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Wherever you head, keep the following in mind: Season Schedule. The teams usually announce their Spring Training schedule in mid December. You will want to check it as soon as possible so you can better plan your visit to catch the teams you want to see where you want to see them. The best way to do this is to visit the individual team web sites, which I have listed in the Stadium chapters that follow.
Tickets. Tickets to most Spring Training games are available right up to game time. The exceptions are games involving the four “marquee” teams, the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves. These teams consistently draw the biggest crowds, and the games in which they played were the highest attended at every stadium in 2003. If you want to be assured of a seat, buy your tickets in January when single tickets go on sale. Ticket Sales. Season tickets generally go on sale by mail the day after Thanksgiving. Single ticket sales begin in January, the first Saturday after New Year’s Day at many parks. You can order single tickets by mail, by fax or by Internet, or get them at the stadium ticket windows. You can also get them through such services as Ticketmaster and Ticketron. Check the team’s web site for more information. Rainouts: While Florida is relatively dry during March, there is a chance for a spring shower or two during your visit. If one hits on a game day, the stadium will make every effort to play the game; after all, a rainout means lost revenue. But they happen. During a recent season, for instance, three games were cancelled and others were called before they became official games. In such cases, most stadiums will allow you to exchange your ticket for a game at a later date. Of course, if you are on a tight schedule, chances are you’ll be out of luck because unlike in the major leagues, Spring Training games are not made up. You may be eligible for a refund, but you’ll have to go to the stadium ticket office to get it. Autographs. Most parks will allow you to get autographs from players, if the players are willing. Players are more willing to sign if you have only one or two items. Bring a pen that works on the item you want signed. For example, rollerballs work well on baseballs. Sharpies work on just about everything. Never use a pen with water-based ink. Tip: For the best chance at an autograph, get to the park at least two hours before game time unless otherwise specified in the appropriate Stadium chapter. Game Times. Most Spring Training games are day games. Day games usually start around 1:00 p.m., night games around 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. In most cases, the stadiums open their doors two hours before game time. What to Bring and What to Leave Home. Wear sunscreen to any and all day games regardless of the amount of shade and consider bringing a baseball cap or hat. In Florida’s sun, it can take just 15 minutes without protection to burn. Do not try to bring coolers, food, or video cameras into the game with you. They aren’t allowed. Seating Hot Spots. There are three great places to watch the game in every ballpark — behind home plate, behind the right field dugout, or behind the left field dugout. Of course, some places you’ll be sitting in the sun and others you won’t, but you’ll never go wrong. You will always be close to the action in one of these sections. Seeing Stars. Spring Training is not like most professional sports. If you want to see the stars play, get there when the game starts. During the first two weeks of training, many players will play three innings or fewer. As spring goes on, players stay on the field longer, but the high-profile stars rarely play a full game during the spring. Didn't find what you were looking for? Try a Google search.
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