The Red Sox are exploring talks with the city of Sarasota, Fla. to move their spring training facility there. The Sox' Fort Myers lease allows for a buyout in 2012 according to a story first reported by ballparkdigest.com.
"Yes, we had an exploratory meeting last Friday with Sarasota City and County officials," Red Sox chief operation officer Mike Dee confirmed in an email. "They approached us several days after the Reds announced their move to Goodyear, Az. We view this as part of our ongoing due diligence examining what are spring training needs will be over the next 5, 10, and 15 years. Discussions continue with Lee County as well."
The Sox appear to be looking for a facility where they can have both their major league and minor league operations in the same place. More negotiations are expected to take place with both Sarasota and Lee County officials.
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Sox to move GCL Team and ST Facility to Sarasota in 2012?
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 soxprospects |
Sox to move GCL Team and ST Facility to Sarasota in 2012? |
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Moderator Veteran Member
Posts: 4168 04/30/08 8:36 PM The Dude |
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 templeUsox |
#1 | |||
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Moderator Veteran Member
Posts: 12152 04/30/08 8:58 PM Moderator |
If this really happens I'm going to boycott GCL broadcasts.
BRING REESE HOME
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Beat UM and UF |
#2 | |||
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Veteran Member
Posts: 2607 04/30/08 9:22 PM Veteran Member |
the business of baseball once again rears its ugly head.
It's only a matter of time before it's the Boston Red Bulls playing at Friendly's Park. |
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soxprospects |
#3 | |||
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Moderator Veteran Member
Posts: 4168 04/30/08 9:26 PM The Dude |
Whats ugly about moving ST sites?
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DaveLNH |
#4 | |||
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Rookie
Posts: 49 04/30/08 9:45 PM |
I absolutely LOVE it... the rents live in Venice and we spend alot of time at Ed Smith. The sox would be within an hour of the Jays, Phils, Yanks, Pirates and Rays (who will be in Port Charlotte next year) and about 10 minutes from the O's Minor League facility, not to mention much closer to Winter Haven and Lakeland... The stadium's ok but it's in a nice neighborhood... Sarasota was haggling with the reds over a stadium, however with the sox being a far more attractive draw I wouldn't be surprised if the could get a new stadium.. or we could stay where we are and play the Twins every other game... |
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adiospaydro2005 |
good move | #5 | ||
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Veteran Member
Posts: 1074 05/01/08 5:09 AM Veteran Member |
i like the idea of moving to sarasota if all of the major/minor fields are in the same location.in march i attended a couple of spring training games in
peoria, arizona (spring training site to both the padres and mariners) and they have a very nice complex. you could walk to each field without working up a
sweat, plenty of parking, etc.
Poorest spending of $3 million that I have ever seen.-fcastig 0220
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Beat UM and UF |
#6 | |||
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Veteran Member
Posts: 2607 05/01/08 9:16 AM Veteran Member |
What's ugly is that it's just another example of this ownership making money-related moves. Clearly the reason for the move isn't to have a place
to house both the major and minor leaguers, it's because they will get more fans in Sarasota than in Ft. Myers. The die-hard fans who always go to ST
won't be able to see what they used to because all the people from Tampa will flock in.
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Arquimedez Bozo |
#7 | |||
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Moderator Veteran Member
Posts: 4660 05/01/08 9:45 AM Moderator |
How do you know that? Do you know someone in the front office?
And since we can all agree that getting more people to the park is probably at the very least a small part of this decision, what's "ugly" about that? When you start a business up and you outgrow your retail space or your warehouse, you do one of two things - you either add on, or you move. I fail to see how that's "ugly." Don't cry for Ft. Myers - it's still got the Twins. It's not like the Ft. Myers economy relies on the Boston Red Sox, and it's not like the Red Sox have this storied history of having spring training there - they moved there in 1993 after 26 years in Winter Haven.
"they should go to soxprospect so that BOZO THE
CLOWN and the rest of THE WANTS TO BE will give you some information" - A SP.com Legend
"A doubleheader is better than tipping the other team off the side of a cliff." - Cin1010 |
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soxprospects |
#8 | |||
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Moderator Veteran Member
Posts: 4168 05/01/08 10:21 AM The Dude |
Beat, I respectively disagree and don't think you have a clue on this point. The stated reason is to have the MLB and ML teams at the same complex, which
is probably a real good idea. And just as a side note, the ML Players HATE Ft. Myers for the most part.
