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 […]
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With DC United deal, handwriting on wall for RFK Stadium
With a tentative deal in place for a new DC United stadium near Nationals Park, the future of historic RFK Stadium is muddled — at best. MLS’s DC United, of course, is the last remaining tenant of RFK Stadium. The proposed $300-million project calls for a new stadium near Nationals Park in the Buzzard Point […]
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 […]
Tourism Board approves new Nats spring ballpark
The Osceola County Tourism Board has signed off on a $98-million plan for a new Washington Nationals spring-training facility in Kissimmee, but the proposal is sure to face close scrutiny from the full county Board of Commissioners. The board has a budget: $88 million from the tourism board ($50 million on hand, $38 million to […]
New spring complex pitched for Osceola County
Two new teams could be training in the greater Orlando area by 2015, as Osceola County officials receive a pitch for a new $98-million spring-training complex. It’s no secret the Washington Nationals have been working with HKS on plans for a new complex; it’s also no secret the Nats want to be out of Viera’s […]
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 […]
Appreciating RFK Stadium
The venue is probably is not long for the world, but there’s still a devoted fanbase appreciating RFK Stadium, twice home to MLB in Washington, D.C., and a historically significant facility. Of course, what makes it historically significant — its status as the first cookie-cutter stadium, designed both for the NFL’s Washington Redskins and the […]
Nats petition to end Viera spring lease; Osceola County solicits bids for new facility
The potential move of Washington Nationals spring training to Kissimmee progressed on two fronts this week: the team basically gave notice on Space Coast Stadium and Osceola County issued an RFP for a new facility. It’s no secret the Nationals want out of Viera; the team’s lease to train at Space Coast Stadium and the […]
End of the line for Space Coast Stadium?
The inevitable departure of the Washington Nationals and the ballpark’s relatively isolated position could mean the end of Space Coast Stadium, as Brevard County officials struggle with the future of the facility. With the Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida State League) on the hunt for a new Orlando home, there’s the very real […]
Nats, Osceola County talking new spring-training facility?
With the Washington Nationals definitely leaving Viera for spring training, talk is that the team is negotiating with Osceola County for a new facility in Kissimmee. This is not new: we’ve reported in the past that the Nats have met with the county via an initiative from the Kissimmee Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to bring […]
Nationals in talks for new spring-training site; will leave Viera
The Washington Nationals will terminate their lease at Space Coast Stadium before the 2017 end date if a deal for a new ballpark elsewhere in Florida can close soon, according to Brevard County officials. Brevard County Commission Chairman Andy Anderson, who has been pushing a plan to keep the Nats training in Viera, confirms he’s […]
Florida spring-training spending could extend to Lakeland
With seven cities now eligible to apply for spring-training grants from the state, Lakeland has more inventive to move forward with a renovation of Tiger Town and Joker Marchant Stadium. Lakeland had already announced a $50-million makeover in conjunction with the Detroit Tigers, addressing both the seating bowl and berm at Joker Marchant Stadium as […]
Pinellas County: We want to keep Blue Jays for spring training
If the Toronto Blue Jays are to keep training in the Tampa Bay area, it will take a strong effort by Pinellas County to provide upgraded facilities — and a few potential plans are emerging, even if the Jays don’t bite. The Toronto Blue Jays front office has been openly seeking a new spring-training home […]