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Last Updated: Thursday, February 13, 2014, 8:05 AM
Pitchers and catchers for the Washington Nationals report for training in Brevard County today. Many are wondering if this be the last year of spring training on the Space Coast.
The Nationals have made it very clear that they want to leave Space Coast Stadium in Viera and find a new location for spring training but so far they have been striking out.
Osceola County and now the city of Fort Myers have both told the ball club they don’t have the money to bring the Nationals to their areas.
Brevard County commissioners said it would be a big economic blow if the Nationals do decide to leave Viera, some $20 million a year.
Last year, Osceola County decided not to build a new $98 million stadium for the Nats in Kissimmee and late last month, the city of Fort Myers said it didn’t have the cash the team wanted to refurbish a stadium there.
Brevard County recently hosted another ball club hoping to lure them to the Space Coast.
“We’ve actually had a team come visit. Can’t say who, but we have. So that’s good, that was exciting because one of the things they said, is ‘you’ve got a pretty nice facility, I’m surprised they want to leave,” said Brevard County Commissioner Robin Fisher.
But the Nationals continue to say they’re looking to leave, citing Viera’s distance from other teams during Spring Training.
Will the Nats leave after this season? Probably not. One source inside the Nationals tells New 13 they probably will make it through their contract with the county which expires in 2017.
Published at Thu, 13 Feb 2014 12:26:00 +0000
