At least they found a use for the place, and this is a great move for Craig, who gets to stay home in Vero Beach. You may recall a post here a couple of weeks ago after Craig resigned as the Dodgers’ vice president in charge of spring-training and minor-league facilities. Here is the release, although I’m not entirely sure where it’s from. A buddy emailed it to me. … Also, thanks to all for the advice on the laptop. I went cheap just because it was SO cheap that I couldn’t pass it up, and also it’s the same brand and model (Compaq Presario) that I had such good luck with the last time.
Minor League Baseball to Operate Dodgertown
(Craig Callan Hired to Manage Facility)
VERO BEACH, Fla.-Minor League Baseball (MiLB) has agreed to terms with
Indian River County and the city of Vero Beach, Fla., that will be
incorporated into a memorandum of understanding on a five-year partnership
to lease and operate the Dodgertown baseball complex. Financial terms of the
partnership were not disclosed.
MiLB, which has set an all-time attendance record in each of the last five
seasons, plans to host a number of events, both sports and non-sports
related, on a year-round basis at the complex. Some of these include
baseball camps; youth, high school and college tournaments; umpire camps;
groundskeeper camps; fantasy camps; conferences; and other baseball-related
programming.
The 65-acre facility, where the Dodgers played their spring training games
from 1948-2008, consists of five full baseball fields, including Holman
Stadium; two half fields; indoor and outdoor batting tunnels; offices; and
training rooms. The site was also the home of a Class A Florida State League
club from 1980-2008.
Among its other amenities are a conference center; restaurant & lounge;
Olympic-size swimming pool; basketball court; tennis courts; game room;
movie theater; and 88 hotel-style villas.
“We’re extremely proud to partner with Indian River County and the City of
Vero Beach to operate and maintain this historic, socially significant
facility,” stated Minor League Baseball President Pat O’Conner. “In addition
to providing an influx of business for the community through the events we
will attract, we look forward to becoming a vital member of it.”
“We’re hoping we have the same relationship and community presence that we
did with the O’Malleys and the Dodgers,” said Indian River County
Commissioner Wesley Davis. “The economic benefits of a year-long facility
will be the highest and best use for historic Dodgertown.”
“The City Of Vero Beach anticipates a strong mutually beneficial partnership
with Minor League Baseball,” remarked Vero Beach City Manager Jim Gabbard.
“We have been very impressed with the organization and its leadership. We
expect a long relationship that will create opportunities for fans to see
high caliber baseball in the historic Dodgertown venue.
“We also anticipate Minor League Baseball to have a significant positive
impact on our local economy. As the years pass, we believe that this
relationship between local government and Minor League Baseball will be an
example of cooperation and friendship that we enjoyed for over 60 years with
the Los Angeles Dodgers,” added Gabbard.
In a related move, Minor League Baseball has hired Craig Callan to manage
the property, beginning May 1. Callan had been the director of the complex
since 1988 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, until recently retiring from the
organization.
