Spring Fling: Red Sox Explore Spring Training Move To Sarasota
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Red Sox Could Be Moving
Spring Training Home To Sarasota |
Two Red Sox officials "visited Sarasota's Ed Smith Stadium last week to explore the possibility of leaving Fort Myers and moving their spring operations" to Sarasota, according to Glenn Miller of the Ft. Myers NEWS-PRESS. Red Sox COO Mike Dee, who was on the trip, said, "The headline here I would absolutely characterize as nothing but exploratory at this point." The Red Sox, who have called City of Palms Park in Ft. Myers their spring home since '93, have a contract through 2019 with a buyout option. The Red Sox "could get out in 2009 by paying $1[M]," and each remaining year on the lease allows an out. The fee "drops $100,000 each year, down to $100,000 in 2018" (Ft. Myers NEWS-PRESS, 5/1). Dee said that the Red Sox met with Sarasota officials "once they learned the Reds were accepting a deal to relocate" to Goodyear, Arizona. In Boston, Nick Cafardo notes the Red Sox "seem to be looking for a new facility," and Dee said that he has "talked with Lee County [FL] officials about building a new facility in Ft. Myers." Cafardo notes there is a 50-acre parcel in Sarasota that "could be used to build an elaborate complex, complete with a hotel, shops, restaurants, a dorm for minor league players, and other amenities." Dee indicated that there are "no options besides Sarasota and Lee County on the table" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/1). Dee said that the 16-year-old stadium in Ft. Myers is a "well-designed and functioning ballpark, but the team is running out of room there and there is little space on the property for an expansion." In Florida, Roger Drouin reports Sarasota city officials also have talked to the Orioles and Brewers about playing there, but "both teams were lukewarm to the idea" (Sarasota HERALD-TRIBUNE, 5/1).
MINOR INCONVENIENCE: In Providence, McAdam & Krasner report one reason for a possible move to Sarasota would be the Red Sox presently cannot have a Single-A Florida State League affiliate "at its spring training facility -- as most teams do -- because the [Twins], who also train in Fort Myers, have territorial rights in the city." If the Red Sox moved to Sarasota, they "could eventually have their Class A affiliate there" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 5/1).
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