When Florida instituted a program giving state funds to cities to build or remodel spring-training facilities, strict safeguards were in place to prevent cities from stealing teams from other cities. Faced with the loss of more teams to Arizona, the state is revising those rules to free up funding.
When Florida instituted a program giving state funds to cities to build or remodel spring-training facilities, strict safeguards were in place to prevent cities from stealing teams from other cities. Faced with the loss of more teams to Arizona, the state is revising those rules to free up funding for other communities.
Let’s see how those funds have played out in the case of the Baltimore Orioles, who have openly announced they’re on the prowl for a new spring-training home after their Fort Lauderdale Stadium expires. Under the current state law, only Fort Lauderdale would be able to apply for $15 million in state funds to retain the O’s; another city seeking to make a deal with the team could not apply for the funds, because that would be seen as an attempt to steal the O’s from Fort Lauderdale. The money doesn’t move with the team.
The state is now looking at revising those rules to basically allow other cities to apply for the money. It’s seen as a direct assistance for Fort Myers in its attempt to bring the Orioles to City of Palms Park once the Boston Red Sox move to a new spring-training complex. Fort Myers and Lee County won’t have much money for renovations and upgrades to the facility once they’re done paying for a new BoSox complex, and getting $15 million from the state would be a tremendous help. The money could also help out Sarasota and Vero Beach in their attempts to lure teams.