New deal will keep Mets in Port St. Lucie for next 25 years
Tim Tebow of the New York Mets works out on his first day in the instructional league at Tradition Field on September 19, 2016 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Credit: Getty Images / Mike Ehrmann
The Mets are staying in Port St. Lucie, Florida, for the next 25 years.
According to a news release sent out by St. Lucie County on Tuesday morning, the St. Lucie County commissioners unanimously approved a new agreement with the Mets to provide $55 million in renovations to Tradition Field, which is the spring training home of the Mets and the summer home of the St. Lucie Mets of the Florida State League. The agreement will keep the Mets in Port St. Lucie for 25 years.
The agreement also provides $400,000 a year in promotional efforts by the Mets to promote St. Lucie County as a tourist destination within the New York market.
St. Lucie County will seek a $60 million bond, which includes $55 million for new construction and renovations to Tradition Field, according to the news release. Over the 25-year span of the agreement, St. Lucie County will pay 53 percent, the Mets will pay 35 percent and Florida will pay 12 percent. The project, however, is contingent on Florida providing a $20 million grant over the next 20 years.
“We are excited about the modernization of the facility which will significantly improve the fan experience,” Mets COO Jeff Wilpon said in a statement. “St. Lucie County will remain a destination for hundreds of thousands of Mets fans for years to come.”
