Florida’s Grapefruit League Major League Baseball Spring Training Near Kissimmee Hotel
Florida’s Grapefruit League features spring training of major league baseball teams in 16 locations throughout Florida, including the Houston Astros at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee and the Atlanta Braves at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex. The Radisson Worldgate Resort Orlando Kissimmee hotel is located just 16 miles from the Houston Astros spring training games and 5 miles from the Atlanta Braves games.
Major league baseball spring training dates back to October 1908 when the Cincinnati Reds played the semi-pro St. Petersburg Saints. Then in February 1913, the Chicago Cubs arrived in Tampa for spring training and the Cleveland Indians played in Pensacola. Over the years, spring training moved in and around all of Florida. Thirty-five different Florida sites have held spring training. All but six of today's major league teams have trained in Florida (Anaheim Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks).
The Florida Grapefruit League Association was formed to enhance Florida's Relationship with all Spring Training venues through improved communication and information exchange. With venues from Lake Buena Vista to Fort Lauderdale on Florida’s east coast and from Lakeland to Fort Myers on the west coast, there is spring training baseball for everyone in Florida!
The Houston Astros have been playing their spring training games at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee since 1985. Osceola County Stadium is the smallest in the league and prides itself on player accessibility. From mid-February through March, Astrophiles are allowed to watch every workout—at no charge. Neither the home nor the visiting clubhouse is connected to dugouts, so players must walk outside with fans where they will often sign autographs and pose for photographs. The Park is very family-friendly with pine trees lining the outfield and a fenced playground so kids have a safe place to play while parents are enjoying the game!
The Atlanta Braves have called Champion® Stadium at Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex their spring training home since 1998. This stadium is one of the largest with 9,500 seats in a two-deck grandstand and is built in a Florida Spanish Mission design. Energetic and cheerful cast members roam the stadium as concessionaires making for a fun experience for all. In the general admission area on the left-line, fans can comfortably sit or stand atop a grassy hill to take in the game. Between innings a four piece brass band plays on top of the Braves dugout and entertaining trivia is asked of fans for prizes.
For more information about Florida’s Grapefruit League, visit their official website linked at the bottom of this page.
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