AB - I just sent you a PM. Take a look and let me know what you think. |
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amfox1 |
#9 | |||
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Moderator Veteran Member
Posts: 4670 05/01/08 10:28 AM Moderator |
What's ugly is that it's just another example of this ownership making money-related moves. Clearly the reason for the move isn't to have a place to house both the major and minor leaguers, it's because they will get more fans in Sarasota than in Ft. Myers. The die-hard fans who always go to ST won't be able to see what they used to because all the people from Tampa will flock in.I am typically not prone to comment on these "look at me" posts but this post clearly is in the running for worst post of the year on a number of levels. Leaving aside that there is no birthright of "die-hard fans" to go to ST, and ignoring the implication that people from Tampa (and I am not one of them) either are not die-hard fans or otherwise have negative attributes associated with them, and forgiving Beat's lack of history (the Red Sox previously trained in Sarasota from 20+ years and Winter Haven for 25+ years, as AB mentioned, and have only been in Ft. Myers for 15 years), how could you see this solely as a money-making move? There are more teams near Sarasota, Sarasota is a larger community (which makes it easier to house the players and the fans and makes travel easier) and there are economies of scale of having the major league and minor league operations housed in the same location. You make it seem that Ft. Myers is a private plantation reserved solely for the Red Sox and its "true" fans from mid-February through the end of March. Let's not even get started on "money-making moves" such as the Monster Seats and right-field, which provide no benefit to fans (sarcasm alarm). Give me a break. Let's put a little more thought into this next time. Note: the above post is not made in my capacity as a moderator. I support Beat's right to post (within the rules of the site, of course), even if I do not agree with the content. |
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FenwayTheHardWay |
#10 | |||
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Veteran Member
Posts: 550 05/01/08 2:17 PM Veteran Member |
Damn those money related moves! Time and time again, this ownership proves that it only cares about the bottom line, not about putting a quality product on the
field for fans to enjoy. Die-hard fans, that is. Anyone who enjoys the red sox in a casual manor should probably be flat out banned from Fenway, any of our
minor league affiliates and spring training altogether, just to be safe...
"And, you know, has it ever occurred to you, that, instead of, uh... this could be a lot more, uh, complex, I mean, it's not just, it might not be
just such a simple... uh, you know?"
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Brisox |
#11 | |||
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Veteran Member
Posts: 204 05/01/08 4:04 PM Veteran Member |
What's ugly is that it's just another example of this ownership making money-related moves. Clearly the reason for the move isn't to have a place to house both the major and minor leaguers, it's because they will get more fans in Sarasota than in Ft. Myers. The die-hard fans who always go to ST won't be able to see what they used to because all the people from Tampa will flock inYou are absolutely right it was a money driven decision, but it was also about having a single site complex, which is about reducing costs , which is also about Money. I really can't believe the nerve of FSG thinking they have the right to run a business to turn profit. Don't they realize how long the fans in Ft Myers have suffered waiting for us to finally bring home the Mayor's trophy. |
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Beat UM and UF |
#12 | |||
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Veteran Member
Posts: 2607 05/01/08 5:16 PM Veteran Member |
Beat, I respectively disagree and don't think you have a clue on this point.That's not exactly respectable disagreeing but whatever. I am typically not prone to comment on these "look at me" posts but this post clearly is in the running for worst post of the year on a number of levels. Leaving aside that there is no birthright of "die-hard fans" to go to ST, and ignoring the implication that people from Tampa (and I am not one of them) either are not die-hard fans or otherwise have negative attributes associated with them, and forgiving Beat's lack of history (the Red Sox previously trained in Sarasota from 20+ years and Winter Haven for 25+ years, as AB mentioned, and have only been in Ft. Myers for 15 years), how could you see this solely as a money-making move? There are more teams near Sarasota, Sarasota is a larger community (which makes it easier to house the players and the fans and makes travel easier) and there are economies of scale of having the major league and minor league operations housed in the same location. You make it seem that Ft. Myers is a private plantation reserved solely for the Red Sox and its "true" fans from mid-February through the end of March. Let's not even get started on "money-making moves" such as the Monster Seats and right-field, which provide no benefit to fans (sarcasm alarm). Give me a break. Let's put a little more thought into this next time.1. I don't have a problem, obviously, with the monster seats and right-field seats, but what about the advertisements on the monster? Games in Japan? Much higher ticket prices? I love how I make a small comment and I get trashed by every mod because I didn't suck up to the ownership like everyone else does. |
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chavopepe2 |
#13 | |||
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Veteran Member
Posts: 826 05/01/08 5:25 PM Veteran Member |
Beat -
The main issue I had with your post is that you failed to consider the possibility that the move to Sarasota has other benefits outside of monetary ones. You immedietely jumped to the conclusion that they are doing it for money when there is no evidence that is the only reason for it. The added seats at Fenway have significant monetary benefits, but they are also a huge benefit to the fans. And frankly, I can't imagine there is a ton of money to be made during spring training. They play a handful of games in minimal capacity stadiums. If I had to guess I would say spring training and the GCL are a net loss. Whatever financial benefit they would see is not nearly enough to be THE reason for a move. And even if it was....Who cares? There is very little, if any, real allegience to Ft. Myers. |
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amfox1 |
#14 | |||
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Moderator Veteran Member
Posts: 4670 05/01/08 5:30 PM Moderator |
Beat,
As I noted I am not trashing you in my capacity as a mod. I have no issue with the ads on the wall. That's how it used to be in the 40s and 50s and I feel no need to abide by any "sanctity" of a major league field. Japan was dictated by MLB and, other than the fact that I could eat breakfast and watch the games (very nice), it sucked for all involved. Every team will eventually have to do this - the MFYs already had their turn. Higher ticket prices are a result of supply and demand; if people didn't want to go to the games so much, the prices wouldn't rise so fast. Every ownership group would do the same thing in the same situation. Do what other fans do - go to the games on the road. I have seen games in Baltimore, Philly, New York and Boston. Better yet, just go to the minor league games and watch the Red Sox on TV. Sucking up to ownership? Look at the reality of the situation. They invested to make money. They also plow a lot of money into player acquisition and development. If you don't like the fact that they are seeking every method to generate revenue, will you like it any better when the first thing that is cut is the player/development budget? It's certainly not going to be the interest payments due to the banks every quarter. I want the on-field product to be as good as possible. People choose to go to the games and understand the cost involved in going to a game, especially at Fenway. |
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Arquimedez Bozo |
#15 | |||
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Moderator Veteran Member
Posts: 4660 05/01/08 5:50 PM Moderator |
Beat, feel free to answer to any of the substantive critiques of your earlier post once you finish playing the "everyone's ganging up on me"
card.
