VIDEO: Fisher On ‘All-In’ Strategy To Keep Nationals

By  //  August 24, 2013

Osceola County commission shuns nats

ABOVE VIDEO: Brevard County Commissioner Robin Fisher talks about his “All-In” conceptual plan to keep the Washington Nationals at Space Coast Stadium.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Osceola County commission’s ruling to can plans for a proposed $98 million spring training complex for the Washington Nationals has cracked the door for Brevard County to keep the team at Space Coast Stadium past 2017.

Last week, Brevard County Commissioner Robin Fisher presented Nationals executives with an "All-In" conceptual plan for Space Coast Stadium renovations that would consists of refinancing the stadium debt to fund upgrades. The deal would also include state funds earmarked for communities to keep teams from moving their spring training in Florida, to Arizona. (Brevard County image)
Last week, Brevard County Commissioner Robin Fisher presented Nationals executives with an “All-In” conceptual plan for Space Coast Stadium renovations that would consists of refinancing the stadium debt to fund upgrades. The deal would also include state funds earmarked for communities to keep teams from moving their spring training in Florida, to Arizona. (Brevard County image)

Last week, Brevard County Commissioner Robin Fisher presented Nationals executives with an “All-In” conceptual plan for Space Coast Stadium renovations that would consists of refinancing the stadium debt to fund upgrades. The deal would also include state funds earmarked for communities to keep teams from moving their spring training in Florida, to Arizona.

DETAILS OF THE DEAL INCLUDES:

• Brevard County would refinance the stadium for $13 million. It would pay that debt using $986,900 a year from a portion of the county’s five percent tax on hotel room rentals.

Space Coast Stadium was originally built in 1993 for the Florida Marlins. The Washington Nationals, previously known as the Montreal Expos, moved to Space Coast Stadium in time for the 2003 spring training season after the Florida Marlins moved to Roger Dean Stadium.
Space Coast Stadium was originally built in 1993 for the Florida Marlins. The Washington Nationals, previously known as the Montreal Expos, moved to Space Coast Stadium in time for the 2003 spring training season after the Florida Marlins moved to Roger Dean Stadium.

That would be the same stream of money the county used to finance the stadium’s construction in 1993. The county made the last payments on the construction bonds earlier this year.

• Brevard County would receive a $13 million match from a new Florida state incentive program designed to keep Major League Baseball spring training in Florida, rather than moving to Arizona. The money would come to Brevard County in 20 annual installments, beginning the first year of the new lease agreement.

• Brevard County would use $3 million already accumulated from a share of the room tax.

Brevard County needs to approve the plan, but the Nationals are still considering the deal, and county officials are scheduled to meet on Sept. 12 to further discuss the plan.

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SEE RELATED STORY: Nats Spring Training Site Still In Flux