2015 Spring Training - Hammond Stadium Seating

[shanemcdowell]

For someone going to a couple of Spring Training games this year, and for the first time, do any of you have tips on the seating at Hammond? For example, are the ushers pretty strict on seating, or can you move freely around the park, if there are open seats? If it's pretty strict, what are two spots from which you would recommend watching?

 

Any and all info is appreciated!

[Thrylos]

The ushers are very strict on seating, unless it is late in the game and there are a lot of empty seats.  But you can walk around and stand.  As far as watching, behind the catcher is always nice      OF tables are good as well, but a bit far from the action

[James]

For someone going to a couple of Spring Training games this year, and for the first time, do any of you have tips on the seating at Hammond? For example, are the ushers pretty strict on seating, or can you move freely around the park, if there are open seats? If it's pretty strict, what are two spots from which you would recommend watching?

 

Any and all info is appreciated!

Great questions.  

 

I am also heading to spring training for the first time this year.  We have our dates picked out, but we haven't officially booked a hotel.  Does anyone have any recommendations on where to stay?  We're not planning on having a car, so we will need to be able to get to the games somehow. 

 

Also, should we buy tickets ahead of time, or should we just buy them as we get there?

[shanemcdowell]

James, I would definitely recommend searching for the Thrylos posts from previous years. All sorts of hotel info and city logistics. The logistics entry from last year is here: http://twinsdaily.com/blog/54/entry-4588-2014-spring-training-guide-to-fort-myers-part-i-the-logistics/

[Thrylos]

Having a car over there is almost a must.   The area around the ballpark complex is not walking friendly.  There are not even sidewalks IIRC.  The closest hotels are about 3.5-4 miles away at Daniels Pkwy around I-75.   Close to a dozen hotels in that area and another dozen restaurants.  Doable, but not recommended.

[James]

Having a car over there is almost a must.   The area around the ballpark complex is not walking friendly.  There are not even sidewalks IIRC.  The closest hotels are about 3.5-4 miles away at Daniels Pkwy around I-75.   Close to a dozen hotels in that area and another dozen restaurants.  Doable, but not recommended.

Hmm... That might change our plans a bit.  We had planned on taking the bus to get around.  I'm not sure if that is something that is doable.  

 

The ladyfriend wanted to stay on Ft. Meyers beach.... which appears to be a little bit of a hike to the stadium.  We're generally the type to rent bikes, so that might be an option too, but the beach appears to be some 12 miles away from the stadium.  That might be a bit much.  

[LimestoneBaggy]

James. I've made the trip numerous times (and again this year). I've stayed either in hotels or private rentals. Depending on your budget, I can recommend some places (it used to be when the economy was garbage that you could really steal a deal if you didn't mind driving to the adjacent Cape Coral). For what it's worth, I tend to avoid FM beach and head out to Sanibel/Captiva Islands. The beaches are removed from the party scene and much more to my suiting with my kids (and the grandmas come with as well).

 

As to moving seats, from my trips, there is rarely an easy opportunity, but I've sat all over the stadium and it's much like a minor league park in that you're pretty close no matter what. I haven't been there since the remodel though. 

 

Feel free to reply or PM me and I can provide some more specifics. I've been planning my annual blog post, and I think I'll do a Spring Training post this year. However, I'm sure it will be centered around what to do with kids.....

[VandyTwinsFan]

I went to a few games back in 2011. I think I actually enjoyed the lawn area the most, but it was a slow day and there weren't a ton of kids running around so I could enjoy my beverage and hotdog in peace. Probably a weekday. The players warm up in that area so you end up being really close to a few. You may get a little sore on the lawn, but the park is so nice you can easily go for a walk and stretch your legs. I wouldn't do it every day, but once was a nice treat.

Other notes: car is a must, water was still cold, was told not to swim off sanibel island due to stingrays, sunset was still beautiful there, bring sunscreen.

[stringer bell]

I can't remember seeing any buses going to Hammond. I saw a couple of people bike in to the stadium and met one who biked every day from her residence, but it isn't a short trip and I don't know if there are bike trails coming to the park.

 

There aren't many bad seats and the ushers etc. are friendly and helpful. It is a nice experience. Many of the games I've gone to have been sold out or close.

[Squirrel]

There is a bus stop on Plantation Rd that runs along the west side of the stadium complex.  There is a bus system in Ft. Myers, but it doesn't run as frequently as in a large city.  You would have to do a lot of planning to get around by bus.  You'll have to check out the system to see how it works.  Personally, I wouldn't count on using the transit system and would highly recommend a car, but it's doable.  Again, with a lot of planning.   Here is the website for the bus system.

