Winter Park strikes out on minor league baseball deal

Winter Park’s quest to land a minor league baseball team struck out for a final time on Wednesday as the city, Rollins College and the Brevard Manatees failed to reach a deal with the Ravaudage development – the group’s last potential site for a new stadium.

Talks of a new home for the Brevard Manatees, a Single-A baseball team, had been on deck in Winter Park since 2012, with the city looking at four potential sites for the stadium back in February: Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Rollins’ Harper Shepherd Field, the incoming Ravaudage development, and the Winter Park Tech property off of U.S. Highway 17-92.

Ravaudage developer Dan Bellows and the three negotiating parties were $6 million to $7 million apart from reaching a deal before calling it quits, City Manager Randy Knight said.

“…We were hoping for a win-win-win-win result,” said Knight in an official statement released by the city. “Unfortunately, after months of discussion, research, community input and financial analyses, we could not come to an agreement that was beneficial to all the parties involved.”

“While I would like to subscribe to the theory ‘if you build it they will come,’ in the end, if the deal doesn’t make sense for all involved, it is time to tip your cap to the others and say ‘good game.’”

The city and the team offered to build a $22 million, 3,500-seat stadium and a 1,200-space parking garage in the development in exchange for the necessary 10-acre parcels, according to a statement released by the Brevard Manatees. Knight said Bellows responded with a higher counter offer that couldn’t be reached.

Rollins College would have helped fund the stadium, using the field for college baseball in exchange.

“I am disappointed our efforts to have the Manatees call Winter Park home were not successful,” said Mayor Ken Bradley in a city statement. “Baseball could have added a unique amenity to our city and had the ability to enhance Winter Park’s destination appeal. In addition, it would have been a tremendous economic impact for our community.”

The three other possible sites for a baseball stadium each fell because of opposition from residents. Martin Luther King Jr. Park was ruled out by the city in June after more than 2,000 residents signed a petition to keep the stadium out of the peaceful park.

“These are the citizens who want to keep the ‘park’ in Winter Park,” said Winter Park resident Donna Colado during the City Commission’s June 23 meeting.

Harper Shepherd Field and the Winter Park Tech property were scrapped after nearby neighborhoods expressed concern about the noise levels, Knight said.

But a new minor league baseball stadium could still come to Winter Park down the road. The Ravaudage development has been posted for sale since April, leaving a potential door open, said Manatees owner and Winter Park resident Tom Winters in a statement.

“We are disappointed,” Winters said, “but we have developed a great relationship with, and respect for, the city’s leadership throughout this process. They have been consistently fair and motivated, but protective of the city’s best interests. Perhaps our discussions can renew if a new owner of Ravaudage emerges with a different vision and valuation.”