Efforts to bring the Washington Nationals to Fort Myers will likely end in failure, says a Lee County commissioner, because the county has no money to fix up City of Palms Park. County officials have been wooing the Nationals for several months, a time that includes an exclusive negotiating period for the two sides. The […]
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Funding for Twins spring-training renovations approved
After months of negotiations, Lee County agreed to a $42.5-million renovation of the Minnesota Twins’ spring-training complex that calls for new fan amenities at Hammond Stadium and upgraded training facilities for players. The complex hasn’t seen major changes since 1991, when the Twins moved in after spending most of the team’s history training in Orlando. […]
Lee County to vote on Twins training upgrades Nov. 6
It’s not a done deal, but it’s close: Lee County is poised to approve $41.6 million in upgrades to Hammond Stadium and the Lee County Sports Complex, the spring home of the Minnesota Twins. The deal could keep the Twins in Fort Myers for the next 50 years, conceivably through 2065 (assuming the lease extension […]
Twins, Lee County close to agreement on Hammond Stadium upgrades
The Minnesota Twins and Lee County are close to announcing a $45-million plan to upgrade Hammond Stadium, the team’s spring home, as part of a 30-year lease extension. The plan calls for the state to pay $15 million toward the project under the terms of a Florida fund set up to retain spring training, the […]
JetBlue Park receives LEED certification
JetBlue Park, which opened this year as the spring home of the Boston Red Sox, has received LEED certification from the Green Building Certification Institute. The certification came as a result of decisions made early in the design process of the facility by the long-standing public-private partnership between Lee County and the Boston Red Sox […]
Nats, Lee County to continue discussions on spring training
Lee County and the Washington Nationals will continue to discuss a move of the team to City of Palms Park for spring training, as officials look at whether the county can afford requested upgrades. The Nats have already presented a wish list of changes they’d like to see at City of Palms Park, and many […]
Nats: We’re still interested in Fort Myers — if spring complex is upgraded
Washington Nationals front-office personnel told Lee County reps the team was interested in moving spring-training operations to City of Palms Park — if the ballpark was upgraded, to the tune of $45 million or more. With the Nats unwilling to commit to Viera’s Space Coast Stadium and openly seeking a new spring home, a move […]
Election loss could impact future of Twins, Nats in Fort Myers
The defeat of Ray Judah, a big supporter of spring training in Fort Myers, could impact the future of Minnesota Twins and Washington Nationals spring training in Lee County. Judah was running for reelection on the Lee County Board of Commissioners, but came in third in Tuesday’s Republican primary behind a candidate who strongly criticized […]
Lee County to Nats: We really, really love you
Lee County still wants to see the Washington Nationals as a tenant at City of Palms Park, but with little money for upgrades, county and Fort Myers officials are embarking on a new strategy: convince the Nats front office they are loved. It’s a common strategy: when you don’t have the money to address a […]
FSL teams recovering from Tropical Storm Debby
Some Florida State League teams expect to resume play tonight after Tropical Storm Debby wiped out most of yesterday’s schedule — but field conditions may not be perfect. In fact, teams will be using every minute possible to prepare fields for safe play. At Hammond Stadium, the Fort Myers Miracle scrapped plans to pay two seven-inning […]
Twins sign 30-year spring-training lease extension
The Minnesota Twins and Lee County agreed on a 30-year lease extension to keep the team in Fort Myers, but the rest of the agreement — covering improvements and funding — is not yet public. It’s an unusual situation, to be sure. And there are plenty of contingencies at play, so it’s not nearly important […]
Lee County commissioner: “50-50” chance Nats will move spring ops to Fort Myers
A Lee County commissioner pegged the odds at “50-50” about the chances of the Washington Nationals moving spring-training operations to Fort Myers after the two sides met today. Lee County (Fl.) Commissioner Frank Mann, who did not attend a meeting between Lee County officials and two Nats reps but did discuss it with them afterwards, […]
Lee County, Nats to meet about spring training
Reps from the Washington Nationals and Lee County will meet today to discuss the team shifting spring-training operations to Fort Myers’ City of Palms Park. We don’t expect anything big to come from the discussions; the two are just a third into a 90-day exclusive negotiating period. Both sides have made their goals public: the […]