Spring Training Facilities May See Use After All

Todays News

Photo of CoolToday Park

The loss of spring training delivered one more blow to area tourism courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic. But could Major League Baseball still take place in Gulf Coast stadiums after all?

Plans were leaked to blogs and sports media last week about a potential plan to rework the season and base all activity in Florida and Arizona. Rather than the normal American and National League season structure, teams would instead be sorted by Spring Training leagues, with the Grapefruit League teams playing each other in Florida spring training facilities and the Arizona-based Cactus League doing the same out West.

According to an article in USA Today, this would put the Baltimore Orioles, who train in Sarasota, and Atlanta Braves, who train in North Port, in a division with the Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox, who train in Charlotte, Fort Myers and south Lee County respectively. The Pittsburgh Pirates, who train in Bradenton, would be in a division with New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers, who spend their springs in Tampa, Clearwater, Dunedin and Lakeland.

It’s something Virginia Haley, president of Visit Florida, is paying attention to, though it wouldn’t mean salvation for the tourism industry. That’s because no crowds would be allowed to attend games. Stands instead would be used as giant dugouts where players could sit at least six people apart to follow social distancing guidelines. But with no games to attend, that means no reason for fans in Maryland, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania to fly to the region and sit in the bleachers.

“But thank God there would finally be sports on TV,” Haley said with a laugh.

She figures there would be a benefit for the area long-term, albeit an indirect one. She expects whenever MLB starts its season, even a truncated one lasting weeks and not months, it will draw some of the highest viewership in the sport’s history.

“So you are getting to see beautiful Ed Smith Stadium and the gorgeous new CoolToday Park nationwide,” she said. “That kind of exposure would be a plus.”

Will it happen? Well, an executive order signed Friday by Gov. Ron DeSantis has earned attention mostly for allowing WWE wrestling to take place in Florida. But it allows for employees at any "professional sports and media production” to move ahead with essential personnel so long as it’s closed to the public. The plan being discussed by MLB leadership meets those guidelines as well, and does it with a sport where athletes spend most of the game standing apart anyway.

Photo of CoolToday Park

« View The Thursday Apr 16, 2020 SRQ Daily Edition
« Back To SRQ Daily Archive

Read More

Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open Names Coastal Orthopedics as Medical Partner for 2024 Tournament

Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open Names Coastal Orthopedics as Medical Partner for 2024 Tournament

Mar 28, 2024

Second Annual Wellen Park Half Marathon and 5K Draws Big Crowds to Downtown Wellen

Second Annual Wellen Park Half Marathon and 5K Draws Big Crowds to Downtown Wellen

Mar 28, 2024

Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open Announces Tennis Tournament Dates and Unveils Sponsorship Opportunities

Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open Announces Tennis Tournament Dates and Unveils Sponsorship Opportunities

Mar 21, 2024

Spring Training and Downtown Wellen

Spring Training and Downtown Wellen

Mar 14, 2024