News & Views

Best places to encounter MLB players during Florida spring training (SW FL)

By Jon Rapoport - Wed, 2010-03-17 00:16
Boston Red Sox
Minnesota Twins
Tampa Bay Rays

This week, iFollo.com is your source for the best places to encounter the players and fans that have flocked to Florida and Arizona for Major League Baseball spring training.

iFollo.com leaves the dry, desert air of Arizona for the tropical, humid air of Florida.

Today’s blog will focus on the Southwestern portion of the state. Thursday’s scope will shift to Southeast Florida.

The Sunshine State is home to 15 big league spring training operations.  Life in the Grapefruit League means longer bus rides for teams because the distances are much more spread out than in Arizona’s Cactus League. 

March in Florida does provide fans with the opportunity to do something unavailable in the Grand Canyon State.  Do the words Atlantic Ocean ring a bell? 

Southwest Florida is home to three teams, the Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays.

MLB.com provides an excellent map noting the locations of each team.  The smaller, more accessible layout of spring training stadiums present a fantastic opportunity for fans to get up close and personal with players.

Below is a breakdown of the hotspots in this area. 

 

Fort Myers – Home of the Red Sox and Twins

City of Palms Park  (Home of the Red Sox)   

2201 Edison Avenue, just outside of Downtown Fort Myers

 

Lee County Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium   (Home of the Twins)

14100 Ben C. Pratt/Six Mile Cypress Parkway, near Southwest Florida International Airport

 

The Bell Tower Shops are a major hangout for players and fans during March.

Bistro 41, Cantina Laredo and Blue Pointe Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill are MLB favorites within the mall.

 

The Gulf Coast Town Center also offers ample opportunity to see Red Sox and Twins personnel.

 

Prawnbroker Restaurant & Fish Market is a spot filled with constant player and fan activity.

 

Nino’s Pizzeria & Italian - Daniels Parkway location and Lee Roy Selmon’s are Twins player and fan favorites, due to the proximity to their ballpark.

 

Fort Myers Beach is a great location to see baseball’s best hanging out on the sand or spending time at one of the many nightspots.

 

Port Charlotte – Home of the Rays

Charlotte Sports Park

2300 El Jobean Road

 

Tamiami Trail is the center of activity in Port Charlotte. Coral Rock Café is one of the more prominent venues along this stretch.

 

John Hall's Goal Post Grill and Sports Bar is a player and fan hangout, co-owned by former NFL kicker John Hall.

 

Fisherman’s Village, located in nearby Punta Gorda, is a hub of shopping, dining and entertainment during spring training.

 

 

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Jon Rapoport has spent his career working on all sides of the media and sports industry. He began his career at ESPN in studio production at the ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. While there, he won an Emmy for his contribution to "SportsCenter." Following his tenure at ESPN, Jon relocated to Los Angeles, joining the staff of the “Best Damn Sports Show” on FOX Sports Net.

Upon leaving the show, Jon worked in Web site and sports radio show development/production, with Major League Baseball in media operation logistics for the World Baseball Classic and on behalf of Los Angeles’ effort to bring the 2016 Summer Olympics back to Southern California. Jon currently writes a political blog for the Los Angeles edition of Examiner.com.

Born and raised in Plymouth, Minnesota (just outside of Minneapolis), Jon is an avid sports fan, particularly for his beloved Minnesota teams. Jon graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned his BA in communication and interned for ABC’s “Good Morning America” in New York City and Washington D.C. He is married and resides in Los Angeles.  

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