ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Monday is the first day of full-roster training for the spring training season, and in Florida, baseball means business.
Fans from all over the country come to the city to see their teams play.
“This is probably my best month of the year. March is my best month of the year financially,” said Loraine Bronson, waitress at Lenny’s Diner.
Eight different teams play Spring Ball in the Tampa Bay area and keep the tourist dollars rolling.
“They are [tourists] You go to the local restaurants, you shop at the little shops that are downtown or wherever. bars and everything [else] affected by spring training,” said Jennifer Grondahl, senior vice president of community development for the Baltimore Orioles.
Spring training alone brings the state $679.8 million a year, along with $62 million in tax revenue, according to a new study by the Florida Sports Foundation. This bodes well for the future of America’s pastime.
“That’s really encouraging for the rest of the year. All of this support, all of these people enjoying and loving the game of baseball. It seems like the fans are getting younger,” said Brandon Lowe, second baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays.
And it’s not just about dollars and cents, the annual tradition also creates around 4,300 jobs in the country.
The Rays begin full practice Monday and the rest of the Grapefruit League begins Monday or Tuesday.
Click here for the Rays’ full spring training schedule.
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