 

But if you are a biker, you can rent bikes by the week and bike in, unless you end up staying too far away.  There are sidewalks for bikes and a lot of people do commute that way here, but many more still use cars.  I met a guy at the stadium once who biked into the game, and then found out he lived in the same development as my parents.  So, it's doable, if you are a biker.

 

I think there's a hotel at Bell Towers, (the Crown Plaza, I think?) which is closer to the stadium than the ones out on I-75; I think there are others near there, but I don't recall the names and I would guess it's expensive.  (Edit: Crowne Plaza, Fairfield Inn, Crestwood Suites and Homewood Suites are all near Bell Towers, near-ish the stadium.  Maybe a tad closer than those out by I-75, but not by much.)  From what I've been hearing from my trips down so far this year is that everything in the area is really booked!  After last year's winter, a lot of people want OUT of the north this year.  So, I'd advise you to make your plans NOW.

 

If you have a car, and don't mind going out a bit, check out hotel listings in Estero or Bonita Springs, but stay away from Fort Myers Beach!  That time of year the traffic to/from there is more than impossible!  If you find a hotel and want an idea about proximity to things, shoot me a PM.

[Squirrel]

As for seats in the stadium, that's all individual.  I like the seats along the 1st base side in the upper part(sections 203-206), about 10 rows back ... they enjoy the shade for most of the game!  I also enjoy the new seats out in right field.  The back row is under a pergola type thing, so while not completely in the shade, it feels a little filtered.  But if you don't mind sun, go for the seats in the lower section, between the dugouts (sections 105-111).  If you've never been before, and don't mind wandering during the game, just get something out in right field or even standing room, and just keep walking around.  As Thrylos said, the ushers do check your tickets, particularly in the main stadium area, but late in the games you can pretty much sit anywhere.

[James]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.  I appreciate it.  Thanks for the bus information.  We're staying on Ft. Myers beach, so it would take about 2 hours to get to the stadium via the bus.  So that idea is out.  We were going to rent bikes, but it's about 12.5 miles away.  The ladyfriend and I are pretty avid cyclists, but that may be just out of range for the casual bike ride to the park.  So, it looks like our options are renting a car, or possibly a couple of scooters.

[Squirrel]

Yikes ... from there it's still going to take you 2 hours to get to the stadium, depending on which way you come.  Driving it ... go around and come up 41 instead of trying to cross the bridge to San Carlos.  It's fun being on Fort Myers Beach ... it's just not so fun getting elsewhere.  Play it by ear ... some days it might be okay.  If you don't need a car every day, you could check to see if they do zip cars down there and rent as you need it.  But given the amount of people around that time of year, I don't know if I would count on that or trust that cars would be returned on time for when you need it.  A car rental for a week that time of year could cost more than airfare.  Check with off-airport rental companies as they will likely have slightly better pricing.

 

I like the scooter idea!

[stringer bell]

We rented a car last year and it was really expensive. It seemed like our choice was between a while Impala and a........white Impala. I just found out that I'm tentatively going back the week of St. Pat's Day, so I will have to remember the ins and outs of Ft. Myers and getting to Hammond.

[Squirrel]

We rented a car last year and it was really expensive. It seemed like our choice was between a while Impala and a........white Impala. I just found out that I'm tentatively going back the week of St. Pat's Day, so I will have to remember the ins and outs of Ft. Myers and getting to Hammond.

I'll just miss you, stringer ... I'll be there 8-15 March.

[stringer bell]

 

I'll just miss you, stringer ... I'll be there 8-15 March.

Yeah, you mentioned when you would be there. Too bad, I probably would have sprung for a frosty beverage.

[GrandMaraisTwinsFan]

Spring Training 2011 I stayed at the Crown Plaza by the Bell Tower shops. They had a free shuttle to and from both Twins and Red Sox games. Also there was a shuttle to take us back and forth from the beaches that was free. They were also running a special in March called the Beaches and Baseball deal.

[Halsey Hall]

For anyone that comes I strongly suggest the practices are a can't miss.  Really better than games IMO.  Come to the park the days of away games and take it all in. 

[stringer bell]

For anyone that comes I strongly suggest the practices are a can't miss.  Really better than games IMO.  Come to the park the days of away games and take it all in.

I find both the exhibition games and watching the minor leaguers to be interesting. My brother has been my traveling companion for the three years we've gone to Fort Myers and he much prefers watching the prospects, even if it is just practice. With the diamonds adjacent to one another, a person can see two or three games at once, perhaps watching a big leaguer getting some extra work, or maybe seeing a top prospect strut his stuff.

 

Personally, after watching Vargas take BP a couple of times last year, I was convinced he would be DHing for the Twins by September. I also saw a lot to like in Berrios.