Oriolesfan44

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Baltimore Orioles agreed to the
city's terms for a renovated stadium, ending speculation that the
team might move its spring home.

At a special meeting, city commissioners approved an agreement
Friday calling for the team to renovate Fort Lauderdale Stadium and
to replace the adjacent Lockhart Stadium with practice diamonds and
soccer fields.

"We've been in Florida since 1996 and been working since that
time for a long-term plan to stay there," Orioles spokesman Bill
Stetka said. "This gets us that much closer."

The commissioners previously rejected a plan to spend $150,000 a
year to help pay for the project. Earlier this week, the mayor of
Vero Beach said the team might be moving to Dodgertown, which is
located in his city.

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Cal Ripken HOF 2007