Savannah baseball team looking at move to Panama City Beach

SAVANNAH - Savannah may lose its Class A minor-league baseball team to Panama City Beach, Florida, as early as the 2004 season unless progress is made toward building a new stadium. <br> <br> Savannah Sand Gnats managing partner Mike Kasino met with a group of businessmen last weekend to discuss moving the South Atlantic League franchise if Panama City Beach will build a new stadium. <br> <br> Joe Shearouse, director of leisure services for the city of Savannah, said he was unaware Kasino was meeting with Panama City Beach. <br> <br> Shearouse said a new stadium is possible by using funds from an upcoming special local option sales tax, but it would take six or seven years. <br> <br> If the Sand Gnats leave, it would end a 73-year relationship for Savannah with minor-league baseball that dates back to 1904. The last time Savannah was without a baseball team was from 1963-67 after the Savannah White Sox moved to Lynchburg, Virginia. <br> <br> Ted Clem, executive director of the Bay County, Florida, Economic Development Alliance, said Kasino would sign a 20-year lease if Panama City were to build him a five-thousand-seat stadium. <br> <br> The Sand Gnats have two years left on a three-year lease, but Shearouse said the team can get out of the lease after any season by giving the city notice of its intentions. <br> <br> If Savannah moves, it would be the fourth recent shuffle of A teams in Georgia. Wilmington, North Carolina., moved its the Waves to Albany at the beginning of this season. The Macon Braves are moving to Rome, and the Columbus RedStixx are moving to Eastlake, Ohio, at the end of this season.