Comments on: There Will Be Life After the Indians … http://blog.winterhavenchamber.com/perspective/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/ The official blog of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:31:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tom Mezeros http://blog.winterhavenchamber.com/perspective/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/comment-page-1/#comment-141 Tom Mezeros Fri, 09 Feb 2007 15:02:35 +0000 http://blog.s2478.gridserver.com/2006/12/22/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/#comment-141 I will miss Winter haven. Those who still need their fix of the Tribe can find some in the novel SWAP by Sam Moffie. I will miss Winter haven. Those who still need their fix of the Tribe can find some in the novel SWAP by Sam Moffie.

]]> By: Jim http://blog.winterhavenchamber.com/perspective/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Jim Sat, 13 Jan 2007 22:09:54 +0000 http://blog.s2478.gridserver.com/2006/12/22/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/#comment-50 Hope we have seen the last of Spring Training in Winter Haven. It was great for a while, but the demands were too much. Nothing but threats of leaving for years from both the Red Sox and Indians. I hope they are happy in their new homes. Winter Havens tax payer money is better spent on other things. Hope we have seen the last of Spring Training in Winter Haven. It was great for a while, but the demands were too much. Nothing but threats of leaving for years from both the Red Sox and Indians. I hope they are happy in their new homes. Winter Havens tax payer money is better spent on other things.

]]> By: Bob Gernert http://blog.winterhavenchamber.com/perspective/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Bob Gernert Wed, 03 Jan 2007 14:27:39 +0000 http://blog.s2478.gridserver.com/2006/12/22/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/#comment-16 Online polls are no more statistically representative of public opinion than "call in" telephone polls. Friends call friends or drive traffic to the site from other sites and it rapidly becomes a matter of who can muster the most respondents. This site is four days old and many aspects are being fine tuned. The blog is for such discourse. Your comments are welcome here. Online polls are no more statistically representative of public opinion than “call in” telephone polls. Friends call friends or drive traffic to the site from other sites and it rapidly becomes a matter of who can muster the most respondents.

This site is four days old and many aspects are being fine tuned. The blog is for such discourse. Your comments are welcome here.

]]> By: Jeff Stevens http://blog.winterhavenchamber.com/perspective/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Jeff Stevens Wed, 03 Jan 2007 13:30:06 +0000 http://blog.s2478.gridserver.com/2006/12/22/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/#comment-15 Hey, how about setting up a poll to get an idea of what the peoples thoughts are about this hot topic. It would also be a great way to drive some traffic to our Chambers new site (and exposure to its members) as well as show our city leaders what the tax payers want. I'm betting that baseball is an important part of our unique city. Hey, how about setting up a poll to get an idea of what the peoples thoughts are about this hot topic. It would also be a great way to drive some traffic to our Chambers new site (and exposure to its members) as well as show our city leaders what the tax payers want. I’m betting that baseball is an important part of our unique city.

]]> By: Bob Gernert http://blog.winterhavenchamber.com/perspective/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Bob Gernert Tue, 02 Jan 2007 17:36:10 +0000 http://blog.s2478.gridserver.com/2006/12/22/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/#comment-14 Mr. Hebda, Thank you for your comments. It is important to know that one of the goals the Indians wanted to accomplish with a new stadium here was to be closer to I-4 so as to make travel back to the Orlando Airport more timely. The city does have an option for a site north of town and it would have also allowed for adequate parking ... a serious shortcoming of the current location. The real issue here was not the current property because the city's option addressed their desire to reduce travel time. The bottom line issue here was the Indian's position that they would not participate financially in the cost of the new complex. If, for example, the Indians had chosen to offer a $10 million partnership (as the Cincinnati Reds have done in Sarasota) the outcome might have been quite different. Mr. Hebda,

Thank you for your comments. It is important to know that one of the goals the Indians wanted to accomplish with a new stadium here was to be closer to I-4 so as to make travel back to the Orlando Airport more timely. The city does have an option for a site north of town and it would have also allowed for adequate parking … a serious shortcoming of the current location.

The real issue here was not the current property because the city’s option addressed their desire to reduce travel time. The bottom line issue here was the Indian’s position that they would not participate financially in the cost of the new complex. If, for example, the Indians had chosen to offer a $10 million partnership (as the Cincinnati Reds have done in Sarasota) the outcome might have been quite different.

]]> By: Robert Hebda http://blog.winterhavenchamber.com/perspective/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Robert Hebda Tue, 02 Jan 2007 15:37:44 +0000 http://blog.s2478.gridserver.com/2006/12/22/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/#comment-13 I bought a house in Winter Haven in 2004, because retirement is only 7 years away and the lure of a spring training venue in a small town like Winter Haven was great. Being from New England, it was great to come down for the month of March for spring training to catch baseball fever early by seeing teams like the Yankees and the Mets come into Winter Haven and getting away from the cold New England weather. I have been watching the ongoing saga between The city and the Cleveland Indians. It is ridiculous that neither side could come to a compromise around keeping the Indians in Winter haven. As much as the Indians did not seem to want to invest in Winter Haven, I feel that the city is more interested in the property for something else. All that is ever talked about is what a prime property this is. Well, it is disappointing that this is what is driving the city to let the Indians go so easy. When all is said and done, the city will be sorry for the tourism for the hotels and restaurants that will be lost. Lets be honest, Cypress gardens is a nice local novelty, but please lets not make this out to be the main draw of tourism. Once you go once, the chance of going again is slim. Wouldn't people just drive an hour to a real park like Disney ??? I believe that this is a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face. My plan, once the indians leave is to look to Lakeland, where they seem to appreciate the lure of baseball. Maybe, another team may be interested, but I think the city has already made up its mind about selling this property for either housing or hotels etc. Good Luck, Winter haven, because I feel that this decision will be regretted for a long time. I bought a house in Winter Haven in 2004, because retirement is only 7 years away and the lure of a spring training venue in a small town like Winter Haven was great. Being from New England, it was great to come down for the month of March for spring training to catch baseball fever early by seeing teams like the Yankees and the Mets come into Winter Haven and getting away from the cold New England weather. I have been watching the ongoing saga between The city and the Cleveland Indians. It is ridiculous that neither side could come to a compromise around keeping the Indians in Winter haven. As much as the Indians did not seem to want to invest in Winter Haven, I feel that the city is more interested in the property for something else. All that is ever talked about is what a prime property this is. Well, it is disappointing that this is what is driving the city to let the Indians go so easy. When all is said and done, the city will be sorry for the tourism for the hotels and restaurants that will be lost. Lets be honest, Cypress gardens is a nice local novelty, but please lets not make this out to be the main draw of tourism. Once you go once, the chance of going again is slim. Wouldn’t people just drive an hour to a real park like Disney ??? I believe that this is a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face. My plan, once the indians leave is to look to Lakeland, where they seem to appreciate the lure of baseball. Maybe, another team may be interested, but I think the city has already made up its mind about selling this property for either housing or hotels etc. Good Luck, Winter haven, because I feel that this decision will be regretted for a long time.

]]> By: Jeff Stevens http://blog.winterhavenchamber.com/perspective/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Jeff Stevens Tue, 02 Jan 2007 14:48:07 +0000 http://blog.s2478.gridserver.com/2006/12/22/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/#comment-12 Kevin, Our family has stayed at the Holiday Inn and were very impressed with the cleanliness and great attitude of the staff.You may want to give them a try. Kevin,
Our family has stayed at the Holiday Inn and were very impressed with the cleanliness and great attitude of the staff.You may want to give them a try.

]]> By: Bob Gernert http://blog.winterhavenchamber.com/perspective/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Bob Gernert Tue, 02 Jan 2007 14:38:02 +0000 http://blog.s2478.gridserver.com/2006/12/22/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/#comment-11 Kevin, The hotel you mention is not a member of our Chamber and I regret you have encountered this situation. Please send an email to chamber1@winterhavenfl.com and we will try to get more information to you. Kevin,

The hotel you mention is not a member of our Chamber and I regret you have encountered this situation. Please send an email to chamber1@winterhavenfl.com and we will try to get more information to you.

]]> By: Kevin from Cleveland http://blog.winterhavenchamber.com/perspective/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Kevin from Cleveland Mon, 01 Jan 2007 20:11:17 +0000 http://blog.s2478.gridserver.com/2006/12/22/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/#comment-10 Well, I've come down for spring training for a few years. And I will this year. I like the closeness of walking from the hotel to the ball park and the amount of places to eat. This year, I made a reservation using a program that is supposed to save me up to 30%, which someone quoted a price and I went ahead and reserved two rooms. Then when I called to confirm my rooms with the hotel,(Howard Johnson's across from the park) the manager said that the person that gave me the quote doesn't have the authority and that he won't honor it. There was no attempt at compromise. Maybe its the supply and demand or just greediness being that there is three months until spring training. Either way he lost my business. And now we are in search of another hotel. But, trying not to spend a fortune on a hotel room, do I have to sacrifice cleanliness? Well, I’ve come down for spring training for a few years. And I will this year. I like the closeness of walking from the hotel to the ball park and the amount of places to eat. This year, I made a reservation using a program that is supposed to save me up to 30%, which someone quoted a price and I went ahead and reserved two rooms. Then when I called to confirm my rooms with the hotel,(Howard Johnson’s across from the park) the manager said that the person that gave me the quote doesn’t have the authority and that he won’t honor it. There was no attempt at compromise. Maybe its the supply and demand or just greediness being that there is three months until spring training. Either way he lost my business. And now we are in search of another hotel. But, trying not to spend a fortune on a hotel room, do I have to sacrifice cleanliness?

]]> By: Jeff Stevens http://blog.winterhavenchamber.com/perspective/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Jeff Stevens Sat, 30 Dec 2006 15:48:49 +0000 http://blog.s2478.gridserver.com/2006/12/22/there-will-be-life-after-the-indians/#comment-9 Oops, I should have hit the spell check icon! Here's hope that we build something that will work for us all at the old complex. I wish us all a great and Happy New Year!!!! Oops, I should have hit the spell check icon! Here’s hope that we build something that will work for us all at the old complex. I wish us all a great and Happy New Year!!!!

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