As the month of February comes to a close, so does the hiatus of Major League Baseball. Spring Training has arrived, which means baseball fans are flocking to the Sunshine State. The Greater Tampa Bay area is home to eight different ballparks and training facilities of MLB teams, making GTB the ideal place for both visiting fans as well as locals to take in some long-awaited baseball. May the hotdogs be hot, the cold-ones cold, and the fastballs fast.
Here is a list of all the MLB Spring Training ballparks GTB has to offer.
George M. Steinbrenner Field
1 Steinbrenner Drive, Tampa, FL
The New York Yankees have called Tampa their spring home since 1996. George M. Steinbrenner Field –formerly known as Legends Field– was inspired by the design of Yankee Stadium and is the largest ballpark in the Grapefruit League with just over 11,000 seats. The stadium is home to the team’s AA affiliate, the Tampa Tarpons, formerly known as the Tampa Yankees until 1998.
BayCare Ballpark
601 Old Coachman Road, Clearwater, FL
The Philadelphia Phillies have played their spring ball in Clearwater for nearly 20 years. Built in 2004, BayCare Ballpark –formerly Bright House Networks Field, Bright House Field, and most recently Spectrum Field from 2017-2020– is home to the Clearwater Threshers of the Low-A Southeast League.
Fans are welcome to bring blankets into the ballpark, but beware: NO chairs of any kind are allowed inside the gates.
TD Ballpark
373 Douglas Avenue, Dunedin, FL
Home to the Toronto Blue Jays since the spring of 1976; Dunedin is home to the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Class A Florida State League. Originally the site of Grant Field built all the way back in 1930, TD Ballpark has hosted the Blue Jays since 1990.
Just a 30-minute drive from Tampa International Airport, Dunedin is an excellent town for tourists and spring breakers to catch a game.
Joker Marchant Stadium
2301 Lakeland Hills Blvd, Lakeland, FL
Home to the Detroit Tigers and their Single-A affiliate Lakeland Flying Tigers since 1958, Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland has been a popular fan-destination for decades.
Also known as TigerTown, the ballpark recently completed renovations to improve the fan experience including more shade, more food vendors, more bathrooms, more air-conditioned seats; you name it, there’s more of it.
LECOM Park
1611 9th St W, Bradenton, FL
Homes to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the spring and Single-A affiliate Bradenton Marauders the rest of the year, LECOM Park in Bradenton has a rich history. Known as City Park when it was built in 1923, it is the oldest ballpark still hosting spring training games.
The team recently signed an agreement with the city that will continue their partnership through 2037.
Ed Smith Stadium
2700 12th Street, Sarasota, FL
Formerly the spring training home of the Chicago White Sox from 1989-97, followed by the Cincinnati Reds from 1998-2008, Ed Smith Stadium has been home to the Baltimore Orioles since 2010.
CoolToday Park
18800 South West Villages Pkwy, North Port, FL
In North Port, Florida on the outskirts of GTB, CoolToday Park is the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves. Prior to moving to southern Sarasota County, the Braves played their spring ball Champion Stadium in Orlando from 1997-2019.
Built in 2019, it is the newest ballpark in the GTB area.
Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
700 S Victory Way, Orlando, FL
Last, but not least, what about the Tampa Bay Rays? What may surprise some fans from out of state is the Rays do not typically play their spring ball at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. However, due to the damage to their normal Spring Training facility, Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, the club was forced to adjust in 2023.
The Rays will play the NY Yankees in their first spring training game on February 28 at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. After the opening game in Orlando, the club will play the remainder of their spring slate in their home stadium, Tropicana Field. Tickets are on sale now!
By Jordan Ogren.
