Spring training intrigue
Will Sarasota become the new spring training home of the Red Sox? Or will they remain in the Ft. Myers area for the foreseeable future?
It seems to depend on the day and which city's officials are asked.
The Fort Myers News-Press reported on its website today that Lee County commissioner Ray Judah met for an hour with Red Sox chief operating officer Mike Dee this morning and came away optimistic at the county's chances to retain the team rather than lose it to Sarasota.
“I was extremely elated," Judah told the newspaper.
City of Palms Park, which is in Ft. Myers in Lee County, has been the Red Sox' spring training home since 1993. The Sox are unlikely to remain at that site, but Judah said he told Dee about "five developers who are interested in teaming up with the Red Sox to build a new facility," according to the News-Press website.
This report comes a day after Dee, chief executive officer Larry Lucchino, and other members of Sox management met with Sarasota city officials in a luxury box during the Sox' 2-1 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
According to the Sarasota Herald Tribune, Dee invited Sarasota city commissioner Fredd Atkins, city manager Robert Bartolotta and county commissioner Joe Barbetta "to meet the team’s top brass, who will ultimately decide whether the Red Sox move their spring training operations to Sarasota or remain in the Fort Myers area."
The newspaper noted that they were joined in the luxury box by 10 members of Citizens for Sox, a Sarasota group working to get the team to make the move. The group was founded by Elsie Souza, a New Bedford native, who was in attendance.
Earlier in the day, a crew of 10 Red Sox executives, including Dee and Lucchino, toured Ed Smith Stadium and Payne Park in Sarasota.
Sunday, the Naples News quoted an email from the Red Sox to city officials outlining the specifics of the team's demands from Sarasota. The paper reported that "the team does not want to pay upfront costs to build a new stadium (now estimated at $60 million); the Red Sox keep all the revenues from games, and the team holds on to the naming rights of the ballpark."
Upon leaving the ballpark Tuesday, Atkins, the city commissioner, told the Herald Tribune he looks forward to hearing from the team.
“We’ll go home and see if the Red Sox really want to make a deal,” he said.
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Is the ST complex in Viera in the mix...The Sox (John Henry) own the complex where the Washington Nationals train. Mr. Henry bought it when he bought the Marlins. I believe he still owns it even though the Marlins (and the Cardinals) train in Jupiter. The complex is there with all facilities in a central location...It would be a natural for the Sox to move to Viera. In the area are the Mets, Marlins, Cardinals, Orioles (most likely moving to Vero Beach) and just a short drive to Lakeland for the Tigers. Lets push for Viera for the new spring tng home of the Nation!
Bob - From what I read in Washington, Viera is something of a joke. It is not central relative to where most teams play. The Sarasota location has many more teams playing nearby. You probably know Florida geography better than I do, but the Washington Post's former beat writer, Barry Svrluga, used to comment on the length of the trips to virtually every other destination. Hour plus everywhere by car. Fort Myers is also isolated, so I'm not saying there is much of a difference with Viera, but relative to Sarasota, I do not think it is comparable. Also, the Viera facility got clobbered by the big tropical storm before Gustav (Frances?). The field was underwater for days, IIRC.
For get it. I live down here in Sarasota and I can tell you the team wants to move here. Sarasota is a cultural, artsy-fartsy town with fine dining and theaters. We have a Ritz-Carlton hotel and will be getting a Waldorf-Astoria. John Henry could park his yacht at our marina for a short ride to the ballpark. That's the real reason they want out of Fort Myers. Since Henry and co. bought the team, they've never liked it down there. Plus, Sarasota has the history of hosting the Red Sox for many years.
Sarasota is the No. 1 choice.
Jon,
Ft. Myers can hardly be called isolated, being a lot closer to the Miami area than is Sarasota. Also, Ft. Myers has the SW Florida International Airport, the Twins and far less pain-in-the-neck congestion than does Sarasota.
Jon - I'm a transplanted northerner (South Shore of Boston) living in Central Florida. It is true that Viera is about an hour or more drive for the majority of the east coast spring training sites. As an example, the Florida State League has a team in Viera and the closest opponent is the Vero Beach team that is approx. an hour away to the south. It is quite vulnerable to rain (what part of Florida isn't) but the facility is nice to watch a game at.
Jon - I'm a transplanted Boston-area person living in Central Florida. Yes, Viera is in the ballpark of an hour or more drive to most of the east coast Spring Training facilities (the Florida State League has a team at Viera and its closest opponent is Vero Beach). The facility is nice to watch a game at but yes it is vulnerable to rain (then again isn't all of Florida).
Why don't the Red Sox consider Vero Beach, Florida. That's where the Dodgers trained for sixty years.
It is one of the nicest spring training facilities I've ever been to. You sit really close to the players and really get to see them.
The ballpark needs updating, but it is really a beautiful park. The Mets, Nationals and Cardinals have their spring trainint nearby.
Why don't the Red Sox consider Vero Beach, Florida. That's where the Dodgers trained for sixty years.
It is one of the nicest spring training facilities I've ever been to. You sit really close to the players and really get to see them.
The ballpark needs updating, but it is really a beautiful park. The Mets, Nationals and Cardinals have their spring trainint nearby.
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