Twins Spring Training
2023 First Practice Dates |
Pitchers & Catchers: February 16Position Players: February 20 |
Recent Attendance |
Year | Total | Average |
2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 | 115,147 121,927 121,005 123,994 107,806 117,499 120,947 129,453 104,712 129,589 124,934 | 7,197 6,774 8,067 7,294 7,700 6,528 7,115 8,091 8,055 6,820 7,808 |
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Spring Training Info
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Minnesota Twins Spring Training |
Area Info - Fort Myers |
Hammond Stadium Spring Training home of the Twins since 1991Ballpark address: 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway Fort Myers, FL 33912 Opened: 1991 Renovated: 2014 & 2015 Capacity: 8,730 Send this page to a friend
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THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED LATER TO REFLECT THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE TO HAMMOND STADIUM FOR 2015. DUE TO ITS RENOVATION, SOME INFORMATION BELOW WILL BE INACCURATE.
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.
 2024 Twins Spring Training Schedule (only home games at Hammond Stadium are listed) |
* Single game tickets go on sale in early December. Links in calendar are to TicketNetwork inventory. See the full 2024 Twins Spring Training schedule
Stadium Information
Hammond Stadium has long been noted for its picturesque exterior, which was inspired by Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby. A palm tree lined path that breaks up the parking lot leads to the stadium, ending at a waterfall fountain plaza. The inside of the stadium has been upgraded in phases over the years to give it the splendor always found on the outside. An abundance of aluminum (all reserved seats were bleachers) was the interior's dominant feature until a multi-million dollar renovation in 2007 added a berm and party deck along the right field line. Another lawn area was added beyond the left field fence in 2014, when various types of seating sections spanning the outfield debuted. Come 2015 all of the bleacher benches that were so prevalent in the main grandstand were upgraded to stadium-style seating. The various changes made in 2014-15 that modernized the stadium were the result of a major $42.5 million renovation that induced the Twins to keep training on the grounds of the Lee County-financed complex through 2045 thanks to an accompanying 30-year lease agreement that went into effect when the facility upgrades were completed. Game day operations are run by the Fort Myers Miracle, a Minnesota minor league 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. While the name of the stadium has remained unchanged since then, the complex was rebranded in honor of a sponsor on September 25, 2014, so it's now known as the CenturyLink Sports Complex.
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 main scoreboard is in left-center field. It has a bottom LCD panel that lists player stats for that day's game. For fans sitting in the outfield an LED linescore board can be viewed on the facade behind home plate. There are no video boards within the venue.
The best selection of Twins merchandise can be found in the two-level Team Store that has a behind home plate location. The store's two levels are separated and thus have separate entrances: the door for the lower portion is outside of the stadium, next to Gate 2, while the bigger upper level is entered via the concourse. There are also a pair of smaller walk-in "Twins Gear" shops found along the concourse, with their locations being at the end of the third base grandstand and in the right field corner.
The annual tradition that is "Minnesota Day" will occur on Sunday, March 10 in 2024. Minnesota Day is simply a tailgate party for Minnesotans that's held prior to a game, with the gathering taking place in the Twins' complex near Hammond Stadium.
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
Chair backs with armrests (typical stadium-style seats) comprise all of the seating in the grandstand. Ticketed drink rails are found throughout the stadium, which also has two lawn seating areas in it.
Stadium seats: All 200 level sections plus 101-115 and 124-127
Bleachers: none
Berm: The small hill halfway down the right field line has a capacity of 230 fans. The bigger hill in left field can hold more.
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 netting extends from the midpoints of sections 102-114, which corresponds to the outfield end of each dugout. The netting material is so thin that it's essentially invisible, so obstruction is minimal for those sitting behind the screen in the 100-level sections.
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 in the stadium's lower grandstand range as follows:
1 to 14 in section 101; 1 to 16 in section 102; 3 to 14 in section 103; A to B then 1 to 16 in sections 104-107; A to B then 1 to 14 in section 108; A to B then 1 to 16 in sections 109-112; 3 to 14 in section 113; 1 to 16 in section 114; 4 to 14 in section 115
Rows for sections in the stadium's upper grandstand range as follows:
1 to 14 in sections 201-204; 1 to 12 in sections 205-206; 1 to 14 in section 207; 1 to 13 in sections 208, 210-212; 1 to 14 in section 213; 1 to 12 in section 214; 1 to 14 in sections 215-217
There is no section 209, as it was removed in 2015 to create the grand entry.
Rows for sections with stadium seats in the outfield range as follows:
1 to 7 in sections 124-127
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 101-102 and 114-115 are sold as Diamond Box.
Sections 103-113 are sold as Home Plate Box.
The first 2 rows of sections 104-112 are sold as Dugout Box.
Sections 124-127 are sold as Grandstand.
Sections 201-217 are sold as Home Plate View.
Space on the right field line berm is sold as Right Field Lawn.
Space on the berm in left field is sold as Left Field Lawn.
Numerous non-traditional seating sections, comprised of drink rail or tabletop seating, abound and are sold as thus: sections 116-117 as Bullpen Zone; section 119 as Left Field Drink Rails; sections 121-123 as Scoreboard Pavilion; sections 128-129 as The Porch; section 130 as Right Field Bullpen; section 132 as Right Field Drink Rails; section 301 as First Base Terrace; section 302 as Third Base Terrace
Children 2 & under get in free so long as they can sit in an adult ticket holder's lap.
Seats to avoid
The first row of every 200-level section has frequent obstructed views due to foot traffic on the aisle in front of them, which is a result of the upper grandstand being elevated only a couple of feet above the aisle. So those walking on it became a view blocking issue for fans sitting in Row 1 in each of the 16 Home Plate View sections.
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 2 hours before game time.
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".
Re-entry is not permitted. Prior to 2015, fans were allowed to exit the stadium and re-enter it by getting their ticket marked by an attendant. With that policy now discontinued, there are no longer in and out privileges at Hammond Stadium.
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.
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 |
Distance | Hotel | Street Address | City/Zip | Phone |
1.9 miles | Crestwood Suites | 7071 Lakeridge Ct | Fort Myers, FL 33907 | 239-415-8440 |
2.3 | Best Western Airport Inn | 8955 Daniels Pkwy | Fort Myers, FL 33912 | 239-561-7000 |
5.4 | Courtyard by Marriott | 4455 Metro Pkwy | Fort Myers, FL 33916 | 239-275-8600 |
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 |
List your hotel |
 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 |
1.0 | Shrimp Shack | 13361 Metro Pkwy | Fort Myers, FL 33912 | 239-561-6817 |
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 |
List your restaurant or bar |
 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 |

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