Spring Training

Have been to AZ twice...not FL. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

In AZ, tickets depend on who is playing. Some teams draw incredibly well (Giants, Cubs are two) and you'd better get tickets in advance. I would assume Yankees and Red Sox would be similar. Maybe others?

Get there early. Players are more approachable than in regular season. Also, often the starters are out of the game by the 5th or 6th inning.

And oh yeah...bring sunscreen!

University of Tampa opens 2/1 if you want to catch a college game in town too! Backstop17 and I will likely be there.

Also...if you wanna see what minor league Spring Training is like...and I do recommend it, then take a walk to the back fields in the early afternoon. Often there are 1-2 games going on. Very quiet. You can walk right up to the backstop as in a HS game. Parents and girlfriends hanging around. Lots of nervous people. Lots of evaluation happening. This is where the sausage is made.

I have been told the Twins complex is very fan friendly allowing some access to players and is not too far south of Tampa. I am hoping to make it down for a game or two.

It's all good. I really like seeing the Tigers at Joker Marchant. Last year we decided last minute we wanted to go to one of the very last games-- which meant starting lineup was playing deeper. Seats were sold out except the outfield grass, which is good BTW, especially with a young son. Anyway, I checked Stub Hub and got really good seats very cheap because I waited until the last minute and they hadn't sold yet. We were right behind the dugout. I would check Stub Hub for deals in addition to the box office. We like to see the Braves as well in Orlando. Nothing is too far from Tampa-- although Lakeland is closer than Orlando. Phillies in Clearwater is good too, and pretty easy drive.

I love the Phillies, but Bright House and Steinbrenner Field feel the least like spring training to me (of the Tampa area parks). Those teams are so popular that the stadiums are packed and access to players is very restricted. I recommend the Pirates and the Astros (if you drive to Orlando) for the real spring training experience.

The nice thing about Tampa is that you are within 2 hours of 9 teams.

You might want to travel over to the Phillies complex in Clearwater. I think it’s one of the nicer spring training stadiums however make sure you have tickets first.

If you're up for a bit of a road trip I would also suggest going down to JetBlue Park (Redsox) in Ft. Meyers. Depending where you are in Tampa it’s probably going to be about a 1 ½ drive. It's a Fenway "replica" park and just opened last year. Another nice option that is close to Tampa is McKechnie Field (Pirates) in Bradenton (45min to hour drive). They are finishing up a major renovation that is due to be completed in time for Spring Training. You will probably find it easier to pick up good tickets for a Pirates game too.

As Justbaseball mentioned, try to get to a few of the minor league games. Many times you will find that you can go the minor league games in the morning/afternoon and then catch a major league game on the same day. I also like going to some of the split-squad major league games because you get a chance to see of the top minor league prospects (40 man rosters guys) playing in games with the big leaguers.

Have fun!

Another good facility is in Charlotte, Tampa Rays. They have great food! This was son's fav stadium while playing in the FSL.

Go to a ball game, then go fishing, then go to the beach, do stuff you and he wouldn't ordinarily do. To get to one point to another on the west side is easy but don't spend all of your time in the car.

smalltownmom makes a good point that towards the end of spring training is the best when the starters are more in the game than just a few innings as they are in the beginning, but do not go without tickets.

Justbaseball's advice to hit the backfields is awesome, this is where you will find the players of the future and they are eager to sign anything you ask them to (just not while in a game). However, I am not sure how much meaning it has for a 10 year old boy.


Have fun!!!!!

The Pirates facility in Bradenton is being completely re-done, to the tune of 7.2 mil.....will have a party deck behind center field...should look great and only 45 minutes from the tampa area

And it is a fun drive over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge!

Thank you all for input.

I noticed that on March 23, the Braves are scheduled to play at their home field in Lake Buena Vista against the Astros at the same time they are scheduled to play the Jays in Dunedin. Is it more like that the veterans / starters play at home and those lower on the totem pole go to Dunedin that day?

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Texas1836:
Thank you all for input.

I noticed that on March 23, the Braves are scheduled to play at their home field in Lake Buena Vista against the Astros at the same time they are scheduled to play the Jays in Dunedin. Is it more like that the veterans / starters play at home and those lower on the totem pole go to Dunedin that day?

Thanks.

They split squads, vets and 40 and milb fill ins on both squads. So you will not know who may be there at each site. However, by that time most of the starters are in the game longer than early march.

this was a few years ago so i'm not sure it still works. if you go to the will call window just after the game starts,they sometimes have tickets for sale. the players save tickets for games,if no one shows up they need sell them.
i have also found scalpers (older fellows that enjoy the game)have tickets for sale,in the parking lot. at a few bucks over ticket price it's a good value. who would think of that?

some time it's fun hunting tickets,just like summer at the big's. at fenway anyway.