Indian River County has a “handshake agreement” with Major League Baseball, which, if the deal were finalized, would take over Historic Dodgertown’s operations and make Vero Beach the hub of its youth programs, County Administrator Jason Brown said Friday.
Brown said the proposed lease is for 10 years, with three five-year options – a deal that requires both the County and MLB to cover the costs to renovate and make other improvements to the facility.
He said he hopes to submit the lease to the County Commission in early December. Once signed by both parties, MLB would immediately assume control of the facility’s operations from former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley, whose five-way partnership has been running the former spring-training complex since 2011.
County officials say Historic Dodgertown’s operations have contributed $15 million annually to the local economy each of the past four years.
“The two sides have made great progress, and I think it’s going to happen,” said O’Malley, who first explored the possibility of MLB succeeding him in Vero Beach in early 2017. “I’m glad it’s going to happen, too. This is the best possible outcome for the county.”
Brown said County and MLB officials have agreed to a term sheet, which lawyers for both sides are reviewing.
“They’re still working on the language, but I don’t anticipate anything going wrong and I’m quite comfortable recommending the lease be approved,” Brown said. “Major League Baseball has indicated they’re in this for the long haul.”
