the Buena Vista Palace.
''Tourism industry taxes should support things that drive the industry, like expansion of the convention center, where there is always a payback,'' said Jim Haughney, general manager of the Hilton at Walt Disney World.
Haughney said a higher tax will increase hotel bills by hundreds or thousands of dollars for large conventions. And that, he fears, might dissuade some businesses from meeting here.
''I would say that we have to be cautious,'' he said. ''I think we may be at the end of the funding (from tourists) in this area.''
Rather than putting together a last-minute baseball bid as they did in 1991, Orlando officials want to get community support for baseball early. And with the symbolic support of the tourism industry, Orange County commissioners are likely to vote to increase the bed tax.
If that happens, Hood said, the city would spend millions to buy land for the stadium and begin improving nearby roads.
The next part of the strategy is to gather an attractive ownership group to lead Orlando's effort.
Chapin and Hood have made no secret about their plans to recruit an ownership group led by a prominent minority business leader. This strategy is aimed directly at major-league owners, who continue to bristle at criticism that minorities have been shut out from upper management and team ownership.
''We've got an attractive market, an attractive community, a growing area, 14 million tourists, a large number of international visitors,'' Chapin said. ''An ownership group led by a prominent member of the minority community has got to be a winner.''
The rumored front-runner on the list is Jean Fugett, chief executive officer of the multibillion dollar Beatrice Foods conglomerate, America's largest black-owned business.
Fugett, a former NFL tight end, and a group of investors were recently outbid in the sweepstakes to buy the Baltimore Orioles.
Chapin and Hood refused to say whether they have approached Fugett. He could not be reached
Sunday, February 16, 2014
How hypocritical can Rich DeVos get?
A mixed bag today, featuring Rich DeVos, Harry Potter and reader payback …
Does Rich DeVos have no shame? The billionaire Magic owner blackmailed Central Florida into building him a new $480 million arena, with him kicking in a measly 12 percent. The rest of the money came from taxpayers, who will be paying off the building for the next 30 years.
Does Rich DeVos have no shame? The billionaire Magic owner blackmailed Central Florida into building him a new $480 million arena, with him kicking in a measly 12 percent. The rest of the money came from taxpayers, who will be paying off the building for the next 30 years.
And now we see a commentary from DeVos in Sunday's paper trumpeting his free-market principles and decrying deficit government spending. Is he actually serious?
"The recipe is almost always the same: Spending money they don't have for projects they don't need,'' he wrote about government spending.
Gee, ya think!
DeVos is so rich, so entitled and so detached from reality that he can't even see the hypocrisy flowing out of his own keyboard. I bet even Alex Martins cringed.
This is like Tiger Woods lecturing us on monogamy.
"The recipe is almost always the same: Spending money they don't have for projects they don't need,'' he wrote about government spending.
Gee, ya think!
DeVos is so rich, so entitled and so detached from reality that he can't even see the hypocrisy flowing out of his own keyboard. I bet even Alex Martins cringed.
This is like Tiger Woods lecturing us on monogamy.
The DeVos Center. It really wouldn't cost you much more
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
IT'S AMAZING to hear that the city will now have a huge surplus of money from the extra 1 percent tourist tax, which was originally allocated for the proposed baseball stadium (now on the ''back burner''), and they don't know what to do with it.
The great sports cities of Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, Washington and my old New York are able to host opera, ballets and symphonies.
The great sports cities of Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, Washington and my old New York are able to host opera, ballets and symphonies.
Here, in our great state of Florida, Miami has a symphony, and Tampa has a limited ballet and symphony schedule. Tallahassee and Jacksonville have no such musical events. West Palm Beach doesn't have any sports but does have the magnificent Kravis Performing Arts Center - that's class!
It seems Orlando has millions of dollars for theme parks and sporting events but nothing for cultural music. Please, Mayor Glenda Hood, Mr. Richard DeVos and Disney, can't you get together to finance a return of the Orlando Symphony?
