VEERING BACK TO VERO; DODGERS IN FLORIDA AT LEAST 1 MORE SPRING.

Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer

The Dodgers spent 51 springs training at Dodgertown, and they'll spend at least one more.

With negotiations almost non-existent for the past month with representatives in Arizona, the Dodgers are readying for a return to Vero Beach, Fla., for spring training 2000.

``I would imagine because of the time issue, that's a reasonable assumption,'' Dodgers president and CEO Bob Graziano said Friday. ``I'm not absolutely certain about it, but it's reasonable.''

Other Dodgers officials, requesting anonymity, said the decision to return to Dodgertown for at least one more season is final, if for no other reason than an adequate and comparable facility couldn't be constructed in time for the mid-February reporting date for pitchers and catchers.

``It'll be another year (at Dodgertown). There's no question about that,'' a Dodgers official said. ``It's what happens afterward that matters now.''

Graziano said negotiations will continue with Vero Beach and Indian River County in Florida, as well as the Fort McDowell Indian Community near Phoenix as the Dodgers search for a long-term deal.

However, no longer are the Dodgers seeking a quick resolution so they can be ready for spring training 2000.

``I'm not sure what the time frame is to make a decision, but we don't have to make a decision today to be ready by 2001,'' Graziano said. ``We're basically in the same situation we were four or five months ago.''

At that time, the Dodgers were contemplating moving to new facilities in Arizona or staying in Florida and renovating Dodgertown. They thought a decision would be reached by now.

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush threw a curve in the plans when he recently vetoed a bill that would have allocated $7.5 million to go toward the purchase and renovation of Dodgertown, cutting the available money from $20 million to $12.5 million. Graziano said the Dodgers probably would have signed a long-term deal to remain at Dodgertown if that bill was signed.

``With the $7.5 million, the Vero Beach deal was getting tough to beat,'' Graziano said.

Graziano said the Dodgers will continue discussions with Florida officials and with representatives from the Fort McDowell Indian Community in Arizona. He said there would have to be guaranteed money down the road for future renovations at Dodgertown to keep the team there long-term.

The Dodgers, the only team to own their spring training facility, want a more modern complex. Specifically, they want a cloverleaf-type practice field setup, on-site housing, an upgraded weight room and a 10,000-12,000 seat stadium. Antiquated Holman Stadium seats only 6,500.

Fort McDowell remains a possibility, but the Yavapai Tribe, which owns the land, is trying to get state and county aid to help finance a $35 million deal.