Spring Training Stadium Showcase: Bright House Field
Since 1947, the Philadelphia Phillies have prepared for the regular season in the Florida Gulf Coast city of Clearwater. These days, the Phils hold spring training at Bright House Field, their third Clearwater based practice site. Opened in 2004, Bright House sits just off the very strip mall centric Drew Street, 7 miles east of picturesque Clearwater Beach (picture below), 4 miles east of downtown Clearwater and 15 miles west of Tampa International Airport.
In case anyone is interested, the very first Hooters restaurant is located just over a mile from the stadium.
The modern 8,500-seat ballpark is surrounded by the Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex, which features fields named in honor of Richie Ashburn, Robin Roberts, Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton. A statue of Carlton is present at the park's main entrance.
A year-round image of the famous Phillie Phanatic serves as yet another reminder of Bright House's primary tenant.
Inside the venue, fans visiting from Pennsylvania are made to feel right at home, with cheesesteaks and PA based Yuengling beer available for purchase.
Not to be forgotten, the state of Florida is also represented, within the walls of Bright House, thanks to the existence of Frenchy's Tiki Pavilion.
