Sarasota Seeks State $ To Keep Reds Spring Training

Seven Florida locations are vying for the money, including Sarasota, Bradenton, Fort Myers, plus the counties of St. Lucie, Charlotte, Polk and Osceola. Only five slots are open.

But there is out-of-state competition, too. Arizona is luring professional baseball teams out west. Sarasota Sports Facilities Manager Pat Calhoun says unless his city and the other communities can put together new stadiums fast, teams like the Cincinnati Reds will leave Sarasota.

CALHOUN: Once they start entertaining those offers, obviously everything is out the window as far as what we've worked for here.

The Sarasota stadium deal signed Tuesday calls for a new $54 million stadium, plus a committment from the Cincinnati Reds to stay for 30 years.