Sarasota Officials See Orioles As Cheaper Alternative To Red Sox

Orioles Could Move Spring Training To  Renovated Ed Smith Stadium

After "balking at the $70[M] price of building a new spring training stadium" for the Red Sox, some Sarasota (FL) City and County Commissioners said that the Orioles "are a much cheaper alternative," according to Roger Drouin of the Sarasota HERALD-TRIBUNE. Sarasota officials "began to publicly call for the Orioles early this week, about the same time that an exclusivity agreement expired between the Orioles and Vero Beach." Sarasota County Commissioner Nora Patterson, who is "likely the swing vote for a baseball deal," said that there have been "indications that the Orioles would accept a renovated Ed Smith Stadium, which could cost about half as much as a new ballpark at Payne Park near downtown." Patterson: "I know it would cost us less, and that is a big deal in this economic climate" (Sarasota HERALD-TRIBUNE, 10/17).

NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE: In Florida, Glenn Miller reported Red Sox and Lee County (FL) officials Thursday "met for more than four hours ... discussing the team's spring-training future in the county." However, team and county officials said that "nothing was signed to extend the Red Sox stay in Lee County." Red Sox COO Mike Dee cited the "long-term needs" for players and fans as to why an agreement was not met. Dee: "We certainly view today as another step in that process" (NEWS-PRESS.com, 10/16).