The United Soccer League has decided against a Fort Myers development plan that includes a conversion of City of Palms Park to a soccer pitch, putting the future of the former Boston Red Sox spring home in doubt once again. (more…)
Tag Archives | lee county
Fort Myers takes over City of Palms Park. Now what?
Fort Myers now owns City of Palms Park, the former Boston Red Sox spring-training ballpark once slated for demolition. The big question: what does the city do with it? (more…)
Twins to Extend Protective Netting at Hammond Stadium
Prior to spring training 2018, protective netting within Hammond Stadium at the CenturyLink Sports Complex will be extended, according to an announcement from the Minnesota Twins and Lee County. (more…)
City of Palms Park to Receive Upgraded Lighting
Lee County officials have approved a field lighting upgrade at City of Palms Park, the former spring training facility that is now used for Florida SouthWestern State College athletics. (more…)
2015 Best Major Ballpark Renovation: CenturyLink Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium
It was a two-year project, an extreme makeover designed to keep spring-training, regular-season and developmental operations running while the CenturyLink Sports Complex and Hammond Stadium were renovated and expanded — a project that earned Ballpark Digest’s Best Major Ballpark Renovation of 2015. (more…)
Could Palm Beach land new Braves spring training facility? Probably not
Unless there are some unexpectedly large pots of money sitting around, it doesn’t look like there’s any public money available in Palm Beach County for a new Braves spring training facility. (more…)
Braves launch search for new spring site
We hinted at this a few weeks ago, and now the details are emerging: the Atlanta Braves are indeed ready to say goodbye to Disney World and Champion Stadium for spring training, as the team has made preliminary contact with several Florida counties about a move. (more…)
City of Palms Park has new tenant: Edison State College
In a move that will keep the ballpark open for at least a decade but likely precludes a return of spring training, Edison State College is bringing back baseball and playing at Fort Myers’ City of Palms Park. Edison State College officials decided a year ago to bring back baseball, and the entire school is […]
Fort Myers mayor: We have little chance of landing Nats
With a proposed redevelopment of the City of Palms Park area almost dead, Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson says there is little chance a $36.6 million renovation plan will succeed, giving the city no shot to land the Washington Nationals for spring training. We have more of the details at our sister site, Spring Training […]
Lee County to pitch Nats again on City of Palms Park
Though there are no funds for renovations, Lee County will once again pitch the Washington Nationals on a move to City of Palms Park after Osceola County rejected a new Kissimmee spring-training complex. There’s nothing new in the Lee County/Fort Myers approach to luring the Nationals; with tourism funds devoted to the new Boston Red […]
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 […]
Lee County commissioner: Nats unlikely to move to Fort Myers
Efforts to bring the Washington Nationals to Fort Myers will likely end in failure, says a Lee County commissioner, because the county has no money to fix up City of Palms Park. County officials have been wooing the Nationals for several months, a time that includes an exclusive negotiating period for the two sides. The […]
Funding for Twins spring-training renovations approved
After months of negotiations, Lee County agreed to a $42.5-million renovation of the Minnesota Twins’ spring-training complex that calls for new fan amenities at Hammond Stadium and upgraded training facilities for players. The complex hasn’t seen major changes since 1991, when the Twins moved in after spending most of the team’s history training in Orlando. […]