The needs of a MLB team in spring training are considerably more intense than those of a Class A team — which is why the designers of a new complex for the Boston Red Sox in Lee County probably won’t look to Fluor Field, the home of the Greenville Drive (Low Class A; Sally League), for inspiration.
The needs of a MLB team in spring training are considerably more intense than those of a Class A team — which is why the designers of a new complex for the Boston Red Sox in Lee County probably won’t look to Fluor Field, the home of the Greenville Drive (Low Class A; Sally League), for inspiration.
Some in Lee County are suggesting Fluor Field be a template because it features the same dimensions as Fenway Park, as well as a mini-Green Monster. And while Fluor Field is one of the most charming ballparks in the minors, there’s really not a lot that can be transferred to a spring-training facility, which has its own specific set of needs, like larger dugouts and clubhouses.
Still, there are a few things that could be gleaned from Fluor Field: the sense of community and the sense of place. Fluor Field was privately financed by the owners of the Drive, and that pride of ownership can be felt throughout the ballpark. Also, Fluor Field is totally one with its environment: it looks as through it’s been in the West End forever, in harmony with the surrounding buildings. We’re more than a little dubious about a brick-clad mini-Fenway being one with the surrounding swampland of south Florida, so giving a new complex a sense of place will be a challenge.
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