Who here can tell me about spring training? (Tampa, Orlando: 2013, costs)

[Sunshinecc]

Yes, I am a Red Sox fan but certainly not one of those crazed obnoxious ones. Simply, I just like the game of baseball and grew up in an era where I can appreciate when free agency was a new concept (not that I'm old enough to have seen it but wasn't Hawk Harrelson one of the first?) and players started and ended their careers with the same team.

I've always wanted to go to Spring Training where you can see players from various teams, I'm sure the atmosphere is much more relaxed. The closest I've come is seeing a Cactus Lg. game in Arizona which was pretty cool.

I'm just wondering what kind of interest there is for visiting the fields and what the experience has been.

[TXRyan23]

Originally Posted by Sunshinecc

Yes, I am a Red Sox fan but certainly not one of those crazed obnoxious ones. Simply, I just like the game of baseball and grew up in an era where I can appreciate when free agency was a new concept (not that I'm old enough to have seen it but wasn't Hawk Harrelson one of the first?) and players started and ended their careers with the same team.

I've always wanted to go to Spring Training where you can see players from various teams, I'm sure the atmosphere is much more relaxed. The closest I've come is seeing a Cactus Lg. game in Arizona which was pretty cool.

I'm just wondering what kind of interest there is for visiting the fields and what the experience has been.

I haven't been to Spring Training in probably 15 years, but the Red Sox are in Ft. Myers, not Tampa.

I used to make a circuit with my father, we'd see the Reds in Plant City, Yankees in Tampa, Indians in Winter Haven, Royals in Baseball City, Astros in Osceola County, and the Braves in Orlando.

Ironically, I believe half of those teams are no longer in those locations.

It's hot and often boring if you're just going for practices, games are okay though.

[Sunshinecc]

Originally Posted by TXRyan23

I haven't been to Spring Training in probably 15 years, but the Red Sox are in Ft. Myers, not Tampa.

I used to make a circuit with my father, we'd see the Reds in Plant City, Yankees in Tampa, Indians in Winter Haven, Royals in Baseball City, Astros in Osceola County, and the Braves in Orlando.

Ironically, I believe half of those teams are no longer in those locations.

It's hot and often boring if you're just going for practices, games are okay though.

Oh, it doesn't matter to me what team(s) I see, I was just wondering what teams and fields are close enough and what kind of experience people have had.

That sounds like fun what you did with your father.

[BucFan]

I usually go to 5-6 exhibition games. Either down in Bradenton, Sarasota, or up in Clearwater. Red Sox games in the area are usually packed and tickets can be hard to come by due to the snowbirders from the northeast.

If you just want to see a couple of teams play, recommend going to the Pirates down in Bradenton and wait for a team no one cares to see play (Twins, Astros) - tickets are easy to get - either at the box office as a walk up or a scalper outside the stadium selling them at face value.

Parking costs about $10.

Wear plenty of sun block. Can get pretty damn hot out there as well.

Hard to get autographs during games (I'm not a seeker, but see people trying).

If you're an avid fan, you can see them practice at their various fields this week before game begin. A couple of days ago I drove down to Port Charlotte and saw my fav team practice for a few hours. Good photo ops. Kind of neat watching them take batting practice close-up.

Spring Training Online 2013: Your Complete Guide to Baseball's Spring Season

[Roscoe Conkling]

Why would you bother watching someone practice ?

This would be like travelling to a gig to watch Eric Clapton do a sound check but not see the gig.

Crazy.

[A-bolt]

spring training games are the best. take in the sunshine, get a coke and hot dog, and enjoy yourself. I've never tried either, but I've seen a few people get autographs if you're into that, but its definitely a more relaxed atmosphere. I've only been to dodgers games in vero. I'm not a dodgers fan, but its still a good time.

[BucFan]

Moderator cut: post was deleted

I was able to see Wil Myers swing the bat - he'll likely not play for the Rays until the second half the of the season and is supposedly the second-coming of Evan Longoria. Seeing future Rays players out there also was a plus - so when they show up in the lineup, I'll remember.

There were about 200 cars in the spectator parking lot to see the Rays workout.

Again, you'd have to be an avid fan to understand.

[BucFan]

A couple of pictures that I took on Tuesday down at Port Charlotte.

[BucFan]

[HWTechGuy]

As a lifelong Phillies fan, I am thrilled to be going to my first spring training game this coming Saturday. I hear it's a great time.