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Lee County offers renderings for new BoSox facility; Sarasota to review plans tomorrow NEW!
Posted July 8, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Things are coming to a head over the future spring-training home of the Boston Red Sox, as Lee County officials will review renderings and developer proposals for a new complex or renovated City of Palms Park, and the Fruitville Road Study Group, a Sarasota economic development organization, is scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon at the Sarasota Fairgrounds, a 90-acre site foreseen by many as the potential new spring home of the Sox. Lee County officials say developers have been pitching their property as a perfect place for a new complex, and we're guessing those offers run along the lines of, "we'll give you the land for the ballpark and complex, you build them, and we'll retain development rights to the rest of the property." From what we've been told it's highly unlikely the BoSox would go for an offer of a new complex if Fenway Ventures didn't have a cut of the surrounding development, so we wonder whether Lee County really has deep enough pockets to keep the Sox. (And from what we've been told by team officials a renovated City of Palms Park is a nonstarter: the issue is the lack of land for a complex next to the ballpark and associated development.) And, of course, Lee County really has no money to dangle, and no one in government has a plan to raise it: "I have no idea [where money for the Red Sox would come from," said Bill Hammond, deputy county manager. (Yes, the same Bill Hammond of Hammond Stadium.) "We’re so far away from this thing right now. With our economy right now I’d like to tell you this thing is on the back burner for at least a couple of years. I think we got some real pressing issues." It's unlikely the Red Sox will wait a few years.
    Meanwhile, we are seeing some politics pop up in Sarasota, where city and county officials are hot to turn over 90 acres of prime land and some cash to the Red Sox to snare the lucrative spring-training facility, seen as an $80-million project by the time all is said and done. The Sarasota Fairgrounds isn't necessarily against moving to Twin Lakes Park, but so far the offer of 45 acres there for the 90 acres on Fruitville Road isn't seen as an equitable trade. (They're right; it's not, but the latest details on a swap are considerably more palatable.) So clearly negotiations needs to take place. More from the News-Press.

Pima County debates future of spring training NEW!
Posted July 8, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
With the state legislature failing to approve a plan to give taxing authority to the Pima County Sports and Tourism Authority, Tucson business and political leaders begin the debate on how to keep spring training in southern Arizona. There's the recognized need to upgrade Hi Corbett Field for the Colorado Rockies and perhaps build another spring complex in order to keep the Diamondbacks and attract another team. But so much of this effort is of a last-minute nature: from what we've been told it's just a matter of when the Chicago White Sox leave Tucson, not if, and when one team leaves Tucson the two remaining teams can choose to end their leases. We're extremely doubtful of the ability of the private sector to come up with $50 million or so to retain spring training, and given recent heated debates over arena funding in Tucson, we're guessing no local politician will have the stomach to propose a local tax hike.

BoSox ready to pull trigger on Sarasota move; local fair board balks
Posted July 2, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Boston Red Sox are ready to pull the trigger on a new 11,200-seat ballpark in Sarasota, but the local county fair board is balking at a land swap that would free up 90 acres of land on Fruitville Road for the new training facility. Sarasota County has offered 40 acres at Twin Lakes Park for a new fairgrounds, but the board wants more than 100 acres to replace its current 90 acres. Of course, a lot of this posturing from the fair board, which would probably be happy with 75-90 acres -- snaring the Red Sox is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we're be surprised if any current board members want to be known as the folks who lost that chance -- but from what we hear most of the basic negotiations are completed for the Red Sox move, though the Red Sox have not yet set a final date to make a deal. Lee County is still looking at a way to keep the BoSox, but they don't have much to offer except the potential of suburban land; Fort Myers has halted efforts to acquire land next to City of Palms Park because of the legal complexity of eminent domain and the cost. More from the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Tucson funding proposal dies
Posted June 30, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A proposal to keep spring training in Tucson via increased tourism taxes died in the final days of the Arizona Legislative session, leading Tucson and Pima County officials frustrated in their attempt to raise money for new and renovated facilities. The proposal would have set up a Pima County sports authority and levy a three-quarter-cent sales tax on hotels, restaurants, bars and rental car; the proceeds (up to $14 million annually) would be used to fund a new complex and a renovated Hi Corbett Field. But the proposal died after lawmakers first attempted to extend it to all county purchases. With the Chicago White Sox all but out of Tucson, the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks are sure to be looking at an exit as well. More from the Arizona Daily Star.

Funding for Tucson ballparks goes down to the wire
Posted June 20, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A proposal to keep spring training in Tucson via new and renovated facilities funded through an increased sales tax is meeting opposition in the Arizona Legislature, which is nearing its final days of session. The proposal would set up a Pima County sports authority and levy a three-quarter-cent sales tax on hotels, restaurants, bars and rental car; the proceeds (up to $14 million annually) would be used to fund a new complex and a renovated Hi Corbett Field. It sounds like there's some serious opposition to the measure, as lawmakers are already looking at other sales-tax hikes in the area and local restaurateurs are opposed to the hike. The Chicago White Sox are already one foot out the door -- the only issue is when the team moves to Glendale, not if -- and the Rockies have talked about a Phoenix move as well. More from the Arizona Daily Star. Pima County is pitching the retention of spring training as an economic measure; more here.

Lee County offers sites for new BoSox complex
Posted June 20, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Lee County is trying to counter a pretty sweet offer from Sarasota to lure the spring training site of the Boston Red Sox, as county and Red Sox officials toured potential sites for a new or expanded complex. One idea that keeps coming up from county officials to acquiring land around City of Palms Park to allow for the move of the minor-league complex and other development. But the county can't actually do that -- Fort Myers must -- and given that Fort Myers has no money and little inclination to go on an eminent-domain conquest, that proposal seems to be a nonstarter. Bonita Springs, where local officials once looked at the idea of bringing in the Cleveland Indians, now has no interest in giving up land to a Red Sox training facility. Sarasota is discussing basically giving 50-70 acres to the team and providing $70 million for a new training facility, and there's really no way Lee County can match that offer as things stand right now. More from the Naples Daily News.

Orioles, city lobby FAA for spring-training approval
Posted June 14, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Baltimore Orioles and city of Fort Lauderdale officials continue to meet with Federal Aviation Administration officials over their decision to charge $1.3 million annually for the team's use of the Fort Lauderdale Stadium association site. That valuation just won't work if the Orioles and city renovate the ballpark and expand the complex, so there's the very real chance the FAA decision would drive the Orioles from the city. The city was asked to file new papers saying why the valuation should be overturned; a decision should be forthcoming. More from the Baltimore Sun.

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).