Tribe Makes Best Offer for Spring Training Site

The Fort McDowell Indian Community has made its best offer to the Dodgers, and tribal officials are prepared to negotiate with other teams if the Dodgers do not soon accept the proposal for a new spring training complex on the Phoenix-area reservation, the tribal attorney said Thursday.

Fort McDowell officials said Thursday that the tribe would spend $40 million to build a 12,000-seat stadium, six practice fields and offices on a 76-acre site, with the Dodgers signing a 25-year lease. With state funding unavailable, the tribe shaved $10 million from the construction budget by eliminating housing and recreational facilities from the original blueprint.

Tribal attorney Edward Roybal declined to reveal any expiration date for the offer but said the tribe desired an answer from the Dodgers by the end of summer.

“This is the best the tribe can do,” Roybal said. “It will have to expire sometime. We have fielded other offers from other teams that may be interested.”

Thursday’s statement said the tribe “must also be assured” of future tax money from the Maricopa County Stadium District and from the Arizona transportation department, to build access roads from the state highway that runs past the proposed stadium site.

“There’s a definite commitment on the part of the state to work with the tribe, because we want the Dodgers here,” said Chris Baier, director of sports development for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce.

However, Roybal conceded, those funds are not yet secured, and the Arizona legislature is in recess until January.

The Dodgers are contemplating leaving Vero Beach, Fla., their spring home of 51 years. Dodger President Bob Graziano and director of business development Fred Coons flew to Florida on Thursday and plan to meet today with officials from Vero Beach and Indian River County.

The Florida city and county have earmarked $12.5 million to buy Dodgertown and lease it back to the team, relieving the Dodgers of paying property tax. The Dodgers believe the property is worth more than $12.5 million. The team also wants the city and county to pay for renovations to the complex.