AmarilloRed
11-05-2007, 12:27 AM
Sarasota future on the ballot
Reds insider: Could be looking for new spring site
The people of Sarasota vote Tuesday on a referendum for the funding to rebuild Ed Smith Stadium.
But what they're really voting on is whether they want their city to remain the spring home of the Reds.
If the referendum is voted down, the Reds will - figuratively at least - start the moving process.
"We really haven't looked anywhere else yet," Reds chief operating officer John Allen said. "If we lose the election, we'll start immediately."
The Reds will train in Sarasota this coming spring, and they have three one-year options to extend the lease after that.
The referendum would approve the last $16 million in funding for the $56 million project.
Again, if the vote goes down, they're moving. They could go to Vero Beach, which the Dodgers are abandoning after 2008. They could go to Arizona, which is always looking for teams. There's been talk that Orlando would like to add another team.
The Reds hope, of course, that the referendum passes and they stay in Sarasota.
"We've said that all along," Allen said.
The club's actions have shown it means that. The Reds bought the Florida State League franchise in Sarasota. They've moved more and more of their offseason operation there.
They also made a 30-year commitment to Sarasota when state funding required only 15 years.
"That's pretty strong," Allen said.
But it hasn't been easy to get everything lined up for funding. That's why the club scaled back the plans. The original idea was to build a new stadium on the site of the county fairgrounds.
The latest version calls for a revamping of Ed Smith Stadium as well as new offices and a new clubhouse.
It's been a long process. The Reds thought they had everything lined up.
But the stadium became a political issue, which led to the referendum being placed on the ballot.
The Reds have helped finance the campaign for the referendum.
They've tried to convince the voters of two things: Having the Reds train in Sarasota has an economic impact, and the facility can be used year-round and will benefit the community at large.
But it's been a difficult sell. Public funding for private businesses always is.
The other thing working against the Reds is Sarasota has a lot going for it. It's a vibrant community and big-time tourist destination. So Sarasota doesn't need a spring training team the way, say, Plant City does.
Allen is optimistic - cautiously so.
"It's going to be close," he said. "Too close to call."
Reds insider: Could be looking for new spring site
The people of Sarasota vote Tuesday on a referendum for the funding to rebuild Ed Smith Stadium.
But what they're really voting on is whether they want their city to remain the spring home of the Reds.
If the referendum is voted down, the Reds will - figuratively at least - start the moving process.
"We really haven't looked anywhere else yet," Reds chief operating officer John Allen said. "If we lose the election, we'll start immediately."
The Reds will train in Sarasota this coming spring, and they have three one-year options to extend the lease after that.
The referendum would approve the last $16 million in funding for the $56 million project.
Again, if the vote goes down, they're moving. They could go to Vero Beach, which the Dodgers are abandoning after 2008. They could go to Arizona, which is always looking for teams. There's been talk that Orlando would like to add another team.
The Reds hope, of course, that the referendum passes and they stay in Sarasota.
"We've said that all along," Allen said.
The club's actions have shown it means that. The Reds bought the Florida State League franchise in Sarasota. They've moved more and more of their offseason operation there.
They also made a 30-year commitment to Sarasota when state funding required only 15 years.
"That's pretty strong," Allen said.
But it hasn't been easy to get everything lined up for funding. That's why the club scaled back the plans. The original idea was to build a new stadium on the site of the county fairgrounds.
The latest version calls for a revamping of Ed Smith Stadium as well as new offices and a new clubhouse.
It's been a long process. The Reds thought they had everything lined up.
But the stadium became a political issue, which led to the referendum being placed on the ballot.
The Reds have helped finance the campaign for the referendum.
They've tried to convince the voters of two things: Having the Reds train in Sarasota has an economic impact, and the facility can be used year-round and will benefit the community at large.
But it's been a difficult sell. Public funding for private businesses always is.
The other thing working against the Reds is Sarasota has a lot going for it. It's a vibrant community and big-time tourist destination. So Sarasota doesn't need a spring training team the way, say, Plant City does.
Allen is optimistic - cautiously so.
"It's going to be close," he said. "Too close to call."