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2013 First Practice Dates
Pitchers & Catchers: February 13 Position Players: February 16

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Stadium | Location | Parking | Seating | Schedule

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Hammond Stadium

Spring Training home of the Twins since 1991

Ballpark address:
14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway
Fort Myers, FL 33912

Opened: 1991
Capacity: 8,100

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Location
Hammond Stadium is a part of the 80-acre Lee County Sports Complex, which includes five full and two half baseball fields, two soccer fields, a softball complex and an eight acre lake for public fishing.

Directions
Take I-75 to Exit 131 (Daniels Parkway/Hwy 876) and go west. After about 2.5 miles turn left onto Ben C. Pratt/Six Mile Cypress Parkway (Hwy 865 South) and the stadium will be less than a mile ahead on your right.

Parking
There is plenty of parking within the Sports Complex. You park on grass, but the driving lanes are generally gravel or paved (and named after former Twins greats). For those that have a disabled permit, Grant Cir. and Hrbek Rd. are the handicapped parking lanes. They are the two closest lanes to the stadium and both have all paved spaces.
Cost: $10

Time saving tip: To lessen time spent in post-game congestion, exit the parking lot through its back gate. While just about everybody arrives at and leaves the stadium via Six Mile Cypress Parkway, the Plantation Road option allows for easier entering and exiting of the parking lot, which is the especially smart way to go after the game when just about everybody is trying to leave the same way at the same time. The back gate is near the back fields used by Twins minor leaguers and Plantation Road runs alongside practice fields 1 & 2.

Stadium Information
Hammond Stadium is noted for its exterior, which was inspired by Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby. A palm tree lined path leads to the stadium from the parking lot, ending at a waterfall fountain plaza. The inside lacks the splendor of the outside, both in design and scenery. An abundance of aluminum (all reserved seats are bleachers) was the dominant feature until a multi-million dollar renovation in 2007 added a berm and party deck in right field. Pennants from the 11 years that the Minnesota Twins have made the playoffs and the five numbers retired by the team are on the facade of the press box. Plaques of the inductees into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame are affixed to brick on the portion of the stadium's facade just inside of its main entrance gates. The scouts' Hall was begun in 2008 and the bronze plaques made to commemorate its members are actually found on walls at four ballparks, the common denominator for each being the minor league teams that play there are owned by the Goldklang Group. Partly owned by Bill Murray, the Goldklang Group runs the Fort Myers Miracle, a Minnesota affiliate that calls Hammond Stadium home once the Twins head north to play their home games at Target Field, which is 1,702 miles away according to a sign near the Twins' winter home. The entire Lee County Sports Complex was completed in 1991 for $14 million and its ballpark was dedicated as William H. Hammond Stadium on March 19, 1994 in honor of the county commissioner who was the driving force behind getting the complex built.

Fast Facts

Fans enter the stadium through one of the two gates found on either side of the waterfall fountain display and then walk up one story of stairs to arrive at the stadium's concourse. Alternatively, a handicapped ramp extends the length of the stadium's first base side.

The ticket office is adjacent to the ballpark's main entrance gate, which is behind home plate.

The box office building has eight ticket windows and is split into two halves. The windows on the left half are for Will Call and those in the right half are for game day and advance ticket sales. Additionally, a covered tent in front of the stadium has two kiosks, each of which allow for the pick up of prepaid tickets or the purchase of tickets.

The concourse is located behind the stadium and is covered by the stadium's roof and press box.

The Twins’ bullpen is located next to the third base grandstand and fans can look into it from the aisle that runs alongside section 217. The much smaller visitors’ bullpen is at the end of the right field line and is far removed from any fan viewing areas.

The stadium's only scoreboard is in left-center field. It has a bottom LCD panel that lists player stats for that day's game.

A small selection of Twins merchandise (mainly shirts and hats) can be found at the walk-in Grand Slam Gift Shop on the concourse behind home plate.

The Twins' current lease with Lee County for use of the stadium and complex expires after the 2020 season. However, a major $42.5 million renovation plan, which was approved by Lee County in November 2012, will keep the Twins training here through 2045 under a new 30-year lease that goes into effect when the facility upgrades are completed in 2015.

