LEE COUNTY, Fla. - Will they stay or will they go? On Wednesday Lee County joined the battle to keep the Boston Red Sox here for Spring Training. Lee County is competing with Sarasota and the Walt Disney complex near Orlando, to win the hearts of the Red Sox, by offering a brand new stadium.

City of Palms Park is done as a long term home for the Boston Red Sox. Instead, Lee County is depending on private developers to design a stadium-retail complex. Otherwise, the team, and $25-million dollars a year, will go somewhere else.

Mike Dee, Chief Operating Officer for the Red Sox, came calling to hear how much Lee County enjoys hosting the team for Spring Training. "It’s not about rushing to judgment or packing the moving vans. It’s more about making sure we take our time," said Dee.

Then, Ray Judah, the Lee County Commission Chairman pronounced 'last rites' for City of Palms Park, as a long term home for the Sox. "The practice field being separate from the stadium are logistical problems," said Judah.

That shocks Fort Myers businesses. The Red Sox generate an estimated $25-million dollars for the local economy.

Lee County is turning the focus to South Fort Myers and Estero where four developers have plots of land that could become a Mini-Fenway Park and a retail complex for the team.

The county is emphasizing it will not use property tax dollars to help build a stadium. But, it can provide money in other ways. It could kick in tourist tax dollars - money earned from the 5% tax on hotel rooms. It could lower impact fees for the builder. And it could take out long-term bonds to raise cash.