Featured image credit: Sandro Schuh on Unsplash
Fort Myers City Council has selected a soccer-focused proposal for the redevelopment of City of Palms Park, an 8,000-capacity stadium that formerly served as the spring training home of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox.
Investment management company Scythe was selected ahead of three other proposals following a council meeting on Thursday. Wink News has reported that Scythe’s PitchPrime project centres on reimagined baseball facilities and soccer initiatives, including an MLS Next Pro franchise in Fort Myers.
The complex would also house beach volleyball and pickleball facilities, as well as green space and a food truck park. The first part of the project is set to cost around $15m (£11.8m/€13.7m).
Scythe was selected ahead of proposals from the United Soccer League, Elliot Sidewalk Communities and Radd Sports. The USL had pitched a soccer stadium as part of a wider plan that would include new housing, a hotel and a music venue, while Elliot’s proposal included an academy as well as soccer and lacrosse facilities.
Radd Sports’ plan featured volleyball and pickleball alongside a soccer pitch, restaurant, retail space, a hotel and apartments. The USL proposal placed second behind Scythe, with Radd Sports and Elliot taking third and fourth place, respectively.
City of Palms Park was used by the Red Sox from 1993 until 2011. Since 2014, it has been used to host baseball games played by Florida SouthWestern State College.
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