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A first look at the O's plans for Sarasota
Orioles fans don't have long to wait before the O's report to their first spring training in Sarasota, but you can steal a look at the renovations in the works for 2011 even sooner than that.
The Major League facilities at Ed Smith Stadium and the Minor League complex at Twin Lakes Park, now dubbed the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex, will both undergo renovations to make Sarasota the true spring home of the O's by next year.
But a handful of artist renderings of the plans for the team's spring facilities were revealed at a recent Sarasota County Commission Meeting, giving you a forward look at at what's in store for the Orioles in Sarasota...
Ed Smith Stadium
Ed Smith Stadium Master Plan
Orioles Training Complex
The Buck O'Neil Complex at Twin Lakes
What do you think and who's ready for spring training?
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I am, that's awesome!
Less than a month
Very cool! Moving to Sarasota was a great move by the O's.
Very impressive. I especially love the nod to the teams history at the minor league complex!
Wow Kate, that looks really nice. Thanks for sharing.
I'm going down to Spring Training this year but also hope to make it down in 2011 to check out the upgrades.
It looks like the Orioles definitely have plans for an incredible site down there in Sarasota for Spring Training.
I also appreciate that they are honoring the legendary Buck O'Neil in some way. It's very classy of the organization.
I don't know if O'Neil ever had any association with the Baltimore Orioles or even had anything to do with the Baltimore Negro League teams, nevertheless, it's great that this name is involved with the project.
Kate you might want to take a look at this:
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100111/ARTICLE/1111052
The lawsuit has made it so that construction will not be able to occur in time because the bonds needed have been frozen and won't likely be unfrozen in time to complete construction before the Orioles have their 2011 Spring Training.
Wow. Just read the article Jon posted. Kinda makes me feel unwanted.
I wonder how the Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government and Citizens for Sunshine would feel if everyone that went to Orioles Spring Training opted not to stay in Sarasota or spend money in the community because of them. It's not like Cincinnati was dying to come back for 2010 or the Orioles didn't have other options.
Looks very nice, but if there are four practice fields adjacent to Ed Smith Stadium, why send the minor leaguers several miles away?
I hope MASN televises several games. I think it would be interesting to see a game being played and other fields being utilized at the same time for minor leaguers and fundamental drills.
The exterior fascades do indeed look impressive. However, as a long time spectator at O's spring training games in Fort Lauderdale, I do have one major concern: the current Ed Smith Stadium has very little protection from the sun -- just a slight roof overhang that shelters maybe the two top rows of the grandstand. The FL sun is brutal and something even younger fans should be protected from. I'm not just talking about heat but skin cancer. From a marketing point of view, if the renovations don't cantilever a roof over much of the grandstand, there will be a significant drop in the attendance of senior citizens, who know about sun risk, in my opinion. Seniors have constituted a very high percentage of attendees at Fort Lauderdale, where the grandstand section that offers senior discounts is fully roof-sheltered from the sun. The drawings here don't indicate any change to the present open- to-the-sun plan at the new Ed Smith. Unless this changes, I know that I and many of my friends will sadly have to break our spring training habit with the Orioles.
Don't worry about the lawsuit. It's a shell organization that filed it, designed to get lawyer's fees. The O's love Sarasota and will be here for many years. I know. I live in Sarasota.
The Reds never wanted to leave Sarasota, but the deteriorating facilities gave them no choice. The Reds petitioned the City of Sarasota countless times for upgraded facilities, but the city would not pony up the money for them. The Reds grew increasingly frustrated then moved to Arizona, which is a much longer distance from their fan base. Why is the city unwilling to work with the Reds, but are now providing the same upgrades for the Orioles?
As a Reds fan, I am very happy for everyone in O's country. Sarasota is a wonderful place to visit, and it makes for an even better trip if you crowd a two door car with 4 guys and drive the whole way in one go. I am jealous, and not looking forward at all to flying to arizona, but I guess thats just how the cookie crumbles. I guess Sarasota finally realized what losing a team would mean to their little burg, Im just upset its not going to be the reds coming back any more...