Fire Frogs to Play in North Port

The Florida Fire Frogs (Single-A, Florida State League) finally have a (temporary) home.  Minor League Baseball has approved the Fire Frogs to play at the Atlanta Braves’ new North Port facility for the 2020 season.  The decision gives some finality to a question that hung over the team all offseason.  Read more here.

Mets Spring Training Home to be Named Clover Park

PRESS RELEASE – The spring training home of the New York Mets and regular-season home of the St. Lucie Mets, New York’s Advanced-A minor league affiliate, will have a new name next season. The venue, formerly known as First Data Field, will be called Clover Park beginning in February 2020. This change follows the 2019 acquisition of First Data by Fiserv, a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology.

World Series Opponents on the Field, Teammates in Legal Fight Over Spring Training Ballpark

The Houston Astros and Washington Nationals are preparing to face off in Major League Baseball’s first World Series between teams that share the same spring training complex — the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach (FL).  Off the field, the fall classic opponents are reluctant teammates in a protracted legal fight with the contractors who built their $153 million spring home.  More than three years after the complex opened, at least three companies say they’re still owed millions of dollars.  Read more here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: CoolToday Park (North Port, FL)

Joe Mock of  BaseballParks.com recently visited CoolToday Park, the new spring-training home for the Atlanta Braves in North Port (FL).  Mock’s in-depth review checks in at 6,000 words and 26 photographs covering everything from the ballpark design to fan amenities and concessions.  Read review and view photos here.

Here's what I think about the @Braves' new spring training facilities. My brand-new review of @CoolTodayPark features 26 photos you won't see anywhere else! @pendulum_kc https://t.co/ZxRId1nLQz pic.twitter.com/nlzn66uPR7

— Joe Mock (@baseballparks) April 1, 2019

$50.6 Million in Renovations on Tap for Scottsdale Stadium

Shortly after spring training ends, Scottsdale will begin renovations on its ballpark after years of discussion about updating the aging stadium in Old Town.  Scottsdale Stadium is the spring home for the San Francisco Giants.  The first phase of renovations are estimated to cost $50.6 million.  Read more here.

Braves’ Era at Champion Stadium Ends Next Saturday

Since 1998, the Atlanta Braves have spent their spring training days at Disney World’s Champion Stadium.  This era will come to and end next Saturday, when the Braves will play their final game at the ballpark.  In 2020, the Braves will move their spring operations to North Port (FL).  Read more here.

$57 Million Makeover Approved for Mets Spring Training Home

New York Mets spring training will remain in St. Lucie County (FL) for the next 25 years after the County Commission Tuesday approved a $57 million renovation of First Data Field.  Read more here.

Spring Training – Cactus League Tips

Spring training is about to start once again. Thousands of fans of all ages will flock to metro Phoenix baseball stadiums to get their baseball fix — along with a nice dose of gorgeous weather.  Read more here.

Midtown Plan Puts City of Palms Park at Risk

City of Palms Park in Fort Myers (FL), the former spring-training home for the Boston Red Sox, is at risk of being demolished, if the city’s Midtown plan — a “mixed-use town center” — is finalized.  The plan envisions the neighborhood as a shared-use living space comprised of affordable and workforce housing, along with commercial space and open communal green space.  Read more and watch video here.

Improvements Coming to Scottsdale Stadium

Looking to expand its offerings to residents and visitors alike, Scottsdale Stadium, the spring-training home of the San Francisco Giants, is embarking upon improvements to its iconic landmark facility in Old Town.  Read more and view project renderings here.

It’s ‘CoolToday Park’

The new spring training home of the Atlanta Braves has its name: CoolToday Park. On Tuesday, the Atlanta Braves announced a partnership with CoolToday for the naming rights of the facility, slated to host its first game on Sunday, March 24, with the Braves taking on the Tampa Bay Rays.  Read more here.

Officials Hold ‘Topping Out’ Ceremony for Brewers Spring-Training Facility

The Milwaukee Brewers spring training stadium is getting a makeover.  Construction on the new ballpark took a huge step forward yesterday, as the Milwaukee Brewers, along with representatives from the City of Phoenix, Mortenson and HKS, held a “Topping Out” ceremony in honor of placing the final beam at the Maryvale Baseball Park.  Read more here.  Watch news report here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Atlanta Braves’ New Spring-Training Complex (North Port, FL)

Joe Mock of BaseballParks.com has just released a 21-photo essay from his exclusive tour of the Atlanta Braves’ new spring-training complex currently under construction in North Port (FL).  Read more and view photos.

