Despite 24 games being canceled because of rain, the Grapefruit League set an all-time attendance record of 1,598,454. The number edged the previous record of 1,598,255, set in 2000 when 20 teams trained in Florida.

 

There are 18 teams in the Grapefruit League and none saw an attendance decrease from last season. Four teams set records: the Twins in Fort Myers, the Orioles in Fort Lauderdale, the Tigers in Lakeland and the Nationals in Viera.

 

NBC2 News

 

Still, the House and Senate spending plans are about $1 billion apart. The usually more conservative House spends more but borrows less than the Senate. The House budget is $63.1 billion. The Senate's is $62.1 billion. And more money's on the way. State economists are expected to tell lawmakers Monday that there's an extra $1 billion windfall.

 

''This is a pretty good budget year,'' Gov. Jeb Bush said. ``It's about to get better. Our economy's busting loose, and we're going to generate more.''

Miami Herald

That can only be good news.

 

We're not dead yet.

1 billion dollar surplus?!? Wow, thats enough to fund all the stadiums and sports things and have a half of a million remaining to put into all other programs. This can only be good.

They can be pennywise and poundfoolish sometimes.

what does that mean for us tho?

The state has the money and spring training has helped the state's economy.