Sox make good on public relations

The Boston Red Sox baseball team says prices for tickets to its upcoming spring-training season in Fort Myers won't increase this year.

Smart PR move.

It wouldn't look good to raise prices now, especially considering Lee County recently sold $81.5 million worth of taxpayer-backed bonds to build a new stadium for the team.

The team, owned by commodities hedge-fund billionaire John Henry, will have plenty of opportunities to raise prices when the new stadium near Interstate 75 and Daniels Parkway opens for the 2012 spring training season.

The team's 2011 Grapefruit League season starts on Feb. 27 against cross-town Fort Myers rivals Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium before hosting the Twins again at home at City of Palms Park the following day. Tickets go on sale Jan. 8.