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Boston expected to make decision on new spring-training facility this month
Posted May 2, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Boston Red Sox have decided to move from City of Palms Park into a new spring-training complex, according to several sources, and the decision is whether to locate it in Sarasota -- where local officials are making an impassioned push for a Red Sox move -- or somewhere else in Lee County, probably south of Fort Myers in the Bonita Springs-Estero area. It's gotten to the point where development groups are being formed in Sarasota to help fund a private development to accompany a spring-training complex; Fenway Ventures would be involved, but outside capital is being sought from wealthy investors in the area. Sarasota is scrambling to replace the Cincinnati Reds with a new spring tenant, but we're not quite sure Lee County officials are fully aware of the strong chance the BoSox could leave the area. Fort Myers isn't the most convenient location in the Grapefruit League; only two teams (Tampa Bay and Minnesota) train in the immediate area, and Sarasota (80 miles to the north) is more accessible to the Tampa area and its four spring complexes. On the other hand, there are lot of New England retirees who have invested in Fort Myers residences, and we've been told some within the Red Sox are reluctant to leave them behind. The decision to leave City of Palms Park shows how drastically spring training has changed in recent years: it's gone from a revenue-negative situation to a revenue-positive one, and while the ballpark itself is quite nice, the fact it's a landlocked facility with no room for nearby development and a borderline location have led the Red Sox to look elsewhere. One wild card here for Lee County: we continue to hear the Baltimore Orioles were rather intrigued by the idea of an open City of Palms Park, even if the Red Sox were to stay in Lee County.
    One interesting side effect to all this: how the training shifts will play into the makeup of the Florida State League. The Tampa Bay Rays continue to negotiate a move of an FSL team to their new Port Charlotte complex, but it's expected to go through. The Baltimore Orioles have been casting about for an FSL team as well, but conditionally: we continue to hear the O's probably wouldn't field an FSL team in Fort Lauderdale, but would elsewhere (Dodgertown, Sarasota, Fort Myers). And we've been told the Red Sox have asked the Cincinnati Reds about purchasing the Sarasota Reds franchise (which, ironically, was formerly owned by the Red Sox), although the BoSox already own another High Class A, the Salem Avalanche. It's not likely Fort Myers could support three franchises -- remember, the Fort Myers Miracle (High Class A; Florida State League) is not owned by a major-league team, one of the few FSL teams to be independent -- and we've heard the Twins may be the odd team out should there be both Boston and Baltimore training in the same area. A lot of early speculation, but there's also been a lot of buzz about this in minor-league circles.

Red Sox exploring spring-training move to Sarasota
April 30, 2008 (feedback) (discuss)
There will be a story in tomorrow's Sarasota paper about this, but here's your first report: the Boston Red Sox have been talking with Sarasota city officials about moving the team's spring-training camp to the area, discussions confirmed by city officials. The Red Sox currently train at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, but the team's lease allows for a buyout in 2011, theoretically freeing the Red Sox to move. If you're the owners of the Red Sox, a move makes sense on a land-development level. In Sarasota, there are 50 acres available for development (land offered when the Cincinnati Reds were looking at a new complex), and the Red Sox could combine a ballpark, training complex, hotel and other development (like condos for the hordes of Red Sox Nation) into a more robust offering. While City of Palms Park is nice enough, it's not in the best part of town, there are no hotels within walking distance and development opportunities, and there's no room for growth. Remember: the Red Sox and Fenway Ventures are as much a development play as the owners of a sporting team, and the organization has been active in seeking out development opportunities associated with sports. So it's no surprise the Red Sox are talking with Sarasota officials. More from the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald.

D-Backs: We'll listen to other spring-training offers
April 29, 2008 (feedback) (discuss)
Arizona Diamondbacks managing partner Jeff Moorad and club president Derrick Hall say they're listening to offers about a new spring-training complex. At a meeting of the Associated Press Sports Editors at Chase Field, Hall said the possibility of the Chicago White Sox bailing on Tucson Electric Park could force the Diamondbacks to see a new home; contractually, any team can leave Tucson if only two remain. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf has been upfront about a move to a new complex in Glendale to be shared with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the team's lease for Tucson Electric Park carries some pretty stiff penalties if Chicago leaves early, and negotiations to end the lease or bring in a replacement team have failed. The Diamondbacks are a decent draw in Tucson, but none of the three teams there are exactly setting the attendance world on fire, and Pima County officials are making an effort to either renovate current facilities (the Rockies have put in a request for a Hi Corbett Field renovation) or build new ones (downtown and suburban locations have been bandied about).