The Astros and Nationals are "offering to pay at least" $56M toward the $140M cost of building a new Spring Training facility in West Palm Beach, but they are “seeking a larger-than-expected share of the county’s so-called ‘bed tax’ revenue,” according to a front-page piece by Joe Capozzi of the PALM BEACH POST. The teams will present their plan Thursday morning to the Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council. They are "offering to pay a combined annual rent" of $2.1M a year for 27 years, which would help “pay off construction bonds for the 160-acre facility.” The site would include the “main stadium; 12 practice field divided evenly between the two teams; and 11 soccer fields, which are being included to address a need by West Palm Beach residents.” The Astros and Nationals would maintain “all parts of the facility year-round, an expense the teams estimate will cost them at least" $3.3M per year. The county planned on getting $50M from the state and $3M annually “in revenue from a half cent” of the bed tax, the “same portion currently being allocated to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter,” where the Cardinals and Marlins hold Spring Training. However, the Astros and Nationals asked that they get an increase of 3.5% in the bed tax “each year over 30 years, based on an anticipated growth in tourism during that time.” County Administrator Bob Weisman said that if the deal is approved and added tourism revenue “doesn’t materialize, other tourist tax dollars would need to be drawn to make bond payments.” Capozzi reported the Astros and Nationals have offered “to provide advertising and marketing of Palm Beach County tourism at all their home games” during the MLB season. That is valued at roughly $500,000 "per team each year" (PALM BEACH POST, 9/6).
