JetBlue Park Being Used As Safe Haven During Hurricane Irma For Both Boston Red Sox Personal And The City Of Fort Myers
The Boston Red Sox have a major facility down in Fort Myers Florida called JetBlue Park. The team uses the facility for Spring training but it serves the team all year round with rehabbing players spending time their along with extended spring training players.
But the facility will be put under an immense test this weekend with Hurricane Irma coming right for Florida.
According to the Boston Red Sox the facility will be used as a command center for the City of Fort Myers as well as a safe haven for family members of Red Sox players and personnel who work out of the facility. The team had made arrangements to get their own players out of Florida and back up to Boston. But those left behind and their families who live in the area will use the structure for shelter.
Many of the Red Sox players have their offseason homes down in that area of the country so they can use the facilities during the offseason. So it was important for the Red Sox to get anyone unable to evacuate into the facility to keep them safe during the storm.
“What’s going to take place down there, you know, we’ve got a lot of guys that either make offseason homes down there or guys that even at this point have families that are unable to evacuate that are actually going to go over to JetBlue and stay there,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell. “This is a serious situation, and I think in these times that are challenging, the goodness of people start to really come through.”
It is believed the clubhouses will be serving as the primary housing for those seeking shelter, with many of the offices being outlined by windows.
Hitting Coach Victor Rodriguez, catcher Sandy Leon, and bullpen catcher Mani Martinez are among the Red Sox staff that still have family in South Florida. Others who live down there like Chris Sale and Hanley Ramirez have already flown their families up to Boston.
What the Red Sox are most concerened about is people and not the property.
“Property, that’s something that can be repaired, whatever happens to it,” Farrell said. “There’s concern. There’s attention to be paid. Hanley for one, in South Florida, has gotten his family up here. You try to make sure you understand what they’re going through. There’s obviously some kind of compassion that’s got to be given in these situations and hopefully all are going to be available to avoid something severe.”
The Boston Red Sox are doing more than just providing shelter though. Since they operate a full time facility in Florida they have decided to partner up with the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Rays to raise funds for hurricane reliefs.
Here is the information that the Boston Bruins sent out in the press release:
The Boston Bruins announced today that they will team up with the Boston Red Sox, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Rays tomorrow, September 10, to raise funds for Hurricane Irma relief efforts.
Noel Acciari, Kenny Agostino, Patrice Bergeron, Brandon Carlo, Torey Krug, Adam McQuaid, Kevan Miller, Paul Postma,Ryan Spooner and others will join members of the Red Sox, Panthers and Rays at the gates of Fenway Park to collect donations before and during the Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox game slated for 1:35 p.m.
All donations will go to support the Red Cross to assist the region of South Florida. The Boston Bruins Foundation will match the total funds raised at the gates.
Across town the Boston Bruins have taken in the Florida Panthers who evacuated their entire team and families up to Boston to avoid the storm.
With the storm bearing down on Florida it is important to keep everyone down there in your thoughts until the storm passes.
