This evening, I’m proud to share with you one of the most successful partnerships in major league baseball history. A sixty•nine year relationship, the second longest in spring training history, with one of the most illustrious franchises in the sport, the Philadelphia Phillies. That partnership has proven to be an economic grand slam for the city of Clearwater and Pinellas County, with an annual, economic impact of more than one hundred million dollars. Countless sports legends have walked across Clearwater’s baseball diamonds. First, in 1947 at the Clearwater Athletic Field, then Jack Russell Stadium in 1955, Carpenter Field in 1967, now known as the Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex, and in 2004, Bright House Networks Field, now named Bright House Field. It’s a community partnership that definitely works. When the Phillies wanted to bring some of their Minor League Teams to Clearwater, they provided the city with a no•interest, two hundred and fifty thousand dollar loan to build Carpenter Field and today the city and taxpayers continue to benefit through the Phillies leasing the city•owned Carpenter Complex for two hundred thousand dollars per year. The thirty million dollar Bright House Field became a reality through a Phillies, state, county and city partnership. The result? A year•round, economic engine that continues to serve our city and region well. The Clearwater Threshers have a local economic impact of more than ten million dollars and on April eighth they’ll welcome their two millionth fan through the turnstiles at Bright House Field. The Phillies employ more than eight hundred people in Clearwater during February and March and more than three hundred, April through September. Their Florida Operations alone annually account for more than twenty thousand hotel room nights. And it doesn’t stop there. Baseball in Clearwater is now a year•round attraction and the fans keep coming. Whether it’s to attend a Phillies Phantasy Camp, watch a Major or Minor League Spring Training Game, a Minor League Game, the ACC Baseball Championships, the Fall Instructional League or Men’s Senior Baseball, this sixty­nine year iconic partnership continues to be an economic, out of the ball park grand slam for everyone. .