Spring in Tampa brings with it Major League Baseball spring training. What better excuse to leave the snow and slush and spend a few days enjoying America’s favorite pastime?
Florida’s Grapefruit League has been a tradition since 1913 when the Chicago Cubs arrived in Tampa to conduct the region's first spring training camp. At the same time, St. Petersburg managed to attract the St. Louis Browns to town for their spring training, marking the start of the fledgling league.
Today, baseball buffs come from all over the country to watch their heroes tune-up for the regular season. In 2015, over 1.5 million fans headed to Florida to catch their favorite teams play in smaller venues, meet some of the players and get a few autographs. Another benefit is the lower ticket prices that range from $15 to $60 depending on the stadium and the seat.
Steinbrenner Field is a state-of-the-art facility with great sight lines — Photo courtesy of Steinbrenner FieldThe big draw in Tampa is Steinbrenner Field, home of the New York Yankees spring training camp. Located just north of downtown Tampa and across the street from Raymond James Stadium where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play, this state-of-the-art facility offers everything a fan could ask for – great sight lines, an intimate setting, a variety of tasty concessions and lots of beer.
The convenient location means that there is a huge variety of hotels and dining options nearby to take care of your off-field needs. To narrow down your options, check out our 10Best restaurant and accommodation lists that highlight nearby options.
To keep everyone in your party entertained when you’re not watching baseball, check out a few area attractions. Many of Tampa’s most popular draws are located downtown and in Ybor City – Tampa’s lively historic entertainment district – just minutes from Steinbrenner Field. Check out the 10Best list of Tampa attractions for more information.
In addition, many of the world’s best beaches are within a short drive and the wonders of Orlando’s theme parks are an easy day trip.
You can always watch more baseball too! Tampa is centrally located amongst many of Florida’s Grapefruit League facilities, within an hour’s drive of the Toronto Blue Jays, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Detroit Tigers, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros.
The Grapefruit League schedule runs from the end of February to the beginning of April. More information about the teams, ticket purchases and facilities are available on their website.
