Goodyear, Reds have 75 days to hammer out deal

The Arizona Republic
Jessica Coomes, Jan. 28, 2008 07:17 PM

Goodyear and the Cincinnati Reds will spend the next 75 days hammering out a deal that could bring the team's spring-training camp to Arizona.

The Goodyear City Council on Monday agreed to stop negotiating with other baseball teams looking to move spring training to the southwest Valley city.

Reds officials will reciprocate by breaking off talks with cities that want the team to train in their communities. That includes Sarasota, Fla., the Reds' current spring home.

It would cost $32 million to accommodate a second team to join the Cleveland Indians in the Goodyear ballpark, Interim City Manager Brian Dalke said. The cost includes purchasing 48 acres and constructing a clubhouse, practice fields and other training facilities.

That's in addition to the $75 million Goodyear and the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority split to build the ballpark and Indians training facilities, which are under construction. The sports authority has no money to help Goodyear build facilities for a second team.

The Goodyear council approved the exclusivity agreement Monday evening, 6-0, with no discussion. City officials last week said the agreement called on the two sides to negotiate exclusively for 90 days; however, the council approved a 75-day deal. The reason for the discrepancy was not immediately clear.

"If we didn't think we could get it done, we wouldn't go into it," Reds spokesman Rob Butcher said Monday night, referring to the exclusivity agreement, which team officials are expected to sign soon. "Both sides want an agreement to get done."

The Reds have been looking for a place to hold spring training since Sarasota voters rejected paying for renovations to the team's stadium.

The Reds have the option to stay in Sarasota until 2011. Dalke said it's likely the Goodyear ballpark site near Estrella Parkway and Yuma Road would be ready for a second team by 2010. The Indians start training in Goodyear and join the Cactus League in 2009.

Reach the reporter at 602-444-6511 or jessica.coomes@arizonarepublic.com.