Minor League Baseball in Orlando?

[DeepEyez]

I agree with you, I bet if the Orlando Thrill Park did get built. The people would said that it is a stupid idea would be one of the first ones in line to ride the rollercoaster.

Theme Parks did put Orlando on the map. Without those theme parks in Orlando where would we be? lets no forget our roots.

Also this would creare jobs, so I don't think this is a bad idea.

As much as theme parks are apart of our "roots", along with cattle ranching and citrus cropping, DIVERSIFICATION of our local economy is in the best in interest of our central Florida region. People already have enough to do as it is throughout Orlando's tourist district, having a Thrill Park in North I-Drive and an out-of-place minor-league baseball stadium in South I-Drive isn't going to do anything different that hasn't already been done and FAILED. A series of Vegas-style casinos in that area south of Sea World on I-Drive would be awesome .

I encourage the City of Orlando, in the case of the Thrill Park, and Orange County, in the case of the baseball stadium, to vote down those project plans and to explore better uses of those pieces of the land that have a better air of sustainability and reasonableness than those empty and tired ideas. Thanx!

[tc01]

Good luck with anything else wanting to buy the two pieces of land, like a major hotel, or something like SODO.

Evertime they make plans for something major it never gets built. For example, the Square, Blue Rose, and Plaza Del Lago. Thing like this would be good and I agree with some of the comments that we should build things like that, but it is not happening. So I am aT the point now where anthing would be good.

[prahaboheme]

I disagree -- growth for growth's sake is not a good thing. No where is this more evident than Orlando.

This is the type of development you would expect on US 192 in Kissimmee, circa 1995. Even 192's "big" attraction, Old Town, has completely shifted it's approach to stay afloat. It attracts a much more local clientele these days.

No surpise that the mixed use Celebration is 192's biggest success story.

[aent]

I disagree -- growth for growth's sake is not a good thing. No where is this more evident than Orlando.

This is the type of development you would expect on US 192 in Kissimmee, circa 1995. Even 192's "big" attraction, Old Town, has completely shifted it's approach to stay afloat. It attracts a much more local clientele these days.

No surpise that the mixed use Celebration is 192's biggest success story.

I really don't think this is growth for the sake of growth, this is something that I see there being a lot of demand for a void that has been created by Universal/Disney, and I can't see a much better area for this type of development (excluding the baseball stadium, I think that for minor league baseball, they should probably use the UCF baseball stadium and help fund an expansion of that instead rather then building their own facility... UCF already has the plans for an expansion of Jay Bergman field and is just looking for some additional funding to move the plan into action... infact, they did start to do some minor pieces of the renovation as they received funding and could, including installing a new scoreboard and some chairback seats...

I'd really love to see something push some new life into Knights Plaza, it hasn't done well attracting retailers to fill its spaces during the recession or at all met its goals and expectations... and the surrounding communities fighting NorthView which would put more students within walking distance, additional events are the only way to save the retailers... I know while it was being built, there was some talk and a few articles claiming a minor league was moving there and would help fund the stadium expansion, and thats when all the plans were made to expand it, but then it died...

[XpressEnterprise]

Orlando Strikes Out On Yankeetown

[prahaboheme]

Renovate Tinker Field in a public/private partnership, extend Lymmo, and bring minor league baseball to the city of Orlando.

[XpressEnterprise]

Renovate Tinker Field in a public/private partnership, extend Lymmo, and bring minor league baseball to the city of Orlando.

That's a great idea, someone else posted that on the blog. However, do you think Mr. Gutierrez would be willing to relocate to another part of town or another city in general?

[prahaboheme]

I'm assumption is no. I think this was a development/real estate pursuit, hence the negative reaction by the county.

[Jernigan]

Someone made a good post on the Sentinel comments section.

I agree and probably have posted that UCF would be a great location. UCF is in the process of upgrading their baseball stadium and is back to fielding a Top 25 baseball program so could use some seats and potentially draw the same crowds as minor league ball. Also, the location is surrounded by families in bedroom communities that would be more likely to take advantage of cheaper entertainment than what Orlando usually offers. With UCFs enrollment, a student promotion could go a long way to filling up some seats - especially they sell beer during the pro games.

But there was also a suggestion I hadn't thought of - now that SunRail is up and running and all the talk is development around the stations - why not build in a smaller town on the line instead of Orlando which will always consider itself too good for a minor league team? These municipalities are actively seeking developers.

An urban type of stadium would be great and could also serve as a outdoor event space (concerts, community events) for the local city in their to-be developed towncenter.

