If the Toronto Blue Jays are to keep training in the Tampa Bay area, it will take a strong effort by Pinellas County to provide upgraded facilities — and a few potential plans are emerging, even if the Jays don’t bite. The Toronto Blue Jays front office has been openly seeking a new spring-training home […]
Tag Archives | spring training
Florida approves $50 million in aid for new Astros, Blue Jays spring-training complex
The Florida Legislature approved $50 million in incentives for the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays to build a new spring-training complex in Palm Beach Gardens. The $36 million in new spending includes $3.3 million in payments for Florida cities and counties wishing to keep spring-training teams in Florida. The state had previously set up […]
Blue Jays officials: we’re looking for new spring home
We’ve mentioned this a few times, but Toronto Blue Jays officials are now saying on the record they’re on the hunt for a new spring-training home after their Dunedin lease expires in 2017. While staying in Dunedin is a possibility (though a long shot; the city may not have the land needed for a modern […]
Oakland, Mesa reach final agreement on HoHoKam Park move
It’s close to official: the city of Mesa and the Oakland A’s have reached agreement on a lease for HoHoKam Park beginning in 2015, subject to approval from the City Council on Monday. The deal calls for at least $20 million in renovations for the current spring home of the Chicago Cubs, slated to move […]
Populous awarded Twins spring-complex design project
The contract to design upgrades to Lee County Sports Complex and Hammond Stadium, spring home of the Minnesota Twins, has been awarded to Populous. The Lee County Board of Commissioners approved the deal with Populous to design the $42.5 million renovation. The ballpark also serves as home to the Fort Myers Miracle (High Class A; […]
Joker Marchant Stadium, Tiger Town set for dramatic overhaul
Joker Marchant Stadium and Tiger Town will undergo a series of dramatic improvements beginning in 2014, under a $50-million plan unveiled by the Detroit Tigers and the city of Lakeland. The complex is the spring-training home of the Tigers, while the ballpark hosts Tigers game as well as Lakeland Flying Tigers (High Class A; Florida […]
Now available: The Complete Guide to Spring Training 2013 / Florida
It’s already a best-seller on Amazon.com: Over the weekend we released our latest eBook, The Complete Guide to Spring Training 2013 / Florida, which covers the best of spring training in the Grapefruit League, complete with insider tips, ballpark guides and lists of events outside the ballparks. You can buy it on Amazon here. No, […]
New and old for 2013: Tradition Field
It’s back to the future for the New York Mets and the St. Lucie Mets (High Class A; Florida State League), as their Port St. Lucie facility will revert back to a familiar name: Tradition Field. Tradition Florida held naming rights to the ballpark from 2004-2009. After a naming-rights deal with Digital Domain fell through […]
New Orleans to commemorate Pelican Stadium
Pelican Stadium, the longtime home of professional baseball in New Orleans, will be honored with a commemorative plaque at a ceremony today. The ballpark, located at the southwest corner of Tulane and South Carrollton Avenue, is long gone, but memories of the Pelicans persist. From NOLA.com: The ballpark was used by the former minor league […]
The Week That Was: January 20
Future All-Star Games, new uniforms in Buffalo, innovative 2013 promotions and staff changes across the industry. The top stories of the past week on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Padres pitching for future All-Star Game Knights, Mallards announce front-office moves Prepping for spring training Bisons unveil new uniforms for 2013 Appreciating the Voices […]
First minor-league spring-training schedule posted
We’ve posted the first spring-training schedule for minor-league teams over at Spring Training Online, comprising the games for four teams affiliated with the San Francisco Giants. You can view the schedule information here. The four teams training at the Giants’ complex: Fresno Grizzlies (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League), San […]
Early setback in attempt to keep Nationals in Brevard County
It appears the attempt to keep the Washington Nationals in Brevard County will be a more difficult chore than some foresaw, as a county tourism committee voters to stop spending hotel-tax revenues on spring training. Instead, if the committee’s vote is upheld by the full County Commission, $750,000 annually will instead be spent on general […]
Prepping for spring training
Our day was spent on a vitally important task: putting the final touches on the many, many listings on our Spring Training Online site, so now you have the tools to begin planning your February and March travels. To be honest, its been hard to track all the schedule and reporting-date changes and additions to […]