Lee County Approves Finance Plan For Red Sox Spring Training Site

Lee County Approves $75M Financing Plan To Construct New Red Sox Spring Training Facility

Lee County (FL) Commissioners yesterday voted 3-2 to approve a $75M "financing plan" to construct a new Red Sox Spring Training facility scheduled to open in '12, according to Glenn Miller of the Ft. Myers NEWS-PRESS. The commissioners voted to "fund the project through an internal loan that will be repaid from tourist tax dollars," while also agreeing to pay $20M to purchase the Watermen-Pinnacle site. County Commission Chair Ray Judah said, "This actually is a good business deal." County Commissioner Frank Mann "had no objections to the site, which was one of 15 potential homes for the stadium and practice fields," but he voted against "purchasing the land because of the financing" (Ft. Myers NEWS-PRESS, 6/3).

THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN? In Phoenix, Peter Corbett reports Scottsdale, Arizona, is "backing the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community's bid to build a spring-training complex" for the D'Backs and Rockies on "tribal land just east of Scottsdale." D'Backs', Rockies' and tribal officials are "not commenting on the complex, which is expected to cost close" to $100M. D'Backs President & CEO Derrick Hall in mid-May said that a decision "could be reached within a few weeks" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/3).