THE FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE IS MADE UP OF TEAMS WHO PLAY IN FACILITIES THAT ARE THE SPRING TRