No Rays spring training in Port Charlotte this year
The Tampa Bay Rays said they will not be hosting spring training at Charlotte Sports Park this year because of significant damage from Hurricane Ian.
The destruction the Port Charlotte stadium sustained during the Category 4 storm is too significant to have it ready in time for the spring training season, according to a joint statement from the baseball team and Charlotte County. In the coming weeks, the county and the Rays said they will develop a restoration plan for the stadium, which sits on El Jobean Road.
"We are all disappointed for the residents of Charlotte County and the fans there," the statement read. "The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts."
The statement offered no specifics on damage to the park, potential repair costs or the length of the assessment. Brian Gleason, a spokesman for Charlotte County, declined to provide more details when asked on Friday.
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The Rays have held spring training in Port Charlotte since 2009. The total economic impact of fans attending Tampa Bay Rays games in Charlotte County was estimated to be about $6.1 million this past year, according to a study from Research Data Services of Tampa.
Now the biggest question is where the Rays will train for the 2023 season. So far, Fort Myers has thrown its hat into the ring, but there hasn't been any public response from Sarasota or Manatee county officials.
"At this time we are not aware of any plans or negotiations regarding the Tampa Bay Rays hosting spring training in Sarasota County," Drew Winchester, a spokesman for Sarasota County, said via email.
The Baltimore Orioles, who hold spring training at Sarasota's Ed Smith Stadium, referred a Herald-Tribune reporter to the Rays when asked for comment. Michael Dunn, vice president of Florida operations for the Atlanta Braves, said that between its major and minor league operations, the team doesn't have enough room at CoolToday Park in North Port to share with the Tampa Bay team.
Manatee County spokesman Bill Logan said the county hasn't received any inquiries from the Rays or associated entities.
Farther south, Fort Myers City Councilman Fred Burson said Friday morning that he asked City Manager Martin Lawing to look into whether using City of Palms Park for Major League Baseball's spring training season is feasible.
The two other spring training stadiums in Lee County, JetBlue Park and Hammond Stadium, used by the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins, respectively, will be ready in time for spring, Lee County spokeswoman Betsy Clayton said.
Sarasota County's two stadiums suffered about $5 million in hurricane damage in total, Winchester said, with CoolToday Park sustaining most of it.
Hurricane Ian caused major disruptions to life in Southwest Florida, including parts of Sarasota and Charlotte counties, when it hit in late September. Many residents are still displaced while they wait for home repairs and several businesses have closed without any hope of reopening.
Another Charlotte County asset that was damaged was Allegiant Travel Co.'s Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor on the Peace River. Two of the resort's five construction cranes collapsed during the storm. Construction on the resort has since resumed.
Material from the Fort Myers News-Press was used in this report.
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ian damage means no spring training in Charlotte County for Rays
