The best ballpark atmosphere in the Grapefruit League emits from Fort Myers, where Red Sox Nation descends each spring to fill every nook and cranny at City of Palms Park (pictured above).

Which teams have the best fan atmosphere in Spring Training? Having been to all the sites, I always get asked that question a lot, especially from baseball fans that usually fall into one of three categories: 1) have never been to Spring Training, 2) haven’t been in several years, or 3) only know their favorite team’s Spring Training site.

So, without further ado, here are my favorites, from worst to first. Of course, this is a very subjective list to say nothing about the fact that “fan atmosphere” is also dependent on a number of variables such as the day and date of a particular game (early in Spring Training versus late in the season, and weekend and night games versus weekday games); the opponent (playing the Royals versus playing the Yankees); the players (are All-Star caliber players suited up or is this a borderline split-squad game?); and even the weather conditions (a picture-postcard sunny day versus an overcast and very cool or drizzly one). Size of the crowd can also be a factor, but it isn’t the end all, at least to me, because a lot of Spring Training parks vary in capacity. The design of the ballpark (too big) can be a big factor to me though.

GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE

BOTTOM FEEDERS
15. Blue Jays, Florida Auto Exchange Stadium (Dunedin) – The king on the snooze-meter in the Grapefruit League. The public address announcer is often the one with the most charm here and you’d think the only team in MLB to train at the same Spring Training site since its inception would have a little more life. If only March wasn’t still hockey season in Toronto. Geez.

14. Marlins, Roger Dean Stadium (Jupiter) – Even though the Fish train in South Florida only 70 miles from their home ballpark, the atmosphere often pales in comparison to the tradition-rich Cardinals, who are more than 1,100 miles from their home ballpark! And get this: the Cardinals drew nearly 25,000 more fans last spring than the Marlins, who also played one extra home game! Fry the fish!

13. Nationals, Space Coast Stadium (Melbourne) – Things will probably change in 2011 and continue to get better with the arrival of Bryce Harper following Stephen Strasburg, but historically, Space Coast Stadium is relatively buzz-less on the atmosphere meter with fans that don’t get too riled up. Traditionally, it’s about the only place I can remember when there wasn’t that excitement and anticipation after you parked your car and started walking toward the ballpark. It was almost like, “anybody home?” Fortunately, that will most likely now change.

12. Astros, Osceola County Stadium (Kissimmee) – I’ve probably been here more than any place since it’s near Orlando and it has been here since the 1980s. More often than not, there’s just not a lot of life in this ballpark. Houston has simply never drawn real well for Spring Training.

11. Mets, Digital Domain Park (Port St. Lucie) – I love the nearby beaches, but have never been a huge fan of the vibe in this place and sometimes it can be downright sterile. The renovation didn’t do much to help either. And the fans seem to second that view. The Mets' attendance last spring took the biggest nose dive of any MLB team, down more than 40 percent from 2009. It should be up this spring though with optimism surrounding the Alderson regime.

10. Orioles, Ed Smith Stadium (Sarasota) – Baltimore has been so bad for so long that only in 2011 might we see the atmosphere improve after the Birds finished strong in 2010 after Buck Showalter took over. Another big positive: a new and refurbished Ed Smith Stadium awaits in 2011 and it has got to be better than before because the Ed Smith Stadium we’ve mostly known up to this point has been rather dull.

9. Rays, Charlotte Sports Park (Port Charlotte) – Only 77 miles from Tropicana Field, the Rays can have a better atmosphere here than when they played at Al Lang Field just a few miles from the Trop. Of course, good teams the last few years have something to do with that. The Rays averaged over 6,000 in 2010 – or nearly 1,400 more fans per game than the pathetic, larger-market Marlins! Fry the fish!

ON THE BUBBLE
8. Pirates, McKechnie Field (Bradenton) – Although the Bucs have reeked the standings since I was practically back in high school, the atmosphere here can be quaint, old-school Spring Training and one of the true hidden gems of the Grapefruit circuit on a good day.

7. Braves, Champion Stadium (Lake Buena Vista) – I’ve never been terribly impressed with the atmosphere, although it can be pretty good for night games with a lively gang of fans.

6. Cardinals, Roger Dean Stadium (Jupiter) – The crowds aren’t huge, but the ones here can cheer and groan with the best of them as St. Louis features one of the most knowledgeable and festive fan bases in baseball.

5. Yankees, Steinbrenner Field, (Tampa) – There aren’t any outfield bleachers here, so there aren’t any of the famed “Yankee Stadium Bleacher Creatures” in unison here either going nuts. They’ll play Sinatra and there’s a quasi-Monument Park out front, but the vibe here just isn’t what you’d expect for the most successful franchise in baseball, although it’s often much better for night games than day contests. Even stranger: last spring, the Yanks' Grapefruit attendance was down 30 percent – after winning the World Series!

THE FOUR TO GO SEE
Jim Morrison was right – the west is the best. At least when it comes to Spring Training in Florida, with the four ones to see pretty much on the state’s west coast.

4. Twins, Hammond Stadium (Fort Myers) – I don’t care for the design of this ballpark, but when it comes to game day atmosphere this is among the best in Florida. And proof Minneapolis is one of America’s best sports towns, right up there with New York and Philly.

3. Tigers, Joker Marchant Stadium (Lakeland) – About 30 minutes from Tampa without traffic, the most historic Spring Training city in Florida in one of the oldest Spring Training parks, Tigertown is a special place, always resonating a unique Motor City vibe.

2. Phillies, Bright House Field (Clearwater) – This ballpark has a lot going for it, namely a ton of fired up Philly fans and I love the Tiki Bar in the outfield. They don’t get as crazy here as they do down in Fort Myers with Red Sox Nation, but it’s a great atmosphere nonetheless.

1. Red Sox, City of Palms Park (Fort Myers) – You can call me out on my Red Sox bias, go right ahead, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Sox have the best atmosphere in the Grapefruit circuit and probably all of Spring Training. I’ve been going to Spring Training since before puberty and, to this day, I’ve never been at a Spring Training game anywhere else where the fans clapped in unison in the first inning to help their home team start a rally. And it’s hard to dispute 104 consecutive sellouts.

CACTUS LEAGUE
Since the Diamondbacks and Rockies debut a new, dual-use Spring Training ballpark in North Scottsdale in 2011, I obviously can’t issue an opinion of the atmosphere there. I can say that traditionally the Rockies have had one of the weaker fan atmospheres in the Cactus League while the Diamondbacks – by virtue of being in-state – often have a fairly decent one, although not great considering they are, after all, in-state. Now that these two expansion franchises – and last two remaining Tucson holdouts – are up in the Valley of the Sun, it will be very interesting to see where they fall in my list below once the Spring Training campaign gets in full swing, especially the D-Backs who will be just 20 miles from their regular season home.

BOTTOM FEEDERS
My bottom feeders in the Cactus League are all dual-use facilities in the West Valley. I don’t know if it’s because they’re each so new – or in some cases, too big – but the atmosphere at these places has been unimpressive. The West Valley is a bit of an older demographic among the locals and not as populated. The East Valley has far better atmosphere and scenery with the Cubs, Giants, Angels and A’s.

13-12. Indians and Reds, Goodyear Ballpark (Goodyear) – Where are the Ohio strong baseball fans? This place is pretty lifeless. Both at the bottom of the attendance ledger by wide margins, you have to seriously wonder if both franchises made a major screw up in exiting Florida for the southwestern most venue in all of Spring Training. Attendance for both clubs was down 20 percent each last spring from 2009. Maybe it has something to do with the fact both clubs are among the furthest away from their home city of any Spring Training team?

11-10. Rangers and Royals, Surprise Stadium (Surprise) – These two teams share the same facility and it often doesn’t matter which one is playing or who the opponent is. The park itself is among my favorites for its great and simple design, but the atmosphere can often border on a big yawn. Rangers spring attendance did spike 30 percent a year ago from 2009 and things should improve now that Texas made their first Fall Classic, but I’m not going overboard.

ON THE BUBBLE
9. Padres, Peoria Stadium (Peoria) – San Diego has always had a pretty decent atmosphere for Spring Training but usually nothing particularly extraordinary.

8-7. Dodgers and White Sox, Camelback Ranch (Glendale) – In my view, this ballpark is just too big for Spring Training and too big for fair weather LA fans and even White Sox fans who simply do not come out in droves like Cubdom. It really affects the atmosphere and not in a good way, although the occasional near sell outs aren’t bad. But Dodger attendance was down 10 percent a year ago from its 2009 Arizona debut and that trend figures to continue.

6. Brewers, Maryvale Baseball Park (Phoenix) – The Crew used to be the ultimate snooze-fest when it came to atmosphere at Spring Training, but it has gotten better in recent years. Maybe it has something to do with those Racing Sausages also getting in their Spring Training workout.

5. A’s, Phoenix Municipal Stadium (Phoenix) – The most historic Spring Training park in the Cactus circuit with the prettiest backdrop too, but the atmosphere pendulum frequently swings – some days good, other days not so much.

THE FOUR TO GO SEE
4. Angels, Tempe Diablo Stadium, (Tempe) – Before the Angels won the World Series, this place boarded on comatose. But then everything changed and it continues to get better every year. Like for the Giants, the atmosphere here also includes some of the best desert scenery, and I mean for the wandering eyes of the species, too.

3. Mariners, Peoria Stadium (Peoria) – The only team besides the Expos/Nationals not to play in the Fall Classic, the M’s always bring the highest percentage of out of state fans to the Valley. And it’s hard to pass up an opportunity to watch a Japanese magician do his thing with the bat and glove up close and personal. This is by far the best atmosphere in the West Valley.

2. Giants, Scottsdale Stadium (Scottsdale) – I love coming to this place and often wrestle with “is it the best atmosphere?” And if you’re a man, Scottsdale has the best female scenery in the Cactus circuit with Tempe right behind it. But what always kills me here is the utterly lame seventh inning stretch. God, it’s just so lame.

1. Cubs, HoHoKam Park (Mesa) – They don’t call them the lovable losers for nothing. In Cubdom, losing breeds a festive celebration. There’s something simple, pure and authentic about this place, even though the park itself is nothing special. Frankly, it’s a very close call between the Cubs and Giants on the fan atmosphere scale. Unless the Cubs make a big free agent splash, the Giants will still have their World Series buzz going on and will probably have the best atmosphere in 2011, but year after year, game after game, the best atmosphere in the Valley for me is in Mesa.

This article is part of a series written by Joe Connor on helping fans to prepare for Spring Training. Previous articles include 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Planning Your Spring Training Trip, Helpful Tips For Planning Your Spring Training Trip, and Things To Do In Arizona and Florida During Spring Training.

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Joe Connor, aka Mr. Sports Travel, is a freelance writer for ESPN.com, NBCSports.com and others who has caught a game at every MLB Spring Training ballpark. He’s also the author of the annually-updated online travel planning guide, A Fan’s Guide To The Ultimate Spring Training Experience, which is available for purchase at Baseball Pilgrimages. Also, check out his site: www.mrsportstravel.com.

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