Despite a deeply contentious end of session, the Florida Legislature approved changes in zoning to allow construction of a new Washington Nationals/Houston Astros spring training complex in West Palm Beach. (more…)
Tag Archives | space coast stadium
New for 2015: Brevard County Space Explorers
The Kennedy Space Center will sponsor a space-themed promotion for the Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida State League) on May 7-9, with the team playing as the Brevard County Space Explorers at Space Coast Stadium. (more…)
New spring training plan expected from Astros, Nats in coming weeks
A new spring-training plan from the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals is expected in coming weeks, as the pair makes a run at a new site in West Palm Beach. We have the full details on our sister site, Spring Training Online. Basically, the pair are looking at the former site of a garbage […]
Manatees, Winter Park part ways on new-ballpark project
The Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida State League) will not be moving to Winter Park, as team ownership ended negotiations for a new ballpark at the Ravaudage development. The Manatees had pursued new-ballpark plans at Alfond Stadium — a plan killed when Rollins College withdrew its participation — and the Ravaudage development on […]
Astros, Nats renew efforts on Palm Beach County spring training complex
Well, that didn’t take long: Houston Astros owner Jim Crane and Washington Nationals general partner Art Fuccillo met this morning with Palm Beach County officials about financing a new spring-training complex. Crane has long targeted Palm Beach County as the site of a new Astros spring-training complex, first with the Toronto Blue Jays and now […]
Manatees close to Winter Park ballpark deal
The Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida State League) are close to a deal on a new ballpark at Winter Park’s Alfond Stadium site, with two hearings on the project set for today. Winter Park is a suburb of Orlando. The team, currently playing at Viera’s Space Coast Stadium (spring home of the Washington […]
FAA to Nationals: Drop the drone
Weird story out of spring training: the Washington Nationals were ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to stop using a drone camera to photograph practices at the team’s Viera complex. The Nationals were using a drone to take photos of practices, presumably for marketing. Now, in this case, when we’re talking drone, we’re not […]
Brevard County: We’ll spend $29M to keep spring training
Brevard County will reach out to every MLB team in an effort to keep spring training in Viera, as officials face the loss of both Space Coast Stadium tenants. The Washington Nationals have already informed Brevard County that the team will be leaving Space Coast Stadium, citing the driving distances required for both MLB and […]
Brevard County: We’ll make another run at keeping Nats
With the Washington Nationals stymied in an effort to procure a new Kissimmee spring-training complex, Brevard County officials could offer a $29 million renovation of the team’s current home, Space Coast Stadium. Of course, all the money in the world can’t move Viera closer to the majority of Grapefruit League teams; you’re still talking over […]
Lee County to pitch Nats again on City of Palms Park
Though there are no funds for renovations, Lee County will once again pitch the Washington Nationals on a move to City of Palms Park after Osceola County rejected a new Kissimmee spring-training complex. There’s nothing new in the Lee County/Fort Myers approach to luring the Nationals; with tourism funds devoted to the new Boston Red […]
Osceola rejects new Washington Nationals spring-training complex
Fierce opposition from the local tourism industry caused the Osceola County Board of Commissioners to reject a $98-million spring-training complex for the Washington Nationals. The proposal would have used tourism funds to build the complex near the current Osceola County Stadium, currently the spring home of the Houston Astros. The funding formula: $88 million from […]
Osceola County delays vote on new Nats spring facility
A final decision on a new Washington Nationals spring-training facility in Kissimmee has been delayed a month by Osceola County commissioners, as local business groups ask for time to review the agreement. The new facility would cost $98 million ($88 million from tourism taxes, $10 million from the state) and be located south of the […]
Nats call up beer vendor from the minors
Here’s the most unusual promotion from the minors this season: Beer vendor Vince Rainey has been called up from the High Class A Florida State League by the Washington Nationals. The 25-year-old Rainey has been a fixture at Jackie Robinson Ballpark for more than a decade, hawking his wares at Daytona Cubs games after first […]