The Atlanta Braves are ending their 20 years of Spring Training at Walt Disney World in favor of building a new stadium near Sarasota, Florida.
As we reported earlier this year, the Atlanta Braves’ contract with Disney at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will expire after the 2018 season, and it looks like the team isn’t going to extend the deal.
The new stadium will put the Braves much closer to the other teams in the Grapefruit League, which mostly seem to be along the Gulf Coast.
The new stadium has already received final approval and is set to open in time for the 2019 Spring Training season. This 8,000 seat stadium will reportedly cost $100 million, with funding being split between the Braves, Florida tax payers, and private funding. The Braves are looking to sell naming rights to the new complex to offset some of the cost.
The Atlanta Braves have been playing at Disney’s Champion Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports ever since the complex opened in 1997, making this year the 20th anniversary. If you want to see the Atlanta Braves play at Walt Disney World one last time, it looks like Spring 2018 will be your only chance.
The Braves are leaving. Just like my wife.
:(
I just love how the Braves are trying to destroy the economic infrastructure of the city of Sarasota by forcing them to pay $100 million for this spring training complex. That is ridiculous by any standards and Disney was giving them a good deal. Heck, Orlando is closer to Atlanta than Sarasota and they got more people because it was in Disney. I don’t know what they’re trying to do, but it just spells out disaster for the city.
It’s fortunate, then, that they aren’t actually moving to Sarasota. The story got it wrong; the Braves’ new Spring Training home is actually in North Port.
Good riddance
Is what my wife told me when she left. I miss her. :(
Good. Now I don’t have to pretend I like the Braves. Cuz sports are stoopid
Swing and a miss.
Boy Pete’s really having a rough season. He’s looking for some way to break out of this slump. His RBI has really tanked since his wife left him.
On a more serious note, I am quite sad that Nick and I can no longer pretend like we’re going to a Braves game just to sneak into the Josten’s Center to watch high school cheerleading and volleyball competitions.
Dude that was supposed to be secret!!