Space Coast Stadium
Encyclopedia
Space Coast Stadium is a baseball
stadium
that was completed prior to the 1994 season as part of a plan to bring spring training
for the (then new) Florida Marlins
to Viera, Florida
.
In 2002, as part of an agreement involving the sale of the Montreal Expos
by Jeffrey Loria
, the Marlins swapped training sites with the Expos, who had been training in Jupiter, Florida
. The Expos held two seasons of training at Space Coast in 2003 and 2004 before their reformation as the Washington Nationals
, who have conducted training there since their inaugural season in 2005.
It is also the home of the Brevard County Manatees
, a minor league baseball
franchise.
Occasionally, the Gulf Coast League
Nationals also play their home games in this park.
George W. Bush
held one of his final campaign rallies for the 2004 Presidential Election
.
In 2008, the Florida State League
All Star Game returned to Space Coast Stadium for the first time in 12 years, with the West Division prevailing over the East Division with a score of 9-3.
The Nationals have held spring training here since 2005. They have played from seven to fifteen games per season in the stadium. Game attendance has averaged from 3,433 in 2011, to 4,690 in 2010. The Nationals have contracted to make annual $765,000 stadium-construction bond payments through March 2013. Their lease to play in the stadium expires in December 2012.
Since 1997, the county has spent $7.8 million on capital improvements; $2.8 million in 2006-7.
The 33.4 acres (13.5 ha) stadium site was evaluated by the county at $26.5 million.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
that was completed prior to the 1994 season as part of a plan to bring spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
for the (then new) Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
to Viera, Florida
Viera, Florida
Viera is a master planned community located in the central coastal region of Brevard County, Florida. It is part of an unincorporated section adjacent to the Melbourne, Florida area.-Geography:...
.
In 2002, as part of an agreement involving the sale of the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
by Jeffrey Loria
Jeffrey Loria
Jeffrey H. Loria is an art dealer and is the owner of the Miami Marlins. Raised in Manhattan, Loria took an early interest in baseball, attending his first New York Yankees game in the late 1940s. Loria attended New York City's Stuyvesant High School and Yale University, where he initially took...
, the Marlins swapped training sites with the Expos, who had been training in Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter is a town located in Palm Beach County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 39,328. The estimate population for 2009 is 50,606. As of 2006, the population had grown to 50,028, according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research....
. The Expos held two seasons of training at Space Coast in 2003 and 2004 before their reformation as the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, who have conducted training there since their inaugural season in 2005.
It is also the home of the Brevard County Manatees
Brevard County Manatees
The Brevard County Manatees are a minor league baseball team of the Florida State League, and are the A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers...
, a minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
franchise.
Occasionally, the Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
Nationals also play their home games in this park.
History
On Saturday October 23, 2004, PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
held one of his final campaign rallies for the 2004 Presidential Election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
.
In 2008, the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
All Star Game returned to Space Coast Stadium for the first time in 12 years, with the West Division prevailing over the East Division with a score of 9-3.
The Nationals have held spring training here since 2005. They have played from seven to fifteen games per season in the stadium. Game attendance has averaged from 3,433 in 2011, to 4,690 in 2010. The Nationals have contracted to make annual $765,000 stadium-construction bond payments through March 2013. Their lease to play in the stadium expires in December 2012.
Since 1997, the county has spent $7.8 million on capital improvements; $2.8 million in 2006-7.
The 33.4 acres (13.5 ha) stadium site was evaluated by the county at $26.5 million.