City of Sarasota, Florida Seeks Hotel Developer.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- As part of its plan to construct a $54 million state-of-the-art spring training baseball facility for the Cincinnati Reds, the City of Sarasota is looking for an interested hotel developer to build a hotel adjacent to the new stadium. As the financing plan is put in place, the City is considering a long-term land lease for the placement of a hotel in a complex that could incorporate a free standing restaurant as well as other complimentary commercial activities next to the new stadium.

"Baseball is becoming a year-round activity in Sarasota. In addition to spring training and the Reds' minor league team playing here through the summer, there is the state of Florida high school tournament, AAU tournaments, and a host of other amateur programs that will be using the City of Sarasota's baseball complex and training facilities," according to Jeff Maultsby, Director of Florida operations for the Cincinnati Reds. "We will be nine-month users of the hotel and baseball facilities," said Jeff.

According to Sarasota Sports Facilities Manager Patrick Calhoon, "We are seeking expressions of intent from developers in building a hotel, in hopes that we can present to the City Commission at the end of August what we feel is a themed-based center that will attract baseball fans, tournaments, and players from around the world. Since baseball has an international following, and our climate is conducive to year-round play, we hope that once completed, our new stadium and hotel, together with the existing Ed Smith Complex, will become a recognized center for the sport."

The Argus Foundation, a Sarasota based public policy foundation supported by private corporation CEOs in Southwest Florida, sees this as an opportunity to demonstrate how a stadium can be built as a true public/private partnership. "By creating an entertainment center environment with a hotel and a restaurant with a family activity center, the Sarasota baseball complex has the potential to be a year-round destination," according to Argus Foundation President Tim Hensey.

Those interested in receiving information on bidding for the land lease for a hotel next to the stadium are asked to contact Mary G. Tucker in the Purchasing Department of the City of Sarasota at [phone] or by e-mail at [e-mail]. Expressions of interest are requested by August 16, 2006 at 4:00 PM.