Practice Fields

Covered bleachers are set up for fans at the practice field (#5) next to the stadium. The Twins do most of their pre-game practicing on that field and the Hammond Stadium field.

Fans outside the stadium can watch Twins (and occasionally visiting team) players take batting practice in the batting cages that are partially underneath the third base concourse. Located a short distance from the ticket office, the cages' outer wall is made of chain link and fans can stand directly behind the fencing and literally a handful of feet from the home plates.

The Twins' minor league complex is a part of the Lee County Sports Complex and those fields can be seen from the parking lot. Fans can wander the three and a half back fields with no restrictions. The fields are not named and are simply numbered 1-4, with #4 being the half-field.

Types of Seating
Hammond Stadium seating diagram Seating is pretty much split between those with chair backs and armrests and bleacher benches. There is also a small berm half way down the right field line.

Stadium seats: Sold as box seats, they are found only in the 100 level.

Bleachers: Sold as reserved seating, they make up the entire 200 level.

Berm: The small hill has a capacity of 230 fans.

Notes about the seating

The Twins dugout is on the third base side. To make sure you're on the home side of the stadium, buy your tickets in sections 108-115 or 209-217.

A narrow aisle divides the stadium's grandstand into two sections. Box seats are below the aisle, reserved bleachers above it.

Stadium seats have cup holders and bleachers have backs.

A rail that runs the length of each dugout serves a dual purpose - it provides fans in the first row of seats behind the dugout a cup holder and it also prevents them from resting their feet atop the dugout.

Handicap accessible seating is available on the cross aisle, in row 16, at the top of all 100-level sections except for 108. Additionally, atop the aisle between sections 212 and 213 is a general admission handicapped seating overlook area, which is a short distance from the elevator tower.

The protective screen behind home plate extends from the midpoints of sections 104-112 and is made of a thin netting that is not obstructive.

The tarp is stored alongside the berm, where it doesn't obstruct views of anybody sitting on the right field line lawn since the rolled up tarp fails to reach the height of the lowest level grass.

Dedicated standing room space is limited to the right field party deck area, but sightlines there are obstructed by the drink rail patrons. Because of that, many SRO ticket holders opt to stand in the aisle between the box and reserved seats, which plenty can do but it's a tight fit. So those visiting the often sold out Hammond Stadium are forewarned to make ticket arrangements in advance.

Sections and rows

Rows for sections with stadium seats range as follows:
1 to 16 in sections 101-102; 3 to 16 in sections 103-104; A to B then 1 to 16 in sections 105-112; 3 to 16 in section 113; 1 to 16 in sections 114-115
Note: With the exception of section 108, the 16th row is on the aisle and reserved for people with disabilities and their companions.

Rows for sections with bleacher seats range as follows:
1 to 16 in sections 201-217

Barstool seat numbers for the drink rail section on the right field party deck range as follows:
1 to 25 in row 1; 1 to 34 in row 2

Tickets

Sections 101-115 are sold as Box.

The first 2 rows of sections 105-112 are sold as Dugout Box.

Sections 201-217 are sold as Reserved.

Space on the right field line berm is sold as Lawn.

Two rows of barstool seating behind drink rails are found at the top of the lawn area and they are sold as Drink Rail.

Children 2 & under get in free so long as they can sit in an adult ticket holder's lap.

Seats to avoid
If you don't like bleachers stay away from all 200-level sections as Hammond Stadium has by far more bleacher "seats" than any other ballpark used in the Grapefruit League.

Seats under cover and in the shade
The second level of the press box hangs out over the top row (16) of seats in sections 207-212. Because the stadium's roof is sharply angled upwards no other seats in the main grandstand are really covered, although technically the top five rows (12 & up) of Reserved sections 201-206 and 213-217 have a roof above them. The position of the sun moves during the game. It starts behind the first base grandstand then shifts to behind the third base grandstand. This alters which seats are shaded during the game, but for the most part you are safe in rows 11 & up of any 200-level section. In general, more seats will be shaded on the first base side when the game begins and more seats will be shaded on the third base side near game's end.

VIP seating
The most expensive seats are the Dugout Box seats, which are two rows (A-B) of seating between the dugouts (105-112). The first row is actually slightly below field level. The Bullpen Picnic Pavilion is a field level covered area with picnic tables found next to the Twins bullpen, but it's a useful for pre-game only area as it has no view of the field. Located at the top of the grass berm are two rows of Drink Rail seats, 59 in all on the patio of the Right Field Party Deck. And up in the press box are air-conditioned Sky Suites.