Homestead May Demolish ‘Pink Elephant’

The city of Homestead (FL) may demolish its deteriorating baseball stadium, built nearly 30 years ago to serve as a spring training site for the Cleveland Indians before it was decimated by Hurricane Andrew and left abandoned by MLB even after it was rebuilt.  Read more here.

County Commits $41.7 Million for Blue Jays Spring-Training Facilities

The Pinellas County Commission pulled the final trigger Tuesday on dedicating $41.7 million in bed taxes for upgrades to the Toronto Blue Jays’ stadium and spring training facilities, a pledge that amounts to covering more than half of the project.  Read more here.

Giants to Move Year-Round Training to Papago Park

In an effort to keep the San Francisco Giants training in the Valley, Scottsdale and Phoenix have hatched a plan to move the baseball team’s year-round training program to Papago Park.  The Giants will continue hosting home Spring Training games at Scottsdale Stadium, which is expected to undergo a $60-million makeover in the coming years.  Read more here.

Brewers Break Ground on Maryvale Ballpark Renovations, Pay Tribute to The Sandlot

The Milwaukee Brewers broke ground Tuesday on the Maryvale Baseball Park project in Phoenix (AZ).  Read more and view renderings here.  Meanwhile, the team celebrated the 25th anniversary of The Sandlot movie with the two-minute video below:

ICYMI: You’re (still) killing me, Smalls. pic.twitter.com/257xYFkwdN

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) March 20, 2018

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Holman Stadium Celebrates 65 Years

On March 11, 1953, Brooklyn Dodgers President Walter O’Malley stood at home plate to open the newly constructed, 5,000-seat stadium at Dodgertown, named for local businessman and Airport Director Bud Holman.  Read more here.

Mock Takes In-Depth Look at #1 Ed Smith Stadium

In compiling information to draft articles for the USA TODAY Spring Training Preview, Joe Mock of BaseballParks.com partnered with data-mining firm ReviewTrackers to look at all 23 spring-training ballparks.  Surprisingly, Ed Smith Stadium, the spring-training home of the Baltimore Orioles, came in at #1 for overall fan experience.  Intrigued to dig deeper, Mock talked with baseball architect Janet Marie Smith, Orioles’ Executive VP John Angelos, Manager Buck Showalter, pitcher/broadcaster Jim Palmer, and designer David Schwartz.  The complete rundown and interviews/quotes are available here.

New Food Items in the Cactus League

If you are planning to experience spring training in Arizona and love tasting new food items, azcentral.com has provided their foodie guide for the 2018 season, so you know what’s new and delicious at all 10 Cactus League stadiums.  Read more and view photos here.

Brewers Announce Spring Training Facility Overhaul

The Milwaukee Brewers will contribute $56-$60 million to an overhaul of the Maryvale Baseball Park complex in time for 2019 Spring Training.  A doubling of clubhouse space, new workout amenities including a massive weight room and a practice field that mimics the dimensions of Miller Park, and significant improvements to the main stadium concourse are planned.  Read more and watch video here.  View more renderings here.

It’s ‘Fitteam’ for Ballpark of the Palm Beaches

Fitteam, an event brand partnership and organic products firm, has secured the naming rights to the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, the spring training home of the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros.  Read more here.

Work Continues on Ballpark of the Palm Beaches

More than a year after the teams’ $152 million shared facility opened, construction still isn’t finished. And it might be June before the city issues a final certificate of occupancy, which will mark the end of a rocky construction process that has faced numerous challenges since work started in November 2015.  Read more here.

Braves CFO to Oversee New Spring Training Facility

Days after the Atlanta Braves announced a delay in the completion of their new spring training facility in Sarasota (FL), the club has shifted their chief financial officer to a new position with oversight of that facility.  Read more here.

MLB.com Releases Grapefruit League Guide

MLB.com has posted a guide to the Grapefruit League ballparks.  If you have never been to spring training, we highly recommend a trip to Florida and/or Arizona, particularly if you are suffering in the winter months up north.  The weather is usually perfect, the beer is cold, and the laid back atmosphere will give you that relaxing baseball peace of mind.  Read more here.

