Brevard County leaders are hoping a big step will help turn the Space Coast into the youth sports capital of the world.

On Thursday, a youth-oriented athletic organization is officially breaking ground on a multi-million dollar complex in Viera.

Up until last year, the spot was the spring training home for the Washington Nationals. However, the Nationals moved out and now kids are moving in.

The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) will be breaking ground on Thursday morning, where their logo now replaces the Nationals. The organization is an amateur sports league specializing in youth tournaments for softball, baseball, soccer and more.

It is the one of many big changes for this area. The sights and sounds of the old ball game have been replaced with construction that is already underway. For decades was the home to spring training and Major League Baseball.

“With the Washington Nationals relocating to Palm Beach County, we were facing a facility that may have been empty,” said Eric Garvey, Space Coast Office of Tourism Executive director.

But Garvey does not have to worry any more. Once construction is complete, the USSSA moves in.

The USSSA decided to move its headquarters from Kissimmee to Viera.

Garvey said the USSSA expects to bring more than half a million children, parents, spectators and coaches to the Space Coast next year.

“We think it could easily generate three new hotels right in that Viera area, just to support the room nights from this project,” he said.

The USSSA Brevard County pitched in to make more than 30 million dollars in improvements, both to the stadium and the more than a dozen fields.

A big investment, but worth it, according to Garvey, as the organization is expected to raise half a million tax dollars every year.

“All these folks are going to fill up the restaurants, they’re going to participate in the attractions like the Brevard Zoo, Kennedy Space Center, they’re also going to enjoy the beach,” he said.

The USSSA hopes to start playing games this summer.