Baseball Fans – Spring Training is Almost Here!

For baseball fans, the wait is almost over. In less than a month, your favorite players will be back – spring training style. So, it’s time for you to dig out those jerseys, find your baseball glove, and start making plans for a Spring Training vacation.

The big question for you is whether to head to Florida or Arizona. That’s an easy one of course – Florida! Florida is where Spring Training started. The World Championship St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox train here. And you can combine a trip to Florida’s beautiful beaches or a touristy theme park with a trip to the ballpark.

It doesn’t cost a fortune to attend a Spring Training game either. Sure, you can pay the big bucks for box seats. But, the view isn’t bad in the cheap seats either. Remember, spring training ballparks aren’t huge. Parking is relatively “reasonable.” And there are plenty of hot dogs, ice cold beer, soda pop, and Cracker Jacks to enjoy as you soak up the warm Florida sunshine.

Fifteen MLB teams train in the Florida sun between March 3rd and April 4th. Here are few of our favorites:

•Saint Louis Cardinals / Miami Marlins– The 2011 World Champions train in Jupiter, Florida along with the Miami Marlins. This is good news for baseball fans. It seems like there’s a game here every day during spring training! Just up the road from West Palm Beach, it’s South Florida’s only spring training venue.

•Detroit Tigers – For over 75 years, the Tigers have been making the trip to Lakeland’s Tiger Town. No other spring training city has had a relationship this long with the same team! The stadium was remodeled in 2003, but still retains the historical charm baseball fans fell in love with.

•Pittsburgh Pirates – Bradenton, Florida’s McKechnie Stadium is one of the nation’s oldest spring training stadiums. It was built in 1923, remodeled in 1993, and been a fan favorite for years. It has some of the cheapest reserved seats in the state. And, more than a 1/3 of the seats are in the shade.

•New York Yankees – Tampa, Florida is home to Steinbrenner Field, a miniature version of famed Yankee stadium. You’ll have to shell out the big bucks here. There aren’t any bleacher or general admission tickets. All tickets are “reserved armchair seating.” It’s the most popular ticket in Spring Training too. We recommend purchasing these tickets in advance.

•Atlanta Braves – Walt Disney World hosts the Atlanta Braves. Tickets here tend to be more pricy, up to $46. But, you get all that Disney magic with the ticket. There’s Disney entertainment to enjoy between innings and night games may even feature a fireworks show.

•Washington Nationals – The Nationals aren’t the best team in baseball, but they do train just 15 minutes from one of Florida’s most famous beaches – Cocoa Beach, Florida. Catch a ball game then stroll down the beach that NASA and I Dream of Jeannie made famous!

•Houston Astros – Kissimmee, Florida hosts a Texas sized spring training for the Astros. It’s a fantastic venue with plenty of covered seating and it’s convenient to Orlando attractions. Plus, you’ll get to sing Deep in the Heart of Texas during the 7th inning stretch.

For a complete 2012 spring training schedule and ticketing information, visit springtrainingonline.com/