A $108 million makeover at the spring training home for the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals is underway, but a work stoppage has some concerned.
Both teams' minor league franchises left Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter last month to play their home games at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, but so far little has been done. According to reports, the club houses have been demolished and that's it.
Palm Beach County Vice Mayor Maria Sachs has said this project is necessary, as Arizona tries to lure teams cross country.
"Florida is gonna keep our teams and in order to do that we need to put money into it so that we have a Class 1 stadium."
Last year, the County Commission voted to approve a plan for the two teams to stay at 'The Dean' through the year 2049. It included a county-issued bond to help pay for the makeover, which will be paid back over the next 25 years.
The county covers 34 percent through bed taxes charged by local hotels, the state covers 28 percent and the teams cover the other 38 percent.
It turns out the Jupiter Planning and Zoning Commission last week approved a site plan amendment for the project and the Town Council on Tuesday is expected to vote in favor of the building permits so that work can continue at the stadium.
The meeting agenda notes the stadium project needs more parking, but town officials say the plans are expected to be approved and the facility will be ready for baseball in time for next year's spring training.
This is the first major overhaul of Roger Dean Stadium since it was built 26 years ago. The plans including new state-of-the-art clubhouses, which will be larger than the previous ones, new concessions and new seating areas on the First and Third baselines. Overall, the number of seats will be reduced by over 400 and there will be about 6,400 seats once the renovation is complete.
There is no telling where the Marlins and Cardinals might play their spring training games if the work is not finished as expected by next March. That's because the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, where the minor league franchises are playing now, is the spring training home to the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals. That stadium has no minor league teams affiliated with it.