Sarasota spring training stadium to get $6.57M HVAC overhaul

By the time spring training 2027 rolls around, Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota will have new heating and air conditioning systems. 

At its May 5 meeting, the Sarasota County Commission authorized via consent agenda approval for replacement of a portion of the HVAC system for a total cost not to exceed $6.57 million. 

The contract will be extended to Tandem Construction of Sarasota. The spring training home of the Baltimore Orioles, Ed Smith Stadium is owned by Sarasota County. The county also owns Cool Today Stadium in North Port, the spring training facility of the Atlanta Braves.

In 2018, a facility-condition assessment of Ed Smith Stadium identified HVAC systems as approaching the end of their usefulness, recommending replacement during the 2026-27 timeframe. As early as 2023, according to county documents, portions of the system began to fail and could not be repaired because replacement parts were obsolete. To maintain operations without disruption to activities, temporary cooling equipment was installed. 

The scope of work includes selective demolition, removal and replacement of existing HVAC systems, associated electrical work and interior renovations including any ceiling replacement necessary to complete the installation. 

To minimize impacts to spring training operations, the project was phased to first complete the clubhouse HVAC equipment, followed by system replacement for the remainder of the stadium. The clubhouse phase was authorized by the commissioners in March 2025 and completed prior to the 2026 spring training season.

Work on the HVAC replacement is expected to take 10 months. The project is funded by the sports stadium allocation of Sarasota County tourism development tax revenues, a 6% levy on guests staying in hotel rooms and vacation rentals.

Tourist development tax revenues are used to fund the promotional activities of Visit Sarasota County, beach maintenance and renourishment, county parks, the arts, county-owned sports facilities and the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center at Nathan Benderson Park.