A Stadium Caught in Bureaucracy
New College of Florida announced in December 2024 that it intends to erect a baseball stadium on its campus, aiming for completion by the end of summer 2025. The initiative is anchored by a $1 million contribution from real‑estate developer Carlos Beruff, a name that has become synonymous with the college’s athletic ambitions.
President Richard Corcoran has repeatedly emphasized that the stadium should be ready before the 2025 season, envisioning a venue that would bolster both recruiting and community engagement. However, the college does not own enough contiguous land to realize the full design, prompting it to look toward an adjacent 30‑acre parcel controlled by the Sarasota‑Manatee Airport Authority.
Regulatory Roadblocks
The airport lease, currently valued at roughly $108,000 annually, is viewed by the FAA as undervalued; agency appraisals suggest a market worth of $1.28 million per year. This discrepancy has turned the lease into a focal point of negotiation, as any development must first satisfy a series of federal modifications and a refreshed airport master plan.
In May 2025 the FAA issued a no‑objection letter confirming that the proposed structures would not compromise airport safety, yet the agency simultaneously mandated that the lease be renegotiated and that a new master plan be adopted before any ground can be broken. Airport President Paul Hoback has voiced support for the college’s vision, but he also stressed that the FAA process must be followed to the letter.
A prior attempt to purchase the 30 acres was halted in April 2024, when the FAA required a fresh appraisal and an updated lease before considering a sale. The college has since removed trees and posted signage indicating the intended field area, but construction remains on hold pending regulatory clearance.
Beyond the immediate financial stakes, the lease’s 2056 expiration introduces a long‑term uncertainty: developing on airport‑owned land could complicate renewal negotiations, and the FAA has warned that any zoning or permitting decisions must reflect its determinations. While the college remains optimistic, the path to a summer 2025 opening now hinges on resolving these layered bureaucratic obstacles.