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Let's Get The Reds Game On In Pasco

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 14, 2007

When Sarasota voters rejected a $16 million bond referendum last week, they opened a door for Pasco County officials to seriously rev up the local economy and provide more fun for residents.

Now is the time to act with the speed of a fastball.

Sarasota voters shot down using taxpayers' money to rebuild Ed Smith Stadium, the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and the year-round base of a Reds' minor league affiliate. As a result, the 138-year-old professional baseball team is looking for new spring digs.

Already, possible suitors have emerged. They include Vero Beach and Winter Haven, spring bases of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians. Those cities will be losing their teams to Arizona. But in all likelihood, the Reds, should they move to either city, would have to use existing facilities. Tucson, Ariz., also has been mentioned as a new home.

But the grass could be greener in Pasco. Undeveloped land is still available. Pasco government officials and economic development leaders want to diversify the economy. And Pinellas, Hillsborough and Polk counties host Major League teams in the spring. It'd be our own mini-version of the Grapefruit League.

County and municipal officials teaming up to make a pitch to the Reds would be worth a shot. The county and cities would share in the wealth of an organization that produces an estimated $60 million in economic impact a year in Sarasota County, $25 million to $40 million from spring training alone. And thousands of visitors would come, staying overnight and frequenting local businesses.

The timing in Sarasota, with state-mandated tax cuts and escalating homeowner's insurance premiums, wasn't good, but the financial package to rebuild 6,500-seat Ed Smith wasn't bad. It would be a good starting point for Pasco officials.

The project, including land and construction costs, totaled about $53 million. The county would have contributed $21.5 million; the city $14.2 million. In addition, the state would have provided $7.2 million, and the Reds pledged $10 million. However, if Pasco officials can persuade the Reds to move here with the promise of a new facility, which the Reds could design, perhaps the team would be willing to pony up more money than they pledged in Sarasota.

Sure, there are obstacles. First, Pasco commissioners have pledged about $8 million in tourism tax money to build a tennis stadium for tournaments and other events, and construction hasn't even begun.

Further, commissioners recently agreed to seek proposals for a multipurpose sports complex. Although that idea is premature because of the tennis stadium commitment, it would definitely make sense if the county could persuade the Reds to move to Pasco. Imagine the impact on youth sports, tourism and the local economy.

Take A Swing

Pasco has been down this road before. In the mid-1990s, plays were made to lure the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays for spring training. The Yanks settled on Tampa, and the Jays decided to stay in Dunedin.

Pasco commissioners made a serious bid for the Bronx Bombers, even offering to build a $9.4 million, 8,000-seat stadium and training complex along Interstate 75 with tourism tax proceeds. Part of that proposal involved increasing the 2 percent tourism tax by 1 percentage point.

Commissioners should consider increasing the tax if it would mean getting the Reds. The investment would be well worth it, and the county would have one heck of a major tenant at a sports complex.

Sure, landing the Reds may be a long shot, as long as a blast off the bat of Reds' slugger Adam Dunn. But the opportunity to get into the game is there. And there is time: The Reds' lease on the Sarasota facility expires in October 2008, but the team can extend it for up to three years. All told, this gives the team up to four years to find a new home.

Who knows, the Reds may be more amicable to moving 80 miles or so up Interstate 75 - to a population base bigger than the Sarasota area - than going to the time and expense of leaving for another state. County officials should take a big swing at it.

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