Pro athletes cut real estate deals; comings and goings on Fifth Avenue

Some will often question the large interest and expense in communities wanting and hosting spring training baseball or minor league sports programs.

Whether you support the concept or not, the impact sometimes goes well beyond the economic dollars such ventures may, and sometimes may not, bring to a city or county.

A few of the northern residents who root for these clubs end up moving to these destinations as they become familiar with the community. And they spend money for homes, appliances, meals and more.

Hence, the pipeline here of Boston Red Sox fans who unfortunately tend to cheer for the New England Patriots, which seemingly may have replaced my largely hapless Miami Dolphins as the “local” team.

In addition, it puts a region on the radar of the athletes themselves who mostly learned of a town as a participant. Some of them have done better than others financially or through connections they develop playing during the spring or longer seasons.