#Charmas boardwalk bowl cover crack#

There are plenty of places to celebrate St. on Saturday, March 1, when the crosstown rival Boston Red Sox take on the Twins.The best way to celebrate one of the biggest party days of the year? By saving a little green. The first game in the newly renovated stadium will be played at 1:05 p.m. The money for the $48.5 million in improvements comes from Lee County bed tax dollars, a contribution from the Twins and a $15 million state grant.

Phase II of the project, which is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2015 spring training season, will include the replacement of the existing bleacher-style seating of the upper bowl, which, once renovations are completed, will give the stadium a total seating capacity of 9,300 - up from its current capacity of 7,500.Īlso included in the second phase is a new retail store, the expansion of the main concourse, two new elevator towers on the outside concourse and a new open air walkway that connect the inner and outer concourses. “That intimate experience is really important ad we think these improvements will enhance that,” Miller said. One of the things Populous did to maintain that experience is the expansion of the covered picnic areas between the home team bullpen and the practice infield, located past the left field line where fans can see the players come and go during warm-ups and workouts. Since it was first built in 1991, the site has garnered a reputation for being one of the most autograph-friendly in the Grapefruit League. One of the biggest charms of “The Hamm” and the surrounding complex has always been the fans’ proximity to the players. “There’s some great overlooks of the training areas in left and a great overlook out in right field out over the lake.” “You’ll be able to see the game from different vantage points and really experience spring training in a different way by being that close to outfielders, being right on the outfield wall,” Miller said. A grass berm beyond the left field fence has also been added. The academy, which was paid for entirely by the Twins’ organization, includes dorm facilities for up to 108 players and a 200-seat auditorium.Īlso included in Phase I are the boardwalk, new alcohol concessions just beyond the right and left foul poles and the addition of 1,236 new seats, including drink rail and party areas. The project’s first phase includes renovations to the clubhouse and administrative areas, as well as the construction of a player development academy on the west side of the complex. Construction will force the Miracle to play its final eight home games in August and any postseason games in nearby JetBlue Park. The renovations were planned in two phases so as to minimally disrupt the seasons for either the Twins or the Fort Myers Miracle, the organization’s Florida State League affiliate. “Now you’ll actually be able to walk all the way around the field of play.” “The goal is enhancing the fan experience and so what we’ve done here is create a lot more real estate for people to move around the stadium,” project manager Bruce Miller said. Populous is the Kansas City, Mo.-based architecture firm that also designed the Twins’ stadium in Minnesota, as well as the new Yankee Stadium among other major sporting venues.

“We see that at Target Field and a lot of the learning that went on at Target Field around creating very strategic standing room areas went into thinking with Populous’ design of our boardwalk here.” “Fans today, particularly baseball fans, want to be transient,” St. The boardwalk adds nearly 42,000 square feet to the original structure and includes more covered areas for fans to escape the Florida sun, as well as additional restrooms and concessions. “Hammond Stadium has widely been known as one of the better spring training facilities as is, but this enhancement, with the boardwalk, I think adds a whole new dimension.” “Fans are going to be right on top of the action,” Twins President David St.

Taking a cue from the Twins’ regular season home at Target Field, the new and improved Hammond will offer fans the chance to see the game from anywhere around the field thanks to the newly added 360 degree boardwalk. While work crews put the final touches on the spring training home of the Minnesota Twins, media received the first official glimpse at the $48.5 million renovation Wednesday afternoon.

#Charmas boardwalk bowl cover crack#

Hammond Stadium still smelled of fresh paint and lumber Wednesday, as the sound of pneumatic drills filled the air.īut don’t worry, the aroma of hot dogs and the familiar crack of wood on the ball are soon to return.