An article in the February 15th Sun-Sentinel of South Florida exclaimed that new Red Sox owner John Henry intends to make Melbourne's Space Coast Stadium the spring training home of the Boston Red Sox as soon as next year.

Although the possibility of a move would appear to be slim, Henry retained the operating license to Space Coast Stadium after he bought the Red Sox. Henry's former team, the Marlins, have trained there since their inception,

The Marlins will remain in Melbourne this spring, but new owner Jeffrey Loria has announced he will move the team next year to Jupiter, where Loria's former team, the vagabond Montreal Expos, are training. Loria retained operating rights on the Jupiter facility, which the Expos share with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Sun-Sentinel said that the reason behind the move was "Henry doesn't like the Red Sox's current arrangement in Fort Myers, where major and minor league spring training facilities are spread out." In Fort Myers the Red Sox currently train at City of Palms Park, which is about 3 miles away from the team's minor league facility.

By contrast, the Sun-Sentinel exclaimed that Henry has always been fond of the Marlins' Carl Barger Complex, which includes minor league fields adjacent to Space Coast Stadium.

As for the Stadiums themselves, City of Palms and Space Coast are similar jewels in different settings.

Space Coast Stadium is located in the middle of a cow pasture in Viera, FL.

City of Palms Park was built in 1992 and seats 6,990; Space Coast Stadium was built in 1994 and has a capacity of 7,500. Each facility draws well in Spring Training, although Space Coast wouldn't be as full for another team as it is for the hometown Marlins. City of Palms Park packs 'em in because the Red Sox play there. The cross-town Twins don't draw nearly as well in Ft. Myers as the Sox.

As for their settings. . .
City of Palms Park is a gorgeous palm tree lined ballpark in a seedy neighborhood in an affluent city. It isn't easy to find, even if you have directions. The ballpark is about 15 miles from the popular Ft. Myers Beach and there are a number of things to do nearby. I don't know of any forts or military bases in the area, but the nearby Sanibel Islands are renowned for their wildlife and exquisite beauty.

Space Coast Stadium is actually located in a cow pasture in the nearby hamlet of Viera, a mile or so outside of the city limits of Melbourne, which is referred to as "Melboring" by the locals. The ballpark is easy to get to and visible from the Interstate. Seriously, there are cows grazing in a field within 50 feet of the ballpark. There isn't so much a beach nearby as there is sand and water.

As for the current state of their leases. . .
In Ft. Myers, the Red Sox pay approximately $250,000-$275,000 annually in rent. They also pay for year-round maintenance of the facilities, which, according to the Naples News, are $2 million for a facility that is only used one month out of the year. The team has six years remaining on a 15-year lease with the city of Ft. Myers, which took out a 20-year, $25 million loan to buy the land and build City of Palms Park and the team's minor league complex. Ft. Myers mayor James Humphrey said he believes that there is no escape clause.

The Space Coast Stadium lease belongs to the Marlins through 2017. When the team heads to Jupiter in 2003 they will still be responsible for about $700,000 annually on debt service for bonds used to build the ballpark. They will not owe anything if another team moves to the site. The Stadium also plays host to the Brevard County Manatees of the Florida State League. The Marlins' Class-A affiliate lead the league in attendance in 2001.

A key indication that Henry might move the team to Melbourne occurred when Andy Dunn, the vice president of sales and marketing for the Marlins, resigned on February 15 to take his former position of overseeing the Melbourne facility. With Dunn once again a Henry employee, and with the site needing a new tenant after this spring, it appeared possible that the Red Sox would move their training base from southwest to northeast Florida.

The Red Sox have trained at City of Palms Park since 1992.

Fort Myers' Mayor Humphrey didn't seem too concerned about a possible defection when he told the Boston Globe, "I will tell you that the lease arrangement entered with the Red Sox was most favorable to the Red Sox. That's what gives me a little concern."

Incoming Sox CEO Larry Lucchino told the Globe, "There have been no discussions. This has not been on the radar screen."

And then John Henry himself spoke out on February 16. "The Red Sox train in Fort Myers. They will not move," Henry told the Palm Beach Post.

So no matter what happens with the Expos or Marlins, or the cross-town Twins for that matter, the Red Sox should stay put.

The way I see it, the cows can meander across the road and take control of Space Coast Stadium next year. In fact, I wouldn't mind it if the Red Sox tore down the local apartment dwellings adjacent to their ballpark and spruced up the area by importing Melbourne's cows.

But if you have ever seen a game in both ballparks, you know that Space Coast is nice but it's not City of Palms, which is as grand a setting as baseball can be viewed in during the month of March.

Some things shouldn't change.