SARASOTA - The seemingly never-ending story about the pursuit of baseball in Sarasota could be finally coming to a close ushering in a new era of spring training.

Sarasota County and the Baltimore Orioles have reached a tentative agreement for the team to begin training in Sarasota next spring and it will mean a much improved - and very different looking - Ed Smith Stadium.

The stadium as we know it now will only be around for one more spring if this tentative deal becomes final later this week.

At more than 20 years old the stadium looks dated when compared to some of its more modern contemporaries.  In drawings of what it could look like the  facility will have room for more fans - up to 9000.  Many of them will watch from the outfield where a party deck would go in.  Also planned are grass berms and picnic areas similar to what was done at Charlotte County's stadium.

"We hope it will be better.  But you will see a completely renovated stadium.  It will look a lot different than it does now; it will be state of the art modern and we hope it will be better than anyone's stadium" says deputy county administrator Dave Bullock.

The main entrance could also change dramatically with stairs leading up into the stadium right behind home plate.

The stadium would also likely have luxury suites club seating and a new and expanded clubhouse for the team.

The other changes will come at Twin Lakes Park -- the Orioles' minor league base.  That will also be the home of the Cal Ripken Baseball Academy which will bring youth baseball players and their families to the Suncoast for extended stays.  "There will be improvements made to Twin Lakes Park.  There will be an expanded clubhouse.  There is a small clubhouse there now and it will be renovated and expanded.  There will be improvements to the four fields that are there now and also a fifth field will come in there.  And also Twin Lakes Park will be the site of a Cal Ripken Youth Baseball Academy...so Twin Lakes is going to undergo some noticeable improvements and probably see some more activity."

The big day will be Wednesday.  So far City of Sarasota commissioners have voted 3-2 in favor of signing Ed Smith Stadium over to Sarasota County opening the door for a deal with the Orioles.  Now the county commission has to approve the agreement between the county and the Orioles.

An Orioles spokesman told ABC 7 today that the team will have no comment until after those votes.