But I agree with pro - the guy isn't really interested in a great plan, just a quick buck. He's probably already scouting new ventures.

[prahaboheme]

Not to mention that the metro area already has several stadiums and venues that can be retrofitted to house a minor league stadium. Those that come to mind are the Wide World of Sports Complex and the Osceola County Stadium (both already familiar with hosting large events).

[spenser1058]

I'm assumption is no. I think this was a development/real estate pursuit, hence the negative reaction by the county.

Exactly - this was about a poor little rich boy who couldn't make it in south Florida even with Dad's help. When running for Congress didn't fly, off to Plan B, but even the I-Drive crowd saw through that quickly. This was never about baseball. Like "The Squire of Gothos," Armando's parents should tell him it's time to come in now (apologies to the non- Trekkies).

[spenser1058]

Someone made a good post on the Sentinel comments section.

I agree and probably have posted that UCF would be a great location. UCF is in the process of upgrading their baseball stadium and is back to fielding a Top 25 baseball program so could use some seats and potentially draw the same crowds as minor league ball. Also, the location is surrounded by families in bedroom communities that would be more likely to take advantage of cheaper entertainment than what Orlando usually offers. With UCFs enrollment, a student promotion could go a long way to filling up some seats - especially they sell beer during the pro games.

But there was also a suggestion I hadn't thought of - now that SunRail is up and running and all the talk is development around the stations - why not build in a smaller town on the line instead of Orlando which will always consider itself too good for a minor league team? These municipalities are actively seeking developers.

An urban type of stadium would be great and could also serve as a outdoor event space (concerts, community events) for the local city in their to-be developed towncenter.

But I agree with pro - the guy isn't really interested in a great plan, just a quick buck. He's probably already scouting new ventures.

I prefer the idea of one of the towns along the SunRail line- good thinking! - the more ways we can get the 'burbs invested in SunRail the better. Also, if the community around the Citrus Bowl is ever to thrive, a football stadium is enough of an albatross (which is why I wanted it out of there - who wants to live next to a football stadium?) Baseball would be fine (see Wrigley Field) but both is a recipe for that area having more challenges than it can handle. The last time minor-league baseball was floated, Orlando Festival Park over by Herndon Airport (Executive if you must) was suggested and I still believe it has potential.

The real problem, I think, is that minor-league ball seems to do best in the cities that don't have a lot else to do. I'm not convinced it will work in Orlando (after all, it hasn't so far), but perhaps the world has changed.

[spenser1058]

Someone made a good post on the Sentinel comments section.

I agree and probably have posted that UCF would be a great location. UCF is in the process of upgrading their baseball stadium and is back to fielding a Top 25 baseball program so could use some seats and potentially draw the same crowds as minor league ball. Also, the location is surrounded by families in bedroom communities that would be more likely to take advantage of cheaper entertainment than what Orlando usually offers. With UCFs enrollment, a student promotion could go a long way to filling up some seats - especially they sell beer during the pro games.

But there was also a suggestion I hadn't thought of - now that SunRail is up and running and all the talk is development around the stations - why not build in a smaller town on the line instead of Orlando which will always consider itself too good for a minor league team? These municipalities are actively seeking developers.

An urban type of stadium would be great and could also serve as a outdoor event space (concerts, community events) for the local city in their to-be developed towncenter.

But I agree with pro - the guy isn't really interested in a great plan, just a quick buck. He's probably already scouting new ventures.

I prefer the idea of one of the towns along the SunRail line- good thinking! - the more ways we can get the 'burbs invested in SunRail the better. Also, if the community around the Citrus Bowl is ever to thrive, a football stadium is enough of an albatross (which is why I wanted it out of there - who wants to live next to a football stadium?) Baseball would be fine (see Wrigley Field) but both is a recipe for that area having more challenges than it can handle. The last time minor-league baseball was floated, Orlando Festival Park over by Herndon Airport (Executive if you must) was suggested and I still believe it has potential.

The real problem, I think, is that minor-league ball seems to do best in the cities that don't have a lot else to do. I'm not convinced it will work in Orlando (after all, it hasn't so far), but perhaps the world has changed.

[spenser1058]

Apparently no Major League Baseball for us, either:

Orlando's income base insufficient for Major League Baseball</p>

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2011/08/16/orlandos-income-base-insufficient-for.html

[prahaboheme]

Doesn't Orlando's per capita income exceed Miami's?

Doesn't Orlando's per capita income exceed Miami's?