Cape courts Cleveland Indians

Cape Coral officials are courting the Cleveland Indians, hoping to make Cape Coral the preseason home of the MLB team sometime before 2010.

Cape Mayor Eric Feichthaler told the Naples Daily News on Dec. 22, 2005, that nothing is in writing, “but we're confident we'll be able to move forward with this team or another team.”

So it sounds like a done deal.

The mayor suggested building a stadium in Festival Park, a 211-acre site in the north part of the city that is otherwise planned as a community park. This was also to incorporate Seahawk Air Park, where radio-controlled plane enthusiasts practice their hobby. Since 2004 or so, the city has been buying and assembling the land necessary to create the park. Water and sewer service is not yet available at the park site, and is scheduled for such service by 2015.

The stadium could cost upwards of $40 million or more, plus operational costs. In addition to the stadium, the Indians likely would want a clubhouse and six practice fields, The News-Press of Fort Myers reported. The mayor would seek funds from the state and Lee County, possibly tapping into tourist development funds, to make it all happen.

A spring-training team would give the city an economic boost. The Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins, who both have spring training homes in Fort Myers for example, generate about $24 million for the local economy when they are here in February and March, according to a Florida Sports Association study.

Feichthaler told The News-Press there would be substantial fan support in the area to support an 8,000- to 9,000-seat stadium.

There could be side benefits to the public for such a deal. There is the potential to develop a multipurpose complex that the public could use, for instance.

The Indians haven't indicated whether they're interested in coming to Cape Coral.

Police Spokesman Turns Crime Analyst

The News Press reported Dec. 17 that the Cape Coral Police Department's media relations honcho is stepping down to become a crime analyst for the department.

Angelo Bitsis, 55, has held that post since about 1995. In his role, Bitsis was the department's spokesman, answering questions from the news media. He also hosted a cable television show, wrote newsletters and performed other public information types of tasks.

He's been in the public information field for 35 years. He was the media relations coordinator for the Miami Police Department, and a public information officer in the military for four years before that.

His new job entails compiling statistics and tracking crime trends in Cape Coral.

The newspaper reported that there are 13 qualified applicants for the job, according to city officials. The job pays between $34,700 and $52,300 a year.