The new spring-training home of the Boston Red Sox will be slightly smaller than originally planned, as the capacity is lowered and one practice field jettisoned.
The new spring-training home of the Boston Red Sox will be slightly smaller than originally planned, as the capacity is lowered and one practice field jettisoned.
The project budget is $75 million, but that includes $20 million for land acquisition. When the Red Sox and Lee County officials sat down and saw what could realistically be purchased for $55 million (which isn't a lot for a spring-training complex; the Cubs are looking to spend $80 million on the complex alone in Mesa), the plans were scaled back.
First: the total capacity was lowered from 12,000 to 11,000 as the ballpark's footprint shrinks. (The original seating capacity of 9,999 is not expected to change; things like berm and picnic seating will be adjusted.) As part of that six of the planned 11 luxury boxes were struck from the plans, as was a practice field (now the complex will feature five). Finally, the clubhouses will be smaller than originally anticipated, although there will still be room for expansion in the future.
It's been a tough haul for Lee County to finance the project, which is located outside of Fort Myers near the airport. The county has had to find alternative funding sources because bonds couldn't be sold to back the project; meanwhile, locals are grumbling because the county has moved forward with the project while furloughing employees and suspending services.
You can see the preliminary site design and read more at our sister site, Spring Training Online.
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