Orioles pitchers and catchers report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, Fla., tomorrow, and with spring training arriving, the Sarasota County Government has released an economic impact analysis on the club's corporate presence in the Great Sarasota community over the past year.
The analysis concludes that the O's presence in Sarasota, through spring training, year-round baseball activities and the club's promotion of entertainment and tourism, has generated approximately $81 million over the past year in the Greater Sarasota community. That figure far exceeds the $40-50 million estimate by the state of Florida in a 2009 analysis of communities that host Major League Baseball spring training.
This year's study included the tourism impact created by the Orioles through spring training games and additional sports and entertainment events at Ed Smith Stadium and the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex. The O's year-round presence, job creation, economic activity, commerce and direct club spending also substantially contributed to the study's results.
The Orioles' economic results were bolstered by the club's continuous promotional support of Sarasota tourism and record attendance at spring training games in 2015. The Orioles set a franchise record in average attendance per game last year, drawing more than 110,000 fans over 15 home spring training games. Ed Smith Stadium had an average of 7,484 fans in attendance per game, meaning the stadium operated at 99 percent capacity throughout spring training.
For more information from the Orioles' economic impact analysis, check out the infograph below.
The Orioles begin their seventh season at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota on Wednesday, March 2, at 1:05 p.m. against the Braves, the first of 16 home spring training games this season.
