The Herald Tribune announced yesterday that the O’s reached a tentative deal with Sarasota County.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090721/BREAKING/907219942/2055/NEWS?Title=Sarasota-County-reaches-tentative-deal-with-Orioles

If approved, the O’s would start ST play in Sarasota in 2010, and it would be a 30-year agreement.

This has long been an issue with the organization, so to see this solved would be a huge step in the right direction.

This would allow the Orioles to house both their Major and Minor League Operations within a 15 minute drive, which has many benefits.

Being in Sarasota on the Gulf-side of Florida will allow the team to be in closer proximity to other-teams, and eliminate some of their travel nightmares.

The Fort Lauderdale facility was falling apart, and needed extensive renovation.

The Sarasota facility will also apparently require work, but is several steps-up by all accounts. Most of the work suggested for the facility would take place after the 2010 Spring Training.

The facility has been home of the Reds since 1998, but Cincnnati is moving to Arizona for 2010.

In what figures to be an awesome PR move, a Cal Ripken Youth Baseball Academy would be built alongside the facility, to be used year-round.

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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