"they should go to soxprospect so that BOZO THE
CLOWN and the rest of THE WANTS TO BE will give you some information" - A SP.com Legend
"A doubleheader is better than tipping the other team off the side of a cliff." - Cin1010 |
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Beat UM and UF |
#16 | |||
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Veteran Member
Posts: 2607 05/01/08 6:50 PM Veteran Member |
I expressed my dislike for the ownership, I don't see why I need to answer any of these responses - I don't think I made any incorrect assumptions,
unless you are saying that my opinion is wrong, in which case I question your knowledge of the word "opinion."
P.S. I now see that the reason for the backlash was this sentence: "Clearly the reason for the move isn't to have a place to house both the major and minor leaguers, it's because they will get more fans in Sarasota than in Ft. Myers." I see that it could cause some disagreements, but I still stand by the statement. And to whoever said that the move was made because of the reason they stated - it's called PR. When the Marlins traded Miguel Cabrera was their explanation that they wanted to make a salary dump? No, but was it clearly what the reason was? Yes. |
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Cem21 |
#17 | |||
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Moderator Veteran Member
Posts: 1255 05/01/08 7:10 PM Veteran Member |
And to whoever said that the move was made because of the reason they stated - it's called PR.There is also something called leverage. It's 2008 and we're talking 2012. 4 years from now. If the Lee County officials would like to keep the Sox, maybe they'll work something out to build a MLB and MiLB combined facility. The bottom line for any business is to make money, but this ownership group also puts out a very good product on the field. It's not like they pocket all of the money and put the 2003 Tigers on the field each season. As said earlier, the ML players don't really like Ft. Myers. They just put pavilions and covered stands in last season which the regulars down there said was a huge improvement. Also, a combined facility would be an improvement in player development. Top Brass would get more looks at the players. The Twins have a combined facility with the fields next to the main parking lot. If a move is something that improves the product put out on the field, I am all for it, and willing to overlook the fact that John Henry may put some more cash in his pocket. After all, he has to eat too. |
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norbit14 |
#18 | |||
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Veteran Member
Posts: 2030 05/01/08 7:29 PM Veteran Member |
Don't see any problem with an ownership that puts a lot of money into a team tries to make money its called business and if you have a business you would
want to make money. Its not like this ownership only thinks about money or something, they clearly put the team first and anybody who questions that is out of
there mind. Also whats the problem with moving out of Fort Myers its not like the Sox have been there forever or something and if moving out of there means
that they make money well I would do it too.
Boston doesn't deserve me.
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jsinger121 |
#19 | |||
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Moderator Veteran Member
Posts: 12758 05/01/08 7:34 PM Moderator |
Beat UM and UF wrote: 2 World Series titles in 4 years under this ownership. I'll stick with them. You can have the Yawkey trust if you want and zero World Series titles in 86 years. |
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Beat UM and UF |
#20 | |||
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Veteran Member
Posts: 2607 05/01/08 7:55 PM Veteran Member |
Right, because the ownership is the reason this team won the WS...
I agree with what Cem wrote But norbit, "they clearly put the team first and anybody who questions that is out of there mind." Really? out of their mind? There are plenty of owners who put themselves first and how do you know Henry and co. are not part of it? They happen to run one of the most well-to-do franchises in baseball so it's hard to tell. Was the Japan trip for the best of the team or for the best of the owners? Ask the 2004 yankees for me.
"What Mo's Knows, Mo's Goes!"
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