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2011 Red Sox Spring Training
Boston's spring home is City of Palms Park, which was built in 1992 in Ft. Myers and lured the Red Sox away from Winter Haven, where they had trained from 1966-1992.
City of Palms Park has 7,290 permanent seats. Attendance figures exceed that capacity because the Red Sox sell tickets for a grass berm down the right field line, plus they offer standing room only admission. * Beginning in 2012, the Red Sox will train at a new ballpark in Fort Myers. Click here for information about JetBlue Park and 2014 Red Sox spring training.
Reporting DatesPitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers on February 13. Position players arrive on the 17th and the first full team workout is two days later. Until exhibition games begin, practices are held at the Player Development Complex each morning from approximately 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The Complex is located at 4301 Edison Avenue, just two and a half miles from City of Palms Park. Fans can watch practice sessions for free but there is no public parking at the Complex, so shuttle buses are provided from City of Palms Park for $2 per person.
The Red Sox have sold out 104 straight Grapefruit League games so tickets will quickly sell out. When they do, fans can still purchase reserved standing room only tickets for just $15 by calling 239-334-4700 or 617-482-4769. Standing room tickets are also sold for $10 on the morning of the game on a first come, first served basis. But you need to arrive very early to buy them. Unlike Fenway Park, standing room in Ft. Myers is not a bad option. City of Palms Park has one wide aisle between the box and reserved seats, and that is where fans can stand. The earlier you enter the ballpark, the better your view. If you want actual seats to the sold out games in advance, the only real option is to choose a ticket reselling company like TicketsNow, where Red Sox spring training tickets are sold for $35 and up.
* In the diagram, box seats are sections 101-124; reserved seats are 201-216. Note: Tickets are half-price for the annual exhibition games against Boston College and Northeastern.
Ballpark AddressCity of Palms Park 2201 Edison Avenue Ft. Myers, FL 33901
DirectionsFrom I-75, take Exit 138 west onto Martin Luther King Blvd. (SR 82), turn left on Fowler St. and then right on Edison Ave. The ballpark is located on a palm tree-lined street in a neighborhood near houses and an apartment complex. Unlike most Florida spring training venues, it's not visible from any main roads.
ParkingIf you arrive early enough, there will be parking available at the ballpark for $7. Show up less than a half hour before game time and you have to grab a space at one of the many unofficial parking lots that exist throughout the neighborhood. The cost for those is $5-$10.
City of Palms Park NotesDesigned by HOK Sport, the firm responsible for Camden Yards and most new ballparks since. The Red Sox have a lease to train here through 2019. Their lease with Lee County calls for Boston to pay about $300,000 in rent annually plus utilities and other capital expenses. The Red Sox Gulf Coast League minor league team used to play a handful of games here from June to August, but now the ballpark goes mostly unused outside of Spring Training. The Red Sox have a five field minor league complex located 2.5 miles east of City of Palms Park at 4301 Edison Avenue. This is also where the team's fantasy camp takes place. The Boston Globe used to be sold outside of the main ballpark entrance. It still is at the Player Development Complex. City of Palms Park had 6,990 permanent seats when it opened on March 5, 1993. The Red Sox have sold out every official Grapefruit League game at City of Palms Park since March 16, 2003. The largest crowd ever to attend a game is 8,278, which occurred on March 23, 2009. A Right Field Deck was unveiled at City of Palms Park in 2007. Located directly behind the outfield fence, it includes approximately 150 barstool-type seats and a drink rail, making the section similar to the Green Monster seats at Fenway Park. On November 1, 2008, it was announced that the Red Sox will move to a new spring training ballpark in Lee County when it's completed in 2012. Fort Myers is located within Lee County, with whom the team signed a 30-year lease to play at the estimated $80 million ballpark, which will be paid for entirely by the county. A complete guide to City of Palms Park can be found at Spring Training Connection.
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Face value ticket prices are:
