INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Citing what he called “the O’Malley factor,” County Commission Chairman Joe Flescher led the charge Tuesday to approve an amended lease agreement with Verotown LLC, the ownership group headed up by Peter O’Malley that runs Vero Beach Sports Village.
Arguing it would be a mistake for the county to let Verotown LLC walk away, Flescher said he’d had an inspiring talk with O’Malley that convinced him of O’Malley’s commitment to the Sports Village and of his unique ability to make it successful.
“Mr. O’Malley spoke from the heart and it was a compelling conversation,” Flescher said, later adding he had felt immersed in O’Malley’s appreciation of the heritage of the one-time Dodgertown and his vision for its future. “He has the contacts and resources and interest, and brings something no one else could bring.”
Verotown LLC is in the last year of a five-year lease agreement with the county, which owns the elaborate 26-acre compound at 26th Street and 43rd Avenue where the Los Angeles Dodgers held spring training until 2008.
After renewal negotiations with the county broke down in February, Sports Village Vice President Craig Callan sent the County Administrator Joe Baird a letter saying the O’Malley group, which also includes Minor League Baseball and several former Dodger stars, would not be signing a new lease.
As recently as last week, there was some question about whether the two sides would reach an agreement.
Today, however, staff presented and recommended approval of an updated agreement that increases county contributions to the Sports Village from $635,000 over the next five years to $2.7 million.
Under the new agreement, which was strongly supported by commissioners Wesley Davis and Tim Zorc as well as Flescher, the county will begin picking up the tab for property and liability insurance, contribute $250,000 per year for capital improvements and provide up to $600,000 to renovate rooms at the onsite motel where visiting ball teams often stay while holding spring training or playing in tournaments at the facility.
Commissioner Bob Solari objected to the expenditure, saying it would not support an essential governmental service, but Baird pointed out that if Verotown LLC pulled out, it would cost the county approximately $4 million over the five-year period just to maintain the shuttered campus.
Keith Kite, a hotel owner and board member of the Treasure Coast Sports Commission, said business is steadily improving at the Sports Village, which hosts baseball, softball, soccer and other sports, from Little League to professional clubs.
“They had 150 teams here for spring training this year and our hotels were all full,” he said. “They have contributed $21 million to the local economy.”
Callan said the Sports Village expects to turn a profit this year for the first time, after losing $1 million the year it opened, $500,000 the second year, $250,000 the third year and $100,000 in the most recent year.
O’Malley, former president and owner of the Dodgers, who grew up attending spring training with the team in Vero Beach when it was owned by his father Walter O’Malley, has promised to plough any profits the group makes back into the sports training and practice facility.
Callan said county staff will draft the new lease agreement, which he expects to sign shortly. “As soon as we have that signed document we will hire a national marketing director and move ahead with more facility improvements,” and continued business development.
Commissioner Peter O’Bryan joined Flescher, Davis and Zorc in voting to approve the agreement, with Solari the lone holdout.