Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/198837
ILLUMINATING STADIUM FINANCES The Baltimore Orioles' first night game in Sarasota in 2014 will be on March 8 against a split Boston Red Sox squad. Photo by Norman Schimmel THE ORIOLES' SARASOTA HOME WILL GET NEW LIGHTS BEFORE SPRING TRAINING STARTS, BUT THE COUNTY COMMISSION WANTS A THOROUGH REVIEW OF FACILITY REVENUE AND EXPENSES OVER THE NEXT 26 YEARS By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor Ed Smith Stadium will get new lights before the Baltimore Orioles begin their Spring Training games in Sarasota on March 1, the County Commission agreed unanimously this week. and stadium expenses over the remaining 26 years of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) the county signed with the Orioles in 2009 to bring the team to town. Data shows the fund for maintenance and The first night game will be against a split repairs should have about $9 million by the Boston Red Sox squad end of the MOU term — not including interon March 8. I didn't expect this big expensive est payments — and However, commis- bill for the new lights. $4,204,322 in anticisioners also made it pated expenses, based Nora Patterson plain they want to on a preliminary facilCommissioner review the overall plan Sarasota County ities assessment of for revenue generation the stadium and the