Comments on: Lee County is still trying to lure the Nats to Fort Myers … somehow

By: bolweevils2

bolweevils2 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:07:24 +0000

This would make life hard for the other 3 teams remaining on the east coast (Cards, Mets, Marlins) They can;t just play each other every day, unless one of them is a split squad.

By: pmcenroe

pmcenroe — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:12:34 +0000

Also techically Ft. Myers has 4 minor league stadiums. Terry Park was used for ST for the A’s Pirates and Royal from 1925-1988 (until the Twins came and the County built the new complex). It was renovated some after Hurricane Charely in ’04, and is currently used for amateur games and HS scouting tournaments and such.

By: pmcenroe

pmcenroe — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:07:50 +0000

The Twins High-A( Miracle) and Gulfcoast Rookie league teams play that their complex, plus they have some softball tournaments and other events there during the year. Red Sox just have their Gulfcoast league team play at their complex but I believe the rest of the time it remains empty, but its new so I’m sure they will host some other things there throughout the year but its so close to Twins complex that really it’ll just be a change of venue for most things.

City of Palms Park currently sits completely empty

By: Matt Aromando

Matt Aromando — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:56:16 +0000

So one city has 3 minor league sized baseball stadiums. Are these used for anything outside of Spring Training? Are they just big unused lots for most of the year? It seems crazy that a vacation destination like Fort Myers would use up so much space on something that is only used a few months out of the year.

By: pmcenroe

pmcenroe — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:47:02 +0000

Having grown up there I think I can explain why it would ideal to keep it a baseball stadium rather than recreation complex. Number one would have to be because although its pretty close to downtown Ft. Myers (which was in the process of being gentrified when I was there for the holidays) it is still in a not great part of town. They have built a skate park and an indoor ice rink (which is now used more for indoor soccer and basketball than ice skating) directly next to the stadium, both were popular in the begining but have since been in decline. Spring Training does bring a lot of revenue to the City of Ft. Myers and the ballpark is already built, the problem is there is nowhere to put a minor league complex (except down the road like it currently is in an even worse part of town) like all the newer ST facilties have.

By: flosox

flosox — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:27:40 +0000

I’ve had season tix to Sox spring training for over a decade now; every year they add a Twinkies game in place of some other team. I guess they only want to commute down the street…

Whatever though, still the best time of year!

By: natslady

natslady — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:17:42 +0000

Y’know, I thought it was a lock the Nats were moving, but Brevard County is upping their bid. The primary reason for the Nats to move is the “long bus rides” players have to take to play other teams in Spring Training Games–rides most veterans wouldn’t take if they lasted 10 minutes!

http://springtrainingonline.com/201301141629/news/brevard-county-to-pitch-nats-on-long-term-commitment-to-space-coast-stadium.htm

By: flosox

flosox — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:11:23 +0000

If i’m not mistaken, that’s Tek at the plate…He’ll be back eventually.