SARASOTA,Fla. -- The Orioles continue to make a substantial year-round impact at their spring home in Sarasota, Fla., with the club's economic impact deemed to be at an eye-popping $97 million, according to a study released Thursday.
The study, an independent economic impact analysis commissioned by Sarasota County Government, puts the O's economic output as a record for sports tourism in Sarasota County.
"The entire Orioles organization takes pride in today's announcement by state and county government recognizing our company's creation in a single year of $97 million in economic impact benefiting local taxpayers," said Orioles Executive Vice President John Angelos.
"As Sarasota County's preeminent sports tourism generator, the club has created more than $500 million and counting in public return on investment during just the first eight years of our training facility's operation, and our commitment to producing year-round Major and Minor League Baseball games, world class arts and cultural events, and year-round youth training and family recreational programming in the Sarasota community remains unwavering."
Since the Orioles moved their Major League spring home to Sarasota in 2010, more than 885,000 fans have enjoyed Spring Training games at Ed Smith Stadium. The redesigned complex was recently named No. 1 among Spring Training facilities in a USA Today readers poll.
Additionally, each year more than 27,000 participants and spectators visit the Orioles complex to participate in youth tournaments, baseball clinics, sports leagues, and other family-friendly and charitable events, which are professionally managed, supported, and frequently financially subsidized by the Orioles.