Scott Says Nationals, Astros Staying In Florida
MIAMI (CBSMiami/NSF) -- Florida Governor Rick Scott said Washington Nationals and Houston Astros have "chosen to stay in Florida."
The teams are staying for baseball spring training.
A carefully worded release didn't mention the teams are working on a deal to exit sites in Central Florida for a new $135 million complex in West Palm Beach.
Scott's announcement came as he prepares to host officials from the 15 teams that train in Florida at the 2015 Governor's Baseball Dinner on Friday in West Palm Beach.
Last week, West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County approved a non-binding "term sheet" with the Nationals and Astros in which the county is expected to issue bonds to finance the complex, with the teams chipping in $2.5 million a year for 30 years.
The county and the teams, which envision opening the West Palm Beach stadium in 2017, will also request $2 million a year for 25 years from the state for additional construction funding. The Palm Beach County legislative delegation agreed last Friday to introduce a bill needed by West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County for the new two-team complex.
Designs for the complex require about 50 feet to be shaved off a 450-foot easement along a canal, which requires a special act from the state. The land would be used as grass parking. The Nationals currently train in Viera. The Astros make Kissimmee their annual spring training home.
(The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.)