Intro – I am Larry Brown and I live in Old Palm.
I am retired from Brown Distributing Company, and, I currently serve on the Board of United Way of PBC.
I have served on State and National Trade Association boards
Former Trustee of the University of Richmond
But, most relevant for tonight’s discussion, I served on the Board of the Economical Council through most of the 1990s, and, as chair in 1999.
Thank the Commissioners for their service.
Why are people here, month after month?
Here is an example of what you have heard:
· Schools being called a buffer …
· Roads being expanded ...
But, there is one thing that you have not heard:
I have listened to two presentations where Mr. McNicholas has threatened, in the presence of your City Manager, that if the stadium is not built, something worse could happen. And Mr. Farris says nothing.
Really?
In 2005, you asked a group of residents to come up with a plan, and, they recommended a passive park. You endorsed their recommendation, and, the County’s plan for an active regional park fell apart. And, nothing has happened ... for many years. So, the simple truth is unless you and the County agree on the use of the land, which today must be a park, nothing will happen.
And yet, in the presence of your City Manager, Mr. McNicholas poses these hypothetical threats.
This is just another reason that all these people continue to come here in increasing numbers month after month.
I know you agree with me when I say that Mr. McNicholas’ threats are not right, and, they don’t represent your views or wishes.
At some point you had to know that someone was going to object to this proposed plan; so, here we are.
Over the past couple of months we have been asking questions, and, you have to acknowledge that some of the questions are actually pretty good.
But, as we have put some pressure on you to explain what your plans are, one of the themes that keeps coming up, is that you, PBG, has to save baseball.
With all due respect to each of you, and, I sincerely mean that; simply stated, it is not PBG’s job to save spring training baseball in PBC.
That job belongs to the County.
It is the County that made the investment in Roger Dean Stadium. It is the county who is at risk. If the County, hypothetically, does not continue spring training baseball, that decision will not directly cost the taxpayers in PBG one dime.
Further, it is the County that collects and makes decisions on how to spend the bed tax, not PBG. A couple of months ago, the TDC, who advises the County on how to spend the bed tax, asked you to come meet with them to discuss your future use of bed tax receipts. To date, you have no commitment from the TDC; so, you are flying solo.
Everyone should understand that for the hotels in PBC the months of Feb and March are their highest occupancy rates for the year; so, adding more room demand in Feb or March is of little value to them. Just go look at the Report on PBC Tourism located on the County’s web site, it is very informative regarding the difference between the convention center, which I will discuss in a few minutes, and a baseball stadium.
If the TDC decides that it has invested enough in baseball, the County has plenty of resources to fund a stadium (or 2) another way.
In addition, we have talked to many more current and former leaders in the county; and, we can’t find support anywhere in the County for this proposed stadium. In addition, Mr. Crane’s strategy of 117th Court or bust is just not resonating anywhere.
So, with all that said, you have to support Mr. Russo’s motion. I know, without hesitation, that none of you would ever put the City’s reserves of over $23 million at risk over a stadium.
As you can now read in the papers, as a result of your starting to stand down, there are several other locations that are expressing interest and working with the County to understand how Spring Training baseball could work in their community. We know for a certainty there are more communities that will go public over the coming months.
I’ve seen in the Post recently someone being quoted saying that a smaller site with a single team doesn't work. That’s interesting. Then what explains why 13 of the 14 spring training facilities in the State of Florida are single team. If it takes two teams to make it work, why does Disney have only one?
To put the economics in perspective, Palm Beach Gardens annual budget $125 million with reserves $23.5 million is a small shadow to Palm Beach County’s annual budget is $4 Billion with reserves over $800 million or 20%. For the County, building and maintaining and taking the risk of a spring training facility is a rounding error. For you, and, I know you would never do this, it is financially life threatening.
Let’s discuss some of the County politics that surround a new stadium.
Over the past 15 years, the State of Florida and the County have committed serious money building big projects in North Palm Beach County.
Scripps is over a ½ Billion.
Max Plank is over $80 million
Roger Dean Stadium is $28 million
7 Districted County Commissioners insure a balanced approach to all subjects that the county addresses. You can bet that North County is not getting the next big project.
So, it is no wonder that Hal Valeche has said publicly that it is time for the County to look elsewhere for possible Spring Training Sites.
Lastly, I want to address all of this economic stuff; so, that we are all clear what Spring Training Baseball is all about.
During the 90s, from my position on the Economic Council, we along with the County were all looking at several economic impact studies about how a convention center, done well, can really help grow a micro economy within the County. It was very educational for all of us, as we began to understand that this type of public investment could actually deliver on that promise. Everyone involved understood that the details really mattered - where it was located and what the initial size was. It could not be smaller than The Breakers, PGA National, or The Boca Resort for that would serve no purpose. It could not be too big, or it would fail due to a lack of hotel rooms. The County took their time, and, they got all the details right.
Interestingly, at the same time, the Kravis Center and other municipal auditoriums were being considered.
We had the opportunity to see the difference between true economic generation, a convention center, and something else. I began to call that something else life style or a gift that a community gives itself.
An auditorium is actually the inverse of economic generation. Tickets are sold, a portion pays for the facility, and, the entertainment takes the money and leaves town. There is no multiplier on that.
But, can you imagine Palm Beach County without the Kravis Center, or the Ampitheatre, or Maltz Theatre …
So where does Spring Training Baseball fit on this continuum? It is much closer to an auditorium given its limited season. But, it is not about economics. Baseball is lifestyle, it’s a gift we choose to give ourselves. What would New York be without the Yankees? How about Boston without the Redsox? Spring Training Baseball has been part of the fabric of Palm Beach County for as long as any of us can remember.
If you don’t believe what I am saying is true, all you have to do is go downtown in WPB, put your back to the entrance of the convention center and start walking north. Pay attention to all the economic activity and storefronts and occupancy. Now go to Abacoa. Put your back to the entrance of Roger Dean Stadium and start walking down Main Street. Notice the lack of economic activity and the magnitude of empty storefronts. If you still don’t get it, do the same thing tomorrow and tomorrow until you get it.
So, what is important about all of this?
Here is what I think is important. PBG and its citizens are on record telling the City and County that Spring Training Baseball is important and we recommend that the County work to find 1 or more single team facilities; so, that we can keep Spring Training Baseball as part of the lifestyle fabric of Palm Beach County.
These facilities should be located in places to leverage existing infrastructure and add real value to those existing parks or other properties. Importantly this strategy will minimize new capital cost, and, give the County a chance for some return on their investment.
Equally important, we are not prepared to impose a facility in the midst of a small community, utilizing schools as buffers, and, devastate the lives of fellow citizens who have established their homes relying on the good faith of their elected representatives and other residents of PBG.
As the County takes charge of this endeavor, we wish the County well, and, we say to them … let us know how we can help.