The official spring training 2025 thread is here.
Instead of breaking it down by teams, we'll roll w/destinations
I got really into minor league baseball as a kid as my grandparents retired in Florida and used to bring us to Dodgertown all the time to see the famed Vero Beach Dodgers play. One of my fondest memories in old Holman Stadium was seeing Pedro Martinez pitch with Carlos Deldagdo catching. From chasing after foul balls, being the only Mets fans at the game, getting autographs mid game, fireworks nights, etc. it was always fun
They also brought us to the now defunct Boardwalk and Baseball where the Royals used to play in spring training. The field looked massive at the time, and goint to the amusement park for the day was awesome.
Regarding spring training, looking for recco's / general information on Stadiums, tailgating scenes, restaurants, beaches, things to do, etc.
This year my dad and I are doing two trips:
Trip 1 - late February
1. Landing in TPA, and debating heading over to Dunedin to check out the Blue Jays park, tailgate there for about two hours, head in, stay for 2-3 innings, then head over to Seinbrenner to hit the Yankees game for the last few innings. Or just head right to Steinbrenner Field, tailgate there then hit the entire Yankees game.
Leaning toward the latter, as the Jays park seems little league compared to the Yanks digs. Plus it says it's about 30 minutes from there to Steinbrenner, and being that my Dad's a huge Yankees fan, I want him to get the full experience there.
***Any insight on either / both options would be appreciated
2. Staying in Tampa that night, then either heading east the next day over to Lakeland to see the Tigers or heading south to see the Orioles.
*** Never been either of those stadiums - so recommendations on which one to go to, and / or any insights into the area, tailgating, food / beer scene, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
3. Twins game the next day - love the left field wrap around bar w/the tv's
4. Sox tour, then game the following day - They're smart, they make you buy a game ticket in order to purchase a tour ticket, and they don't let you leave the stadium after the tour - we usually just buy 2 sets of game tickets as we like to tailgate in the lot before the game, although the food / beer trucks outside the one gate seem pretty cool
*** 4 games in 4 days, or I might fly into TPA the night before to hit the Lightning game. Thinking 5 sporting events in 5 days is too much though
Trip 2 - mid March
1. I like landing and getting right down to business, and that's what we'll be doing here as the Sox have a 1pm split squad tilt - no tour this time, just beers pregame in the lots then head in. We like sitting down the left field line right near the sausage stand that also serves beers. Bathrooms are also right there, good for breaking the seal and my mid 70's year old dad as well
2. Twins play the following day on a "Salute to Service" theme, and my father as an Army veteran really gets into that stuff. Same thing as the previous day where we get there early, throw some back in the lots, then head in
Take a few days off to lay out by the pool and catch some sun, then back at it for the Rays
3. Lastly we'll hit a Rays game before coming back north to the frozen tundra. That stadium is nothing special, but my buddy lives in Port Charlotte
What say you, anyone else hitting spring training this year, or have any recommendations, special memories, etc. ??
Instead of breaking it down by teams, we'll roll w/destinations
I got really into minor league baseball as a kid as my grandparents retired in Florida and used to bring us to Dodgertown all the time to see the famed Vero Beach Dodgers play. One of my fondest memories in old Holman Stadium was seeing Pedro Martinez pitch with Carlos Deldagdo catching. From chasing after foul balls, being the only Mets fans at the game, getting autographs mid game, fireworks nights, etc. it was always fun
They also brought us to the now defunct Boardwalk and Baseball where the Royals used to play in spring training. The field looked massive at the time, and goint to the amusement park for the day was awesome.
Regarding spring training, looking for recco's / general information on Stadiums, tailgating scenes, restaurants, beaches, things to do, etc.
This year my dad and I are doing two trips:
Trip 1 - late February
1. Landing in TPA, and debating heading over to Dunedin to check out the Blue Jays park, tailgate there for about two hours, head in, stay for 2-3 innings, then head over to Seinbrenner to hit the Yankees game for the last few innings. Or just head right to Steinbrenner Field, tailgate there then hit the entire Yankees game.
Leaning toward the latter, as the Jays park seems little league compared to the Yanks digs. Plus it says it's about 30 minutes from there to Steinbrenner, and being that my Dad's a huge Yankees fan, I want him to get the full experience there.
***Any insight on either / both options would be appreciated
2. Staying in Tampa that night, then either heading east the next day over to Lakeland to see the Tigers or heading south to see the Orioles.
*** Never been either of those stadiums - so recommendations on which one to go to, and / or any insights into the area, tailgating, food / beer scene, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
3. Twins game the next day - love the left field wrap around bar w/the tv's
4. Sox tour, then game the following day - They're smart, they make you buy a game ticket in order to purchase a tour ticket, and they don't let you leave the stadium after the tour - we usually just buy 2 sets of game tickets as we like to tailgate in the lot before the game, although the food / beer trucks outside the one gate seem pretty cool
*** 4 games in 4 days, or I might fly into TPA the night before to hit the Lightning game. Thinking 5 sporting events in 5 days is too much though
Trip 2 - mid March
1. I like landing and getting right down to business, and that's what we'll be doing here as the Sox have a 1pm split squad tilt - no tour this time, just beers pregame in the lots then head in. We like sitting down the left field line right near the sausage stand that also serves beers. Bathrooms are also right there, good for breaking the seal and my mid 70's year old dad as well
2. Twins play the following day on a "Salute to Service" theme, and my father as an Army veteran really gets into that stuff. Same thing as the previous day where we get there early, throw some back in the lots, then head in
Take a few days off to lay out by the pool and catch some sun, then back at it for the Rays
3. Lastly we'll hit a Rays game before coming back north to the frozen tundra. That stadium is nothing special, but my buddy lives in Port Charlotte
What say you, anyone else hitting spring training this year, or have any recommendations, special memories, etc. ??
