Story Created:
Sep 23, 2008 at 4:28 PM EST
Story Updated:
Sep 23, 2008 at 4:53 PM EST
FORT MYERS, Fla. - On Tuesday more than a hundred people gathered to keep the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers. The rally was at City of Palms Park. There, people chanted "Save our Sox". Among the chanters, many were business leaders who want the team to stay in Fort Myers. For months there's been speculation the team could leave to play its spring training games in Sarasota.
"They have a huge impact on our community and we can not afford to lose them," said Patricia Bell, President of the Fort Myers Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club co-sponsored the rally to highlight the importance the team has on our local economy.
Patricia Bell estimates the team brings about $25 million dollars a year. "There's a lot of small businesses here that for one month they're here, they see a huge peak in business," she said.
Among the small businesses that could potentially feel the pinch are sports bar like the Hideaway. The Hideaway considers itself a Red Sox bar. One of the owners says at least 20% of the business' yearly revenue comes from when the Sox are here for their spring training. "We love the Red Sox. If they're going to be gone, it's a huge detriment," So like the people at the rally, Hideaway owner Brian Dodson hopes the Red Sox don't leave.
If you missed the rally, your voice can still be heard by signing a petition. The petition is to encourage local leaders to do what they can to keep the Red Sox in Fort Myers.
www.saveoursox.com
Thursday, Sep 25 at 3:22 AM Red Sox Addict wrote ...
Dear Go Sox Go: Cry Babies? You are most definitely NOT a baseball fan and thus keep your nasty comments to yourself. The revenue they bring here to the smaller businesses is vital to them. And not only the revenue, the community comes "alive" when the Red Sox are in town. I sincerely hope they stay and Lee County does what they can to accommodate them.
Wednesday, Sep 24 at 12:46 PM Go Sox Go wrote ...
Let them leave. Do we really need to blow millions on a bunch of cry babies? There are more important things to use that money for. Let the financial terrorist leave! Go Sox Go.
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