The Blue Jays took their first step in solidifying their spring-training future on Monday night when a delegation of team representatives, including president Mark Shapiro, made a presentation to city officials in Dunedin, Fla., on a proposal that would keep the team in their current home for the next 25 years. “We have a long way to go, but last night was the first step in asking the city commission to improve our efforts to move forward with funding proposals to both the state and the county,” Shapiro said in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday morning. The proposal is for an $81-million renovation and upgrade of the team’s current facilities and ballpark, which are among the oldest and poorest-quality in the major leagues. Under the proposal, the bulk of the funding would come from Pinellas County — by way of a bed tax earmarked for travel and tourism — with the Jays and the state government contributing the next-largest amount and the smallest share coming from Dunedin. The Jays’ lease with the city, where they have held their spring training since 1977, expires after next year.

Source: thestar September 27, 2016 23:03 UTC