Miami Stadium (aka Bobby Maduro Stadium) Gets Historical Marker

For thousands of kids who grew up in Miami (FL), going to the old Miami Stadium in the Allapattah neighborhood was a part of coming of age.  Read more here.  See GoFundMe page here.

New City Park Finally Taking Shape at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches

A new 12-acre park at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches called Lincoln Park — a tribute to the Negro Leagues field in the north end of the city — is expected to open during spring training.  Read more and view photos here.

Brewers Poised to Stay Put in Renovated Spring Training Facility

After exploring Spring Training sites elsewhere, the Brewers are poised to stay put at Maryvale Baseball Park for another quarter century.  On deck is a significant overhaul of the 20-year-old complex.  The Brewers will reportedly foot the $41-$64 million cost for the project.  Read more here and here.

Updating Scottsdale Stadium

The Scottsdale (AZ City Council this week voted to allow up to $900,000 from the stadium facilities capital improvement fund to reconstruct portions of Scottsdale Stadium, including Reconstruction of the stadium’s outfield parking lot, expansion of the east practice fields, modifications to the existing half-diamond and bullpen, and the addition of an agility field with a half-diamond.  City officials say the Sept. 12 changes approved is the first step in the ongoing master plan process under way at City Hall.  Read more here.

Pima County Pitches Kino to Brewers

Pima County (AZ) officials sent a 17-page package to the Milwaukee Brewers last week, trying to sell Kino Sports Complex and Kino Stadium as the new spring training home for the team.  Read more here.

Miami Stadium Site to Receive Historical Marker

As Miami prepares to host the upcoming 2017 MLB All-Star Game at Marlins Park — the city’s first time hosting the annual celebration of baseball — it is fitting news that fabled and demolished Miami Stadium (AKA Bobby Maduro Stadium) will finally receive a historical marker where it once stood.  Read more here.  Click here to see the sweet throwback unis worn by the MLB Marlins in 2013.

Salt River Fields Sets Spring Training Attendance Records

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick — the spring-training home of the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks — has set attendance records for this year’s Cactus League games.  Read more here.

Mock Reviews Joker Marchant Stadium and Steinbrenner Field Renovations

Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com takes a look at the “sweeping renovations” at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland (FL) and George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa (FL) that were completed in preparation for the 2017 spring-training season.  Read more and view photos here.

Revolutionary Salt River Fields

Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com takes look at Salt River Fields — the impressive baseball complex near Scottsdale (AZ) that revolutionized MLB spring training.  An edited version of Mock’s article appeared in the USA TODAY Spring Training Preview on Feb. 22, 2017.  Read more and view photos here.

The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches Makes Debut

A ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, the owners of both teams and other local and county officials highlighted opening festivities for The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.  Read more and view photos and news report here.

With Late-Inning Construction Push, Ballpark to Open Tuesday

The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches will be ready to play ball for the first time on Tuesday but only because of a late-inning rally by construction crews and city inspectors inside the main stadium.  Read more and view photo here.

Astros, Nats New Spring Training Facility to Open Feb. 18

The first day the general public will be allowed on The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches complex is Feb. 18, the same day the Houston Astros hold their first full-squad workouts with pitchers, catchers and position players.  The Washington Nationals hold their first full-squad workouts on Feb. 19.  Read more and view complex aerial photo here.

Giant Astros Logo Statue Installed Outside New Spring Training Clubhouse

It’ll be easy to spot the new spring training home of the Houston Astros in West Palm Beach (FL) — just look for the team’s giant 30-feet high star logo outside their clubhouse at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.  In the coming days, a giant Washington Nationals curly “W” will installed outside their clubhouse.   Read more and watch installation here.

Spring Training, Okinawa Style

Compared to that of Major League Baseball, spring training in Japan comes a bit earlier and with a lot of hype on Okinawa.  Last week, all 12 Nippon Professional Baseball Organization (NPB) teams began spring training, with all players reporting to the teams.  Read more here.

Nats Moving in to New Spring Training Home

The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches is one step closer to being ready to host the Washington Nationals for spring training.  Even though construction is still underway for parts of the facility, two trucks loaded with thousands of pieces of equipment arrived Thursday morning.  Read more and watch news report here.