Our noses have been buried in our next three book projects; hence the lack of postings. Here’s some updates from the last month, beginning with the sad news that Winter Haven’s Chain of Lakes Park, former spring-training home of the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians, has been torn down–but baseball will still be played […]
A renovation plan for Lakeland’s Tiger Town spring-training complex has been scaled back, as city and county officials work to put together a funding plan. The original price tag for renovations to the spring home of the Detroit Tigers, which includes Joker Marchant Stadium, was $50 million, but that number has been trimmed down to […]
The Washington Nationals are clearly on the prowl for a new spring-training home, as it becomes more and more apparent that Brevard County isn’t going to do a lot to keep the team at Space Coast Stadium. We’ve documented meetings with Nats officials and reps from various municipalities — Osceola County, Fort Myers, Winter Haven, […]
Though it’s unlikely spring training will ever return to Winter Haven in central Florida, the city can look back on a several MLB teams training in the city. Here’s a look at the history of spring training in Winter Haven. The News Chief laid out the history of spring baseball in Winter Haven, which began […]
It’s not exactly been a secret in baseball circles — indeed, we’ve written about it more than once, based on inside sources — but over the weekend the Washington Nationals went public with their desire for a new spring-training facility. Nationals owner Mark Lerner confirmed to the Washington Post that the team was indeed looking […]
The Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros are discussing a new joint spring-training complex with Osceola County officials, as a site near DisneyWorld is under consideration. The complex, we’re told, would be south of DisneyWord and in the very northwestern corner of Osceola County, an area served by I-4 and Florida Toll 429. Both teams […]
Chain of Lakes Park, the former spring home of the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians, would be redeveloped as a lakeside village with retail and restaurants under a plan submitted to Winter Haven officials, with work beginning in a month. The Landings, proposed by Orlando developer Tony Benge, would take the former spring-training site […]
This will be the last spring the Boston Red Sox are training at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers. It’s not been an especially distinguished run in terms of ballpark architecture and amenities, as City of Palms Park and a nearby training complex were cramped, outdated facilities. Here’s a look at City of Palms […]
