One of the more anticipated events of spring training is around the corner, as the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches is being prepped for its February 28 debut.
A game on Tuesday between the facility’s two tenants–the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals–will mark the first spring training match at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The only brand new facility that is opening this spring, the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches has received some hype for its design plans, something that was noted in our preview of the complex last March.
A ceremonial groundbreaking for the project was held in November 2015, and crews have worked since to make sure that the ballpark is ready for spring training of this year. The planning of the facility continued over the weekend, as officials put some finishing touches into place for the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches’ debut. More from the Palm Beach Post:
City inspectors agreed to work side by side with construction crews over the weekend, signing off on odds and ends inside the 6,500-seat main stadium and making sure it’s ready Tuesday when the first beers are poured and toilets flushed.
“Our focus now is the second-level concourse where fans will be watching the game and getting that complete. But most of the heavy stuff is done,” [West Palm Beach development service director Rick] Greene said.
By Monday, the city should be able to issue a temporary certificate of occupancy, which will allow the stadium to open to the public.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they took another month or two after spring training to get the final CO,” he said.
Greene said Hunt Construction, Straticon Construction and their subcontractors have done a remarkable job finishing in roughly 15 months a $150 million project that normally would take two years.
Tuesday will mark a major milestone for the complex, which is sure to receive attention throughout the spring. Our 2017 swing through the Grapefruit League–which has already included visits to Lakeland’s Joker Marchant Stadium and Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field–will soon feature a stop at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.