BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard County's Space Coast Stadium is in a bit of a pickle. The facility used by the Washington Nationals baseball team for spring training is undergoing renovation, but the team is thinking about moving.
While fans bought tickets to watch the Nationals during spring training, workers inside the stadium scrambled to make repairs, in an effort to keep the team.
The Nationals have been in talks with at least two other Florida locations and said they could make a move by next spring in order to be closer to opposing teams.
"To have loyal fans you have to be loyal to your fans, so it's a two-way street there," said Nationals fan Jolene Damoski.
WFTV reported in the fall that Brevard County agreed to spend more than $300,000 for repairs to the stadium, now WFTV's Karla Ray has learned that those costs could go as high as $1.2 million.
"It's kind of a Florida thing. It's gone back a long time and we don't want to lose that team," said Brevard County Commission chairman Andy Anderson.
Anderson said he will fly to Washington Friday to negotiate with the Nationals.
He said he has already worked out a deal to provide flights for the team to play out of town opponents.
"How much are you willing to spend to get them?" Ray asked Anderson.
"Without them, not even with Major League Baseball, we have to fix that stadium," said Anderson. "That is a taxpayer asset."
"In addition to equipment and facility upgrades, Anderson said he wants to find a major sponsor for the stadium, to pull in more money.
He said a new study shows spring training pulls in tens of millions in tourism tax dollars. That, he said, is the same money that would be used to keep the team here.
"I don't have a number in mind, but I think there is an agreement that can be reached where all parties end up winning on both sides," said Anderson.
The Nationals play their first home game in Viera on Feb. 24 against the Marlins.
WFTV
