Empty Fort Lauderdale Stadium draws creative development proposals

Fort Lauderdale Stadium, the vacant, former host of the Baltimore Orioles’ spring training, is the target of several development proposals that could reinvent the Broward County spot. Last week, Schlitterbahn Development Group, a national water park company, has pitched a $110 million water park, hotel and retail sports complex that has yet to be publicly discussed. Sports team owners Traffic Sports USA and Federal League have each submitted plans to transform the stadium into sports academies. The Federal Aviation Administration, which is the original land owner, would have to sign off on any new use for the property. The FAA stipulates that whoever takes over would have to either use it for aviation purposes or pay market-rate rent.