Or, Mr. DeVos, if it is true that you are planning to build your own structure for the Magic and your new hockey team, why not be the hero and go all the way? Incorporate a symphonic hall and name the complex The DeVos Center. It really wouldn't cost you much more, and you would be adding ''a touch of class'' to Orlando and your name.
Jean Wassmer
ORLANDO
It seems Orlando has millions of dollars for theme parks and sporting events but nothing for cultural music. Please, Mayor Glenda Hood, Mr. Richard DeVos and Disney, can't you get together to finance a return of the Orlando Symphony?
Or, Mr. DeVos, if it is true that you are planning to build your own structure for the Magic and your new hockey team, why not be the hero and go all the way? Incorporate a symphonic hall and name the complex The DeVos Center. It really wouldn't cost you much more, and you would be adding ''a touch of class'' to Orlando and your name.
Jean Wassmer
ORLANDO
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Bianchi on Buddy's Payroll?
Why save Tinker Field -- an aging baseball stadium without a baseball team?
Running off at the typewriter. …
Raise your hand if you've ever visited empty, dilapidated Tinker Field because of its historical significance?
Anyone?
Still waiting …
Raise your hand if you've ever visited empty, dilapidated Tinker Field because of its historical significance?
Anyone?
Still waiting …
Anyone?
I didn't think so.
Then why is there this political hissing match about tearing down Tinker to make room for the $200 million renovation of the Citrus Bowl? Isn't this a no-brainer? Why would you keep Tinker Field?
This just in: Tinker Field is a decrepit baseball stadium that hasn't housed an actual baseball team for more than a decade. And guess what? Even if Orlando ever did attract another minor-league baseball team to play downtown, that team wouldn't play in Tinker Field. Why? Because it's a dump, that's why.
Did some historically significant things happen at Tinker Field back in the day? Absolutely. Babe Ruth once played there back in the 1920s; Martin Luther King once spoke there in the 1960s. But, come on, you don't keep an entire baseball stadium because of what happened there decades ago.
Simple solution: Erect an historic marker or build statues of King and Ruth with a plaque commemorating Tinker Field's historical significance. But, please, let's not delay renovating the Citrus Bowl and luring top-notch sporting events (and economic impact) to Central Florida while ego-driven politicians argue about saving a big, ugly, empty baseball stadium that hasn't been home to an actual baseball team in nearly a generation.
I didn't think so.
Then why is there this political hissing match about tearing down Tinker to make room for the $200 million renovation of the Citrus Bowl? Isn't this a no-brainer? Why would you keep Tinker Field?
This just in: Tinker Field is a decrepit baseball stadium that hasn't housed an actual baseball team for more than a decade. And guess what? Even if Orlando ever did attract another minor-league baseball team to play downtown, that team wouldn't play in Tinker Field. Why? Because it's a dump, that's why.
Did some historically significant things happen at Tinker Field back in the day? Absolutely. Babe Ruth once played there back in the 1920s; Martin Luther King once spoke there in the 1960s. But, come on, you don't keep an entire baseball stadium because of what happened there decades ago.
Simple solution: Erect an historic marker or build statues of King and Ruth with a plaque commemorating Tinker Field's historical significance. But, please, let's not delay renovating the Citrus Bowl and luring top-notch sporting events (and economic impact) to Central Florida while ego-driven politicians argue about saving a big, ugly, empty baseball stadium that hasn't been home to an actual baseball team in nearly a generation.
Mark Funderburk
Field Of Dreams This Baseball Season, These Three Menshare Life In The Minor Leagues. But Their Sights Are Set Higher:two In The Future, One In The Past.