Game Day
Gates open 3 hours and 5 minutes before game time, which means fans are able to watch both teams take their entire batting practice. Hammond Stadium is the only spring training ballpark that opens its gates early enough so that is possible. As an extra perk, fans are allowed to exit the stadium and re-enter it if they wish to watch practice on the fields near (#5) and far (#s 1-4) from the main gate. To do so, fans must get their ticket marked by the attendant at the special gate adjacent to the stair/elevator tower. That gate is kind of hidden, as it's behind the ticket office building, but anybody that wants in and out privileges must use that gate.

Food, drink and bag policy

No outside food or drink can be brought inside the stadium, except for one exception: sealed bottles of water are permitted.

Any type of bag is allowed up to a maximum size of 16" x 16" x 8".

Getting autographs
In general, this is not an easy stadium to get autographs inside of. Showing up early and hanging out on the first base side of practice field #5 is your best bet. But if you don't want to be there 2+ hours before first pitch, closer to game time Twins players usually sign for fans gathered at the bottom of the two sections (114-115) between their dugout and bullpen. If visiting players sign, they do likewise for the two sections (101-102) between their dugout and berm. Tunnels to both team's clubhouses are in their dugouts, so postgame autograph opportunities are usually nonexistent. For those who want to mill around outside the stadium after the game, Twins players will occasionally emerge from the clubhouse door between the batting cages and ticket office. If a mob is present, then that's less likely to happen. But even then a Twin might stop by and sign in the window area of the service door that is directly to the left of the clubhouse door. The visiting team bus is parked and boarded in a fenced-in area down the right field line that's completely off limits to fans.

Unique ballpark fare
Phenomenal food is found throughout the stadium. From the charcoal grills at the back of the concourse to the concessions on the right field party deck, creative cuisine compliments everything else you'd expect to find. The food here has drastically improved over the years and the most recent one sees such specialties on the collective menu as cheese curds, sweet potato fries, coconut shrimp, a hot dog topped with pulled pork, baked beans and coleslaw (sold by the name Carolina Dog), and the Richard Simmons Burger, a punny offering that consists of a burger patty topped with a brat, grilled chicken breast, cheese and bacon. The grub is so good and extensive that it's hard to leave room for dessert, but if you do you can try such things as the funnel fry sundae. The variety of food is actually surpassed by the variety of beers and a beer drinker's paradise can be found beneath the grandstand at the end of the concourse on the stadium's third base side, under section 217. That's where the Beer Garden is located, a bevy of brews available in an airy bar-type setting that has a television, usually tuned in to the MLB Network, to watch. Far and away, Hammond Stadium offers a larger variety of beer on tap than any other ballpark in the Grapefruit League. In 2013 the choices for draft beer are: Bud, Bud Light, Bud Light Lime, Coors Light, Corona Light, Finnegans Irish Amber, Goose Island IPA, Gordon Biersch Märzen, Guinness, Kona Fire Rock, Land Shark, Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, Magic Hat #9, Michelob AmberBock, Michelob Ultra, Miller Lite, Redd's Apple Ale, Sam Adams, Shock Top Belgian White, Stella Artois, Summit Extra Pale Ale, SweetWater 420, Twin City Red, Woodchuck Pear Cider and Yuengling. Fans wanting a soft drink only get to choose from one brand: Pepsi. And for something with "Hall of Fame taste," 16-ounce bottle-style cans of Killebrew Root Beer are easy to find when you stroll behind the stadium.

2013 Twins Spring Training Schedule (only home games at Hammond Stadium are listed)
February	Day	Time	Visiting Team	TicketsNow
24	Sunday	1:05	Rays	Tickets
25	Monday	1:05	Pirates	Tickets
27	Wednesday	1:05	Phillies	Tickets
28	Thursday	1:05	Orioles	Tickets
March	Day	Time	Visiting Team	TicketsNow
2	Saturday	1:05	Red Sox	Tickets
5	Tuesday	1:05	Rays	Tickets
6	Wednesday	12:05	Puerto Rico	Tickets
7	Thursday	1:05	Red Sox	Tickets
10	Sunday	1:05	Pirates	Tickets
13	Wednesday	7:05	Orioles	Tickets
14	Thursday	1:05	Red Sox	Tickets
16	Saturday	1:05	Pirates	Tickets
18	Monday	1:05	Marlins	Tickets
20	Wednesday	7:05	Rays	Tickets
22	Friday	1:05	Yankees	Tickets
24	Sunday	1:05	Blue Jays	Tickets
25	Monday	1:05	Cardinals	Tickets
26	Tuesday	1:05	Orioles	Tickets
29	Friday	1:05	Red Sox	Tickets
* Single game tickets went on sale Saturday, January 12. See the full 2013 Twins Spring Training schedule

Ballpark Area Info
Fort Myers in general is an upscale community and so is the surrounding development. Office buildings are just beyond the stadium's left field wall and shopping centers are nearby. South Fort Myers High School is across the street from the back fields in the minor league complex and as the school's name indicates Hammond Stadium is in the southern part of the city's limits, which makes it on the way to Fort Myers Beach (about 12 miles away) and Sanibel Island (15 miles). Renowned for its beaches and their variety of seashells, Sanibel Island is also well-known for being home to the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge and its many migratory bird populations.

Travelers' notes

The closest Interstate (I-75) is 3.5 miles away.

You and your car's safety is ensured within the confines of the Sports Complex. The area in general is quite safe.

Hotels close to Hammond Stadium			Become a featured advertiser
Distance	Hotel	Street Address	City/Zip	Phone
1.9 miles	Crestwood Suites	7071 Lakeridge Ct	Fort Myers, FL 33907	239-415-8440
1.9	Crowne Plaza	13051 Bell Tower Dr	Fort Myers, FL 33907	239-482-2900
2.3	Best Western Airport Inn	8955 Daniels Pkwy	Fort Myers, FL 33912	239-561-7000
4.4	GrandStay Hotel & Suites	10150 Daniels Pkwy	Fort Myers, FL 33913	239-791-5000
5.6	Candlewood Suites	9740 Commerce Center Ct	Fort Myers, FL 33908	239-210-7777
6.1	Hampton Inn & Suites	4350 Executive Cir	Fort Myers, FL 33916	239-931-5300
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Restaurants close to Hammond Stadium
Distance	Restaurant	Street Address	City/Zip	Phone
0.65 miles	Jersey Mike's Subs	6810 Shoppes at Plantation Dr	Fort Myers, FL 33912	239-931-7827
0.65	China Dragon	6810 Shoppes at Plantation Dr	Fort Myers, FL 33912	239-561-2095
0.7	Potts Sports Cafe	6900 Daniels Pkwy	Fort Myers, FL 33912	239-768-5500
0.7	Nino's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant	6900 Daniels Pkwy	Fort Myers, FL 33912	239-768-5376
0.7	Subway	6900 Daniels Pkwy	Fort Myers, FL 33912	239-768-0303
0.7	Tim's Magic Wok	6900 Daniels Pkwy	Fort Myers, FL 33912	239-561-2066
0.75	Blimpie Subs	14690 Metro Pkwy	Fort Myers, FL 33912	239-561-9641
0.75	Godfather's Pizza	14690 Metro Pkwy	Fort Myers, FL 33912	239-561-9638
1.0	Shrimp Shack	13361 Metro Pkwy	Fort Myers, FL 33912	239-561-6817
1.2	Detroit Deli	2155 Andrea Ln	Fort Myers, FL 33912	239-590-9107
1.4	Metro Deli & Cafe	12951 Metro Pkwy	Fort Myers, FL 33912	239-561-0010
1.8	Sweet Tomatoes	14080 S Tamiami Trl	Fort Myers, FL 33912	239-489-1150
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Airports close to Hammond Stadium
Distance	Airport		Airport Code
4.3 miles	Southwest Florida International (Fort Myers)		RSW
72.9	Sarasota Bradenton International		SRQ
108.0	Tampa International		TPA
110.0	Miami International		MIA

Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers
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Hammond Stadium

2013 Twins Spring Training Schedule

Hotels close to Hammond Stadium

Restaurants close to Hammond Stadium

Airports close to Hammond Stadium