SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — With the disruption to the spring training schedule and the delay of Major League Baseball's opening day because of failed negotiations between team owners and players, Florida can expect a significant economic impact because of the missed games.
Every March, spring training is a tourism draw for Florida, which welcomes 15 MLB teams as they prepare for the upcoming season. Spring training is a longtime tradition in the state, going back more than 100 years, according to the Florida Sports Foundation. In 2019 alone, more than 1.5 million baseball fans attended spring training facilities, and $687.