August 11, 1985|By Philip Singerman
Mark Funderburk looks like the sound of his name. When the 6-foot-5, 238- pound left fielder for the Orlando Twins steps to the plate, he consumes the batter's box. He overwhelms an opposing pitcher's field of vision, dominating it the way a Kodiak bear, standing on its hind legs next to the dresser, would dominate the landscape of your bedroom. Curling his prodigious body slightly over the plate, he narrows his otherwise wide, expressive eyes, stares intently at the man who is about to try to throw a pitch by him, and rolls his shoulders slightly, a gesture that, given Funderburk's size, is as menacing as a brandished fist. His enormous hands clench and open several times around the handle of his bat in a manner not unlike the wringing of a neck. When he swings, the bat comes around with the speed of a lion-tamer's whip, and if he makes solid contact with the ball, using even half his power -- a semi-Funderburk, as it were -- the ball will clear the fence. If he connects with full power, the sound echoes through the ball park like a rifle shot in a deep canyon, and the ball disappears from the playing field in the time it takes for one collective intake of breath from the crowd. It winds up in places like someone's front yard a half a block from the stadium.
In his previous seasons in the minor leagues, Funderburk, though physically intimidating, was not that frightening to opposing pitchers. True, he could wallop the long ball, but he couldn't hit a curve, he struck out with unfortunate regularity, and he was easily rattled. The Minnesota Twins, who drafted him in the 16th round in 1976, kept him in their farm system until 1982 before releasing him. Kansas City gave him a try in 1983 but let him go in May of that year. The rap on him was that he didn't have the goods to be a big-leaguer.
This season, is different. This season, Funderburk, 28, has returned to Orlando, Minnesota's Southern League farm team
, after a season in Mexico and another in Italy, with single-minded determination to finally make it to the major leagues. This season, aware that time is growing short and that he may never get another chance, Funderburk, also called ''Big Bird'' or ''Bird'' by his teammates and O-Twins fans, is hitting the ball better than ever before in his career.
, after a season in Mexico and another in Italy, with single-minded determination to finally make it to the major leagues. This season, aware that time is growing short and that he may never get another chance, Funderburk, also called ''Big Bird'' or ''Bird'' by his teammates and O-Twins fans, is hitting the ball better than ever before in his career.
In the past, a .270 batting average, 80 runs batted in and 25 home runs constituted a good year for Funderburk. This season, after 89 games of the Twins' 146-game schedule, he has a batting average of .299, has driven in 87 runs and has a league-leading 26 homers. Now, when he comes to the plate, opposing pitchers quiver. Outfielders, who don't have to be told to move back, glance nervously at the fence behind them, and his teammates in the dugout begin to shout and cheer with as much enthusiasm as the fans in the grandstand. The Southern League's season is divided in half, and in the first half, Orlando finished last in the eastern division. Currently, the Twins are in second place, only a gamebehind Charlotte, N.C., and much of their success has to be credited to Funderburk's bat. ''Bird's just plain hot,'' says Twins catcher Rick Colbert. ''He's carried us. It's as simple as that.''
behind Charlotte, N.C., and much of their success has to be credited to Funderburk's bat. ''Bird's just plain hot,'' says Twins catcher Rick Colbert. ''He's carried us. It's as simple as that.''
''I used to be very nervous,'' Funderburk says. ''I used to get upset all the time. Now, things don't bother me the way they did. I used to have a real short fuse. Once, a few years back, I got so mad I chased an umpire into right field. I learned to control myself, and that's helped my game a lot.''
It is late afternoon, a couple of hours before the Twins' game against the Chattanooga Lookouts, and Funderburk is sitting in the Twins' clubhouse under the grandstand at Orlando's Tinker Field. The clubhouse is clean, orderly and air-conditioned, but it's a long way from the spacious opulence of a major-league locker room. Orlando, a double-A team, is two steps from Minnesota, the next one up being the triple-A farm team in Toledo, and the aura in the Orlando clubhouse is distinctly minor-league. Most of the players moving about are in their early 20s, hopeful, expectant and just a little uncertain, without the big-league ballplayer's self-assured swagger. At best only a few of them will make it to the top, and, because of this, there is a vague tension in the room despite the banter and horseplay. All the players want to be someplace else, none more than Funderburk, who almost made it once before.
moving about are in their early 20s, hopeful, expectant and just a little uncertain, without the big-league ballplayer's self-assured swagger. At best only a few of them will make it to the top, and, because of this, there is a vague tension in the room despite the banter and horseplay. All the players want to be someplace else, none more than Funderburk, who almost made it once before.
In 1981, Funderburk was actually called up to Minnesota near the end of the season and played fivegames with the Twins. He didn't feel that was enough of a test, and in 1982, when he was sent back to Orlando instead of Toledo, baseball ceased to be fun for him and he played with little enthusiasm. He felt he had nothing to prove in double-A ball. At the end of the season Minnesota released him.
with the Twins. He didn't feel that was enough of a test, and in 1982, when he was sent back to Orlando instead of Toledo, baseball ceased to be fun for him and he played with little enthusiasm. He felt he had nothing to prove in double-A ball. At the end of the season Minnesota released him.Monday, February 10, 2014
Soccer team touts attendance, but turnstile counts far lower
Orlando City fans watch
first half action of a USL Pro semifinal… (Joshua C. Cruey, Orlando…)
September 3, 2013|By Mark Schlueb, Orlando
Sentinel
Orlando
City Soccer Club recently celebrated a milestone: Average attendance at its
games surpassed 8,000. But city turnstile records show average attendance was
less than half that — at 3,987.That's not unusual in the world of professional
sports, where announced attendance has little to do with how many fans actually
attend a game.
But
there are more than just bragging rights at stake for the Orlando City Lions.
The team is lobbying Orlando and Orange County officials for a soccer-specific
stadium that would cost $85 million, most of it from public money. It would
seat about 18,000 people.Lions representatives said they're certain fans will
fill the stadium if it is built. "We have tried to be as accurate and
honest as we can," team executive Brett Lashbrook said. "I think it's
in line with the industry practice, and in fact it's more honest than other
leagues."
On
Aug. 11, the club announced a record 10,697 fans at the Florida Citrus Bowl. In
fact, just 4,004 people had their tickets scanned as they passed through the
gates, according to turnstile counts tallied by the city, which owns and
operates the venue. The team announced an attendance of 8,912 at the USL Pro
semi-final match Friday. The turnstile count was 6,731.
The
actual attendance — the number of fans in seats — is likely somewhere in the middle,
but it's nearly impossible for the public to know with any certainty. The team
hopes to draw 15,000 fans to the Citrus Bowl when it plays for the USL Pro
Championship on Saturday.
Lashbrook,
who is leading the effort to make the team the next Major League Soccer
expansion franchise, says that the city's tally drastically undercounts the
actual attendance. It doesn't include the most dedicated fans — those seated in
the Fan Zone; members of the team's youth soccer league who arrive pregame; and
those in premium seats, who use a different entrance. Together, that can amount
to more than 1,000 people.
"We
are confident that our official attendance figures are an accurate and honest
portrayal of the number of people attending our matches," Lashbrook said.
Exaggerated
attendance is no surprise to fans of professional sports. Sellout crowds are
often announced even when pockets of empty seats are plain to see for TV
viewers. It comes down to how they're counted.
Most
professional sports leagues and the NCAA have adopted a policy of announcing
the number of tickets that have been distributed for the game. That includes
season tickets, group tickets, individual tickets and premium areas that have
been sold, as well as tickets given to corporate sponsors. But it also includes
tickets handed out for free to charities, sponsors or simply to promote the
team and bring in more bodies. Corporate-sponsorship tickets are often given to
a company's clients and go unused. Each suite at the Amway Center is counted as
16 attendees, even if no one shows up. Those with comp tickets are even more
likely to stay home because there's less angst if you didn't pay anything.
The Orlando
Magic's current policy, dictated by the NBA, is to calculate attendance like
this: They count all tickets sold — regardless of whether the ticket-holder
comes to the game — as well as comp tickets that have actually been used. That
typically yields an announced attendance about 25 percent higher than turnstile
counts recorded by the city.
"It's a sports-industry
practice," said Allen Johnson, director of the city's venues, referring to
professional sports in general. "It's not a dirty little secret. It's just
how we do it versus how they do it."
Unlike the NBA,
Major League Soccer announces all tickets distributed — paid and comped —
whether or not the people who have the tickets are really there. MLS spokesman
Dan Courtemanche says they're just following the lead of other major leagues.
"It's a consistent
approach," Courtemanche said. The Orlando soccer team does not release a
breakdown of its attendance or disclose the number of free tickets it hands
out. To determine the attendance announced at games, the club uses its own
formula that its executives say is more conservative.
Generally, the
attendance that is announced includes all paid tickets and some, but not all,
complimentary tickets. Part of the team's system is to eyeball several sections
where those with free tickets are seated and then take an educated guess about
how many people are present.
In some cases,
the team has strayed from its policy. Heavy rainfall at three or four games
affected attendance so much that the team reported a lower number than it
otherwise would have, Lashbrook said.
Team officials
expect to fill a new stadium. The last three minor-league teams to join MLS saw
big attendance jumps in their first MLS season. The Vancouver Whitecaps went
from 5,149 to 20,406.
"Our paid
numbers go up every year, and we're becoming more and more part of the social
fabric of this community," Lashbrook said.
Johnson, who is
negotiating a potential lease with the team, said it won't hurt City Hall's
bottom line if fans don't show up. The lease will likely charge the team a flat
rental fee, and if the city doesn't break even, the team would have to pay the
city the difference.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Tinker's Last Stand (1999)
With The Orlando Rays Moving To Disney World
Next Year, Longtime Fans Paid Tribute To Orlando's Venerable Baseball Stadium.
August 30, 1999|By L.C. Johnson of The
Sentinel Staff
Nearly
6,000 fans stopped by Tinker Field over the weekend to say goodbye to an old
friend.
The
Orlando Rays, the last in a long line of professional minor-league baseball
teams who have called Tinker Field home, completed their last homestand of the
1999 Southern League season Sunday night.
The
fact that the O-Rays lost the game to Jacksonville 8-3 to fall into a
first-place tie with the Suns was almost a moot point.
Several
Orlando area fans, many of whom have been following baseball at Tinker Field
since the late '50s, were saddened by the news that the O-Rays will move to the
Disney's Wide World of Sports for the 2000 season.
``I'm
very broken-hearted,'' said Bob Richardson, 62, who first began attending games
at Tinker in 1957. ``It's very sad that the City of Orlando and the Mayor
[Glenda Hood] did not see fit to upgrade this facility.
``I'm
very sad that after all the years that they were the Washington Senators and
the Twins, which was like 47 years - the longest in the state of Florida - they
lost their franchise to Fort Myers ... And if you travel around the state of
Florida and see all of the beautiful new ballparks, you'll understand why
nobody wants to play here.''
Tinker
Field is not the only casualty of the O-Rays' move. The season has been
especially tough for O-Rays General Manager Tom Ramsberger and his staff. None
of them will accompany the team when the operation moves out to Disney next
season, meaning this is a lame-duck management.
``I
put a lot into this, but I really feel bad for the fans, the sponsors and
especially my staff,'' Ramsberger said. ``The primary reason I was brought on
with the Devil Rays three years ago was to help work with the city and county
to try to find a way to either get a stadium built or renovate this one.
``I
can truly say the Devil Rays had no intention of leaving Orlando three years
ago. When things didn't work out with the stadium, we had to look at other
options.''
A
small, but dedicated group of season-ticket holders held a final tailgating
party under a tent located behind the third-base grandstands Saturday night. It
carried over until Sunday. They all autographed a banner that carried the
message: `The team is leaving, but the memories will always be here: Tinker
Field 1914- .''
This
same group of fans erected a couple of tombstones to mark the sad occasion. The
tombstones had been part of the tailgate party decorations Saturday. On Sunday,
the tombstones greeted fans in front of Tinker Field: ``Here lies a fan put
here by an owner with no game plan. RIP 1999.'' The other tombstone read:
``RIP: season-ticket holders, loyal and dedicated, both day and night, to move
the team just ain't right.''
The
fans are evenly split on being angered at the Orlando city officials and the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the parent club of the O-Rays. They're mad at the city's
failure or unwillingness to fund Tinker Field improvements. They're also mad at
the Devils Rays for flirting with the idea of moving the team to Tallahassee
and subsequently moving to Kissimmee.
``For the last
couple of years, everything has been going down as far as the season-ticket
holder goes,'' said Steve Mellich, a season-ticket holder since 1984. ``The
fans are the ones who have made the Orlando Rays. Disney did not. Disney didn't
have a damn thing to do with this ballpark here. They may have a beautiful park
out there and everything. But this one could be, too, if the city would put a
little money into it.''
Cathie Kissic,
another longtime season-ticket holder and frequent visitor to Tinker Field,
recalls Tampa Bay Devil Rays General Manager Vincent Naimoli throwing out the
ceremonial first pitch at the home opener.
``Naimoli
insulted the Orlando fans the very first time he came here by talking about how
he got rust on his white leisure suit while sitting in the stands,'' Kissic
said. ``I've been coming here for years, and I've never gotten any rust on my
clothes.
``He was just
looking for a reason to complain because he didn't want his team to be here.
And that's not fair to the fans, who've been supporting this team. There are a
lot of us who have practically raised our children here, and our kids have been
season-ticket holders for 10 years.''
What has been
lost amid all of the off-the-field squabbles is that the O-Rays remain in a
pennant race with a chance to make the playoffs. Despite the strong show of fan
support over the weekend, Orlando still ranks last in the Southern League in
attendance. But that won't be a factor in this playoff chase. The O-Rays have
eight remaining games, all of which will be on the road at Birmingham and
Huntsville.
``We've been dealing with that [smaller crowds] all year, and we haven't let it bother us,'' O-Rays Manager Bill Russell said. ``We like to see the fans who
They're
mad at the city's failure or unwillingness to fund Tinker Field improvements.
They're also mad at the Devils Rays for flirting with the idea of moving the
team to Tallahassee and subsequently moving to Kissimmee.
``For the last
couple of years, everything has been going down as far as the season-ticket
holder goes,'' said Steve Mellich, a season-ticket holder since 1984. ``The
fans are the ones who have made the Orlando Rays. Disney did not. Disney didn't
have a damn thing to do with this ballpark here. They may have a beautiful park
out there and everything. But this one could be, too, if the city would put a
little money into it.''
Cathie Kissic,
another longtime season-ticket holder and frequent visitor to Tinker Field,
recalls Tampa Bay Devil Rays General Manager Vincent Naimoli throwing out the
ceremonial first pitch at the home opener.
``Naimoli
insulted the Orlando fans the very first time he came here by talking about how
he got rust on his white leisure suit while sitting in the stands,'' Kissic
said. ``I've been coming here for years, and I've never gotten any rust on my
clothes.
``He was just
looking for a reason to complain because he didn't want his team to be here.
And that's not fair to the fans, who've been supporting this team. There are a
lot of us who have practically raised our children here, and our kids have been
season-ticket holders for 10 years.''
What has been
lost amid all of the off-the-field squabbles is that the O-Rays remain in a
pennant race with a chance to make the playoffs. Despite the strong show of fan
support over the weekend, Orlando still ranks last in the Southern League in
attendance. But that won't be a factor in this playoff chase. The O-Rays have
eight remaining games, all of which will be on the road at Birmingham and
Huntsville.
``We've been
dealing with that [smaller crowds] all year, and we haven't let it bother us,''
O-Rays Manager Bill Russell said. ``We like to see the fans who come out and
support us, and we've had some good crowds this weekend.
``But [the
number of fans) that's not our problem. That's other people's problems. We just
have to do what we have to do out on the field. Our main concern is to win the
games.''
This was over ten years ago and Mayor Buddy Dyer has let the field rot!
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