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Red Sox Consider Spring Training In Sarasota
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Published: April 30, 2008
SARASOTA — After fishing for a major league team, with no bites at all, Sarasota finally got the attention of a very big fish – the 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox.
One of team's executives has been talking to Sarasota officials about moving its spring-training operations from Fort Myers to a renovated Ed Smith stadium, thus filling the void left by the Cincinnati Reds departing for Arizona.
The Sox sold out every game last year at their spring-training stadium in Fort Myers.
Over the past few weeks, City Manager Robert Bartolotta has been talking to a Red Sox executive about the possibility of moving the team's spring-training operations to Sarasota.
Bartolotta said the talks are exploratory and city officials are hopeful they can work out a deal that would bring such a "high caliber" team to town.
During a recent tour of Sarasota, Bartolotta said a Red Sox executive was impressed with the potential for the 50-acre Ed Smith site, Sarasota's amenities, hotels and its downtown.
The Red Sox have a long-term contract in Fort Myers that does not expire until 2019, but the team has the option to buyout of the lease starting in 2011, Bartolotta said.
"I don't want to get everyone's hope up that this will happen," Bartolotta said. "We are trying to see if we can put a deal together. They are definitely interested and we are definitely interested."
Kevin Reichard, publisher of Ballpark Digest, said the move to Sarasota makes sense. The team's operations are "hemmed in" on a small parcel of land just outside downtown, with the practice facilities located five blocks from the stadium itself.
But Reichard warns that any kind of deal in Sarasota is far from definite.
"They (the Red Sox) scout out a lot of stuff," Reichard said. "That is something to keep in mind."
Reichard said he thought one possibility, if the Red Sox do move to Sarasota, is a development of condos or shops right next to the stadium. "Over the last four years, they bought up a bunch of buildings around Fenway Park and rehabbed them," Reichard said. "They can do a big shebang here."
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( signit4bes ) on April 30, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
They didn't bring a very "high caliber team" to town last weekend. It even looked a lot like spring training, too. Heck, Manny stole a base?!?!
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Posted by ( beachbum08 ) on April 30, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This sounds like the old play one city off the other deal. Anyone in St. Pete remember how that works? We lose the Reds here in Sarasota because the not so old stadium sucks and the toilets overflow all the time and then a team that sells out in Ft. Myers wants to move here. Hmm. Want to bet they are putting the squeeze on Ft. Myers for stadium improvements?
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Posted by ( Karamelg1 ) on April 30, 2008 at 4:16 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( Karamelg1 ) on April 30, 2008 at 4:18 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
ewwwwwwwwwwww, no Red Sox, just what Sarasota needs, more azz hole$
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Posted by ( DoodleBugg ) on April 30, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Who cares,it's only an hour from where they are now..
So move along people.
No news here to be concerned with...
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Posted by ( BlueJar ) on April 30, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I agree with Karamelg1...Ewwwwwwww!!! No Red Sox!!! Fort Myers was close enough.
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Posted by ( BlueJar ) on April 30, 2008 at 6:19 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Manny stole a base? I'm sorry I missed that one. I'm laughing just thinking about it!
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Posted by ( ohboy ) on April 30, 2008 at 7:19 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Give 'em what they want. They'll stay until another city gives 'em more.
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