Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Furl
Google
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Y! MyWebReds' spring training deal with Arizona approved
Council in Goodyear, Ariz., OKs agreement that includes a 20-year lease at the $108M facility.
> What do you think about the Reds moving their spring training site?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
A unanimous vote Monday, July 14, removed any lingering doubt that the Cincinnati Reds will have a new spring training home in 2010.
The Goodyear (Ariz.) City Council approved a binding use agreement with the Reds that includes a 20-year lease and two five-year team options at the $108 million Goodyear Ballpark and Recreation Sports Complex. The Cleveland Indians are expected to move into the complex in February 2009, while the Reds will spend one more spring in Sarasota, Fla., the team's spring training site since 1998.
"The people here are gung-ho on this subject," said Jim Cavanaugh, the Goodyear mayor. "This city is a pro baseball city, and our citizens are fitting this bill and willing to do that. They can't wait for first pitch in late February of '09."
Goodyear announced in March is had identified the funding for the stadium and surrounding facilities, and the city council in April approved a memorandum of understanding on the binding use agreement.
Even though Monday's voting result was expected, Cavanaugh said the two sides compromised on several issues before the agreement was completed. The city, for instance, agreed to place $100,000 more than it originally planned into the capital replacement fund, which will serve the stadium's upgrade needs in the future.
Goodyear, 20 minutes west of Phoenix, will also front the project's funding, which will be repaid by the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority beginning in the late 2010s, Cavanaugh said. That group will use funds generated by hotel and rental car taxes.
"We're excited to finish this process and look forward to not only the Reds but both Ohio teams," Cavanaugh said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.
New digs
The $108 million Goodyear (Ariz.) Ballpark and Recreational Sports Complex, which the Reds will share with the Cleveland Indians beginning in 2010, will include:
— A 40,700-foot clubhouse
— 6 practice fields
— 2 half fields
— 10,000-seat stadium (8,000 fixed seats and space for extra 2,000 in a grassy area)
— 500 premium box seats
Comments
By MAC
July 18, 2008 1:56 AM | Link to this
While I’m sure there are some West Coast Reds Fans who are happy about the move, it sounds like the Reds may be losing some fans who may have been swayed to attend a few more games in Cincy? As already mentioned, most Reds fans are from the Mid West and are much more likely to travel to Florida to support the team than Arizona. Likewise, what happens w/ the Class A team; will they spend more money to find another place in Florida? What about the other minor league teams; will AAA move to PCL
By Paul S
July 17, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
The fans were sold out for money. There were a lot of the tri state fans who are in south florida like me that made our winter home down there just for the main reason the Reds were there too.
By gibby
July 17, 2008 1:58 AM | Link to this
Castelleni —- your a whore!
By John Doe
July 16, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
It sucks. To all who think there are to many foreigners in FL, how many legal and illegals live in AZ? I’ll bet there are many more in AZ.
By James C. Imfeld
July 16, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
Can’t figure out why they would blow off Florida. There are many Ohio,Ky,Ill.,Ind.,natives here to support the Reds and did in the past. I wonder if the Old Left Hander just flipped in his resting place? Regards JC.
By Toledo Red
July 16, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
I absolutely hate the move. As a family we travel every spring to Sarasota to watch the Reds and visit other family members. I look forward to it every year. I can’t believe that next year will be our last family trip to Sarasota.
By John
July 16, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Go to Arizona? lol… that’s a good one. Why would I go to Arizona to see a mediocre team (at best) when I won’t even make the 52 mile drive down south to see them in season. Forget it. Cincinnati can do itself a huge favor and start following winning teams…like THE BROWNS!!!!
By Jeff
July 16, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
I am very bummed about this. I hate flying and the drive to AZ is just too long to justify. I always enjoyed going to Florida for spring training. As a few others have mentioned on here, besides the baseball there was the beach/ocean to enjoy.
By VegasRedsFan
July 16, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
This works out great for those of us in the West who are Reds fans. This might even help the Redstockings play better on their West Coast road trips, which have not always been kind to them.
Arizona is a great state. For those of you that have never been and are casting judgments, think again!
By Cait
July 16, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
We’ll go to AZ occasionally, but not as often (every other year) as we did to Sarasota. It’s just too expensive and there’s not as many entertainment alternatives. But AZ will be fun for awhile, until I’ve hit the Grand Canyon and all the other tourist spots and run out of things to do. In Fla. the beach was always good if you didn’t have anything else planned. No beaches or deep sea fishing in Az. Y hablo espanol un poco.
By Adam
July 16, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
Less rainouts and a newer complex with a local community that is supportive and excited about the team, unlike Sarasota. It’s a long way from Cincinnati, but overall, a good move for the Reds. Just because they are a second-rate team doesn’t mean they have to play in a second-rate stadium complex in a second-rate baseball town (Screw you Sarasota!)
By Honest Jack
July 16, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
Adios Rojos !!
By tom
July 16, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this
Bad move by the Reds. People cannot afford gas to Florida, how in the world are they going to be able to pick up fly to AZ and then rent a car that guzzles as much as the plane ticket costs? MLB teams care only about themselves and their over paid players. They care nothing about the fans that look forward to getting out of bad weather and watching some baseball in Florida on a nice sunny spring day. Sarasota had everything you would want, a beach, golf courses,and a dog track close by!
By tom
July 16, 2008 7:28 AM | Link to this
You give these players the best facilites anywhere and they still are losers!
By Jan
July 16, 2008 7:22 AM | Link to this
I think the Reds are making a big mistake. I believe the attendance at the Reds game in Cincinnati will be hurt. Most of the people who go to spring games in Florida are from the midwest where the majority of minor league teams are from. These teams create a following that transcends into a following of spring training games and regular season attendance as people become fans of particular players. They love to follow a player from his minor league days to the big leagues. So long Reds,
By joe
July 16, 2008 6:45 AM | Link to this
Hey Charles…. don’t bet on the english part. Been to Az many times. All I can say is… Se Habla Espaņol
By Brent
July 16, 2008 1:29 AM | Link to this
Hey AP-FLORIDA, Learn to take off the caps. Ask your mommy she will be able to tell you.
-Huge fan of the first ever major league team, the Cincinnati Reds-
By Scott
July 15, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
We’ll be making the trip out to Phoenix to watch ‘em. And we’ll check out Ho Ho Kam Park as well.
By rj
July 15, 2008 7:19 PM | Link to this
Let me get this straight….Goodyear AZ built a stadium for the Cleveland Indians and is now going to build another one for the Reds?
Doesn’t matter. I’ll never get out to AZ. But then again, the Reds are hardly a major league team…..
By AP-FLORIDA
July 15, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
GOOD BYE….WE ARE GETTING THE RED SOX,,A REAL MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM
By bill
July 15, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
Too Bad for the fans…Florida was easier to get too, and cheaper too. Arizona is much more expensive to travel too…But the Reds are obviously not doing this for the fans, so, it’s a great move for them. New complex, new fields. Can’t beat it. Now they have to find a new home for their single A team, because, there are no leagues in Arizona for Single A. That’s going to increase their costs. But, in baseball, it’s only MONEY…..They can afford it, we just can’t!
By tom
July 15, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
If you think Sarasota is a foreign country, try Miami/Ft. Lauderdale. Training in Arizona should help the Reds play better against the west coast teams since they will play them in spring training, but how will they do then against the east coast teams?
By Charles
July 15, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
I have never been to Arizona, but I have been to Florida a lot and I hate the place. Spring training in Fla is ok, but I agree that South Florida is like being in a foreign country. I don’t speak the language so it is tough to get around. 2010 may be time to go to AZ and see the Reds new place. Desert or not, I bet they speak english.
By Randy
July 15, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
Great now we do not have to go to a foreign country to watch spring training or am I the only one that thinks that way about Florida. Arizona has lots of golf courses so a spring training slash golf trip would be perfect.
By Mark from C-bus
July 15, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
Let me start by saying I used to live in Tempe, Az. So I know whereof I speak…in Florida, you could go to spring training, catch a few reds games, then go fishing, swimming, amusement parks, you name it. You had sand and surf, to go with your baseball jones. Starting in 2010, you will just have sand.