West Villages Improvement District: Atlanta Braves New Spring Training Facility

Herald Tribune, Jul 20, 2018

'Topping Out’ ceremony celebrates placement of highest beam atop new stadium

NORTH PORT — Roughly nine months ago, area dignitaries gathered to start digging a hole for the new Atlanta Braves Spring Training Complex. On Friday, many gathered again for a “Topping Out” ceremony, signifying the placement of the highest steel beam at the $125 million project.

Len Moser, a vice president with Orlando-based management firm Barton Malow, noted that this ceremony had a slight twist on the centuries-old Scandinavian tradition — which includes placement of a small tree on the top beam — by using a grapefruit tree to signify the Florida Grapefruit League, the spring training league for teams preparing for the regular season here.

“It’s huge in our industry; it’s actually bigger than the groundbreaking,” Moser added. “It’s great to get started but to be able to put the highest piece of steel on a project is a very significant accomplishment — that’s what the the topping out is about.

“That tree is going to signify life for the project,” he added. “And there’s been tons of lives poured into the project; there’s going to be a lot more moving forward.”

Moser, John Schuerholz, Atlanta Braves Vice Chairman Emeritus, and Mike Dunn, vice president and director Florida operations for the Braves all cited teamwork as key for keeping complex construction on track.

So far, 325 subcontractors have worked at the stadium. Seven miles of conduit have been routed, 35 million gallons of water used for irrigation, 12,360 cubic yards of concrete poured and 1,200 tons of steel erected — including that highest-point beam, which was signed by a several dignitaries before being hoisted into place by a crane.

“It’s an honor to be a part of this project, it’s an honor to be in partnership with you and to stand shoulder-to-shoulder, side-by-side to build a winning championship facility and a winning championship organization,” Schuerholz said.

Plans call for the Braves to play the final game of the 2019 spring training season in North Port, then play the team’s entire Grapefruit League home schedule there in 2020.

Meanwhile, the Braves’ entire Florida operation will move to the city.

When completed, the new ballpark will have 7,000 fixed seats and accommodate up to 8,500, including general admission, berm and concourse seating.

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Ali H. Johnston, MBA in Real Estate

REALTOR®, Lic. Broker #BK3284964