Fort Lauderdale Stadium

Parking
The small paved lot behind home plate is reserved for season pass holders. Another paved lot parallel to the right field line fills up with early arrivals, after which cars are routed to the plethora of gravel spaces found within the complex at Lockhart Stadium, the name of the neighboring football/soccer stadium.
 Cost: $5

Stadium Information
Fort Lauderdale Stadium is a weathered relic of spring trainings past. A hand-operated marquee sign that lists upcoming games is the highlight of a non-descript exterior, livened up only by palm trees. There's nothing fancy about the interior, which is blighted by rusted or rotted seats in the grandstand and an overabundance of bleachers, which are disconnected from the stadium and require separate entrances. Despite having many shortcomings by modern day standards, Fort Lauderdale Stadium is now the oldest continuously used spring training ballpark in Florida, although its days are likely numbered. The Orioles had hoped to build a new $36 million ballpark where Lockhart Stadium now stands, but that deal has been held up by the FAA, which owns the land. A more likely scenario is that the team will move in the near future and the stadium will eventually be torn down to allow for expansion of the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.

Fast Facts

Practice Fields

Types of Seating
All seats in the grandstand have chair backs and armrests. There are two large sections of bleachers down each outfield line and two more behind the right field wall.

Notes about the seating

Sections and rows

Seats to avoid
The modern plastic box seats are very comfortable, but the old-time wooden reserved grandstand seats aren't. Furthermore, the view from the first three rows (A-C) of seats in the reserved grandstand are obstructed by foot traffic on the aisle. Bleachers are never known for their comfort and Fort Lauderdale Stadium has plenty of them. You can't move from the bleachers into the grandstand so if you buy a general admission bleacher ticket just remember that you'll be stuck there for the whole game.

Seats under cover and in the shade
The entire reserved grandstand is covered by a roof, making this a great stadium for those who prefer to sit in the shade. In the box seats, shade is cast upon rows G & up in all odd-numbered sections (first base side).

VIP seating
Not one of this stadium's strengths. Many of the best box seats in the house (rows AA and AAA in sections 1-8 at field level between the dugouts) are behind a black chain link fence that isn't easy to see through. There is a single sky box on the first base end of the press box, but there's a reason luxury suites have replaced sky boxes in more recent stadiums. Luxury boxes are, well, luxurious. Sky boxes are just plain high up.

Game Day
Gates open about 2 hours before game time -- at 11:00 AM for a 1:05 PM start. Fans in the grandstand have little reason to show up early as they have no access to the bleachers during batting practice, thereby eliminating any chance of getting a ball or autograph.

Food, drink and bag policy

Getting autographs
Fans in the grandstand are out of luck, as players that sign prior to games do so at the near ends of the left (visitors) or right field (Orioles) general admission bleachers. Fans in those cheap seats can stand behind the bullpens during the game, where they can periodically get an autograph.

Unique ballpark fare
Like bathrooms, concession stands are scarce and concentrated on the small concourse just inside of the main entrance, which is known as the "Food Court Area." The only option out of the ordinary in 2009 were the arepas, a Latin America specialty made of sweet corn bread and filled with mozzarella. Fans stranded in the bleachers have their own concessions, but the arepas and any other specialty items are not available there. Fort Lauderdale Stadium is the only spring training venue that does not serve draft beer. Instead, a limited selection of bottled beer is sold by vendors in the grandstand and at some stands in the concourse, where Coca-Cola is served at all stands.

2009 Orioles Spring Training Schedule (only home games at Fort Lauderdale Stadium are listed)
February	Day	Time	Visiting Team
25	Wednesday	1:05	Mets
26	Thursday	1:05	Cardinals
28	Saturday	1:05	Marlins
March	Day	Time	Visiting Team
2	Monday	1:05	Red Sox
4	Wednesday	1:05	Dominican Republic (WBC)
5	Thursday	1:05	Marlins
6	Friday	1:05	Nationals
8	Sunday	1:05	Twins
11	Wednesday	1:05	Twins
13	Friday	1:05	Cardinals
14	Saturday	1:05	Red Sox
18	Wednesday	1:05	Cardinals
20	Friday	1:05	Mets
21	Saturday	1:05	Rays
24	Tuesday	1:05	Nationals
26	Thursday	1:05	Marlins
29	Sunday	1:05	Mets
31	Tuesday	1:05	Cardinals
April	Day	Time	Visiting Team
1	Wednesday	1:05	Marlins
* Single game tickets went on sale Saturday, January 10. See the full 2009 Orioles Spring Training schedule

Ballpark Area Info
Fort Lauderdale Stadium and neighboring Lockhart Stadium (home of Florida Atlantic University football) feel misplaced among the industrial parks and corporate airport that they are nestled between. As such, the stadium's identity is most often associated with its poor choice of location, which makes spring training feel like an afterthought. Adding to that feeling is the fact that Baltimore's minor leaguers have nowhere to train. Hence the reason why their minor league camp is in Sarasota, making the Orioles the only Major League team to not have all of their players in one location.

Travelers' notes

Restaurants close to Fort Lauderdale Stadium
Distance	Restaurant	Street Address	City/Zip	Phone
0.4 miles	Jax House of Ribs	5401 Powerline Rd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-776-4994
0.5	The Frog & Toad Pub	5782 Powerline Rd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-491-3697
0.55	KFC	990 W Commercial Blvd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-492-8191
0.55	Major League Heros	953 W Commercial Blvd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-491-7555
0.6	McDonald's	950 W Commercial Blvd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-928-0910
0.6	Spectrum Cafe	1900 W Commercial Blvd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-772-5545
0.6	Miami Subs	891 W Commercial Blvd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-938-9400
0.7	Twin Diner	4871 Powerline Rd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-491-4282
0.75	Salad Creations	6251 Powerline Rd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-689-9998
0.75	Subway	6251 Powerline Rd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-489-7786
0.8	Bennigan's	665 W Cypress Creek Rd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-771-2800
0.8	La Mia Focaccia	6303 Powerline Rd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-772-9499
List your restaurant or bar
Hotels close to Fort Lauderdale Stadium
Distance	Hotel	Street Address	City/Zip	Phone
0.45 miles	University Inn	1500 W Commercial Blvd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-776-4222
0.65	La Quinta Inn	999 W Cypress Creek Rd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-491-7666
0.7	El Palacio Hotel	4900 Powerline Rd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-776-4880
0.7	Extended Stay Deluxe	6001 NW 6th Way	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-772-3155
0.75	Red Roof Inn	4800 Powerline Rd	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-776-6333
0.9	Sheraton	555 NW 62nd St	Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309	954-772-5400
List your hotel
Airports close to Fort Lauderdale Stadium
Distance	Airport		Airport Code
8.6 miles	Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International		FLL
28.1	Miami International		MIA
34.4	Palm Beach International		PBI
89.9	St Lucie County International		FPR

Contact Us With Any Questions About Orioles Spring Training