Englebert Complex

{{Short description|Sports facility in Dunedin, Florida}}

{{Infobox venue

| stadium_name = Cecil P. Englebert Complex

| nickname =

| image =

| location = 1700 Solon Avenue,
Dunedin, FL 34698

| coordinates = {{coord|28|1|55.3|N|82|45|21.7|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| broke_ground = 1977

| built =

| opened = 1978

| closed =

| demolished =

| owner = City of Dunedin

| operator = City of Dunedin Parks & Recreation Department

| surface = grass

| construction_cost =

| architect =

| tenants = Toronto Blue Jays (training) (1977–present)
Florida Complex League Blue Jays (1981–present)

}}

The Bobby Mattick Training Center at Englebert Complex is a sports facility owned by the City of Dunedin, Florida. It is used primarily by the Toronto Blue Jays as a practice facility, and is home to their Rookie league affiliate, the Florida Complex League Blue Jays.

The facility opened in 1978 and named after City Commissioner and one time mayor Cecil P. Englebert, who lured the Toronto Blue Jays to the area.{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/13/Northpinellas/Dunedin_will_be_his_f.shtml|title=Dunedin will be his final resting place|last=De La Torre|first=Vanessa|work=sptimes.com|date=August 13, 2006|access-date=September 22, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/obituaries/mr-baseball-set-aside-pinellas-places-for-fun/665316|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923055951/http://www.tampabay.com/news/obituaries/mr-baseball-set-aside-pinellas-places-for-fun/665316|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2015|title=Mr. Baseball set aside Pinellas places for fun|last=Garry|first=Stephanie|work=tampabay.com|date=July 5, 2008|access-date=September 22, 2015}}

The facility was renovated in 2002 for $14 million, expanding it from {{convert|17 to 23|acre}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2002/11/18/NorthPinellas/Renovations_mean_a_ne.shtml|title=Renovations mean a new ball game|last=Tucker|first=Leon M.|work=sptimes.com|date=November 18, 2002|access-date=September 22, 2015}} The Blue Jays renamed the training facility the Bobby Mattick Training Center at Englebert Complex in 2003 after Bobby Mattick,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90479126/bobby-mattick-honored/ |title=Bobby Mattick honored |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |page=4C |date=March 1, 2003 |accessdate=December 12, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}} who managed the Blue Jays from 1980 to 1981, and was employed by the team from 1976 until his death in 2004. The City of Dunedin objected to the new name, arguing that Mattick had no ties to the city.{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2003/03/06/news_pf/NorthPinellas/Jays__city_get_into_a.shtml|title=Jays, city get into a fresh rhubarb|date=2003-03-06|access-date=2015-09-22|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times}}

The site features:

• training facilities
• team offices
• hitting cages
• five full fields
• one small field

Three other baseball diamonds on the north side belong to the Louis A. Vanech Recreation Complex, another city owned facility at 3051 Garrison Road; public parking is available along with access to the Englebert Complex.{{cite web|url=http://www.springtrainingconnection.com/practice.html|title=Spring Training Practice Viewing and Autograph Getting Guide|last=Knight|first=Graham|work=springtrainingconnection.com|access-date=September 22, 2015}}

The Jays' lease of the facility runs through 2017, but they have the option to extend it by an additional five years twice. After investigating possible alternative sites to host their spring training facility,{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2014/01/25/blue_jays_likely_to_keep_dunedin_as_spring_training_home_griffin.html|title=Blue Jays likely to keep Dunedin as spring training home|last=Griffin|first=Richard|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=2014-01-25|access-date=2014-08-04}} the Jays negotiated an $81 million renovation to the stadium ($33.3 million) and Englebert Complex ($47.8 million), which they would contribute $20 million to (plus any cost overruns) with the rest coming from the state ($13.7 million), county ($41.7 million) and city ($5.6 million) governments.{{cite web|url=http://www.tbo.com/news/localgovernment/clock-is-ticking-for-dunedin-to-sign-deal-with-toronto-blue-jays/2338747|title=Clock is ticking for Dunedin to sign deal with Toronto Blue Jays|date=2017-09-27|access-date=2017-09-29}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/plans-spring-facility-rogers-centre-renovations-progress/|title=Plans for spring facility, Rogers Centre renovations in progress|first=Shi|last=Davidi|publisher=Sportsnet|date=2017-02-21|access-date=2017-02-25}} The stadium would be expanded from 5,500 to 8,500 seats.{{cite web|url=http://dunedin.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=6&clip_id=1851&meta_id=120178|title=AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION OF THE DUNEDIN SPRING TRAINING FACILITIES|date=2017-11-02|access-date=2017-11-04|publisher=City of Dunedin}} The lease agreement for the stadium lasts for 25 years, with the option to renew for a further 2 years five times.{{cite web|url=http://dunedin.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=6&clip_id=1851&meta_id=120177|title=CITY OF DUNEDIN AND TORONTO BLUE JAYS LICENSE AGREEMENT|date=2017-11-02|access-date=2017-11-04|publisher=City of Dunedin}} The City Commission approved the deal in November 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.dunedingov.com/Home/Components/News/News/2168/38?backlist=%2F|title=Blue Jays New License Agreement|date=2017-11-03|access-date=2017-11-04|publisher=City of Dunedin}} The club retains all revenue from sales at concessions and parking at the stadium, while they share revenue from naming rights with the city. The plan calls for the county to approve and a funding request to be submitted to the state by the end of 2017, with construction to begin in April 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/details-emerge-blue-jays-new-spring-training-agreement-dunedin/|title=Details emerge from Blue Jays' new spring training agreement in Dunedin|date=2017-11-06|access-date=2017-11-06|publisher=Sportsnet|first=Shi|last=Davidi}}