Spring Training Subsidies Largely Ignored in Trib

For those that missed it on the cover of Thursday's Tampa Tribune, apparently Spring Training is big buisiness:

But the issue of whether spring training's changing dynamics are becoming more positive or negative for the fans and their communities depends on who's talking.

“Baseball needs to start giving back more to the fans,” said Kevin Schauer, general manager of Lenny's breakfast and lunch restaurant near U.S. 19 and Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard in Clearwater. 

Schauer is bullish on the management acumen and intentions of the executives of the ballclubs with which he works. He acknowledges their obvious economic impact on his restaurant business and on hotels, other retail outlets that fans and players patronize and considerable behind the scenes philanthropy.

There wasn't much examination of whether all the recent subsidies for spring training teams are a good thing or bad thing, but for a little more background on the future of Spring Training in Tampa Bay, read this recent post about the possibility of expanding Brighthouse Field in Clearwater.