Red Sox to get new spring facility

BOSTON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The Boston Red Sox announced Saturday they will getting a new spring training facility with construction to begin next year in Fort Myers, Fla.

A new stadium, with a 30-year lease agreement, had been approved by Lee County, Fla. commissioners, and team officials signed it Saturday.

"The Red Sox thank the leadership and citizens of Lee County for this extraordinary commitment," Boston Chief Executive Officer Mike Dee said on the team's Web site. "We recognize the significance of today's announcement and are thrilled Red Sox Nation will continue to call Lee County our spring training home for many years to come. We look forward with great excitement to our future together."

Boston has trained at City of Palms Park since 1992, but Fort Myers is the team's next home base for spring training.

Plans are to design and construct the new facility in time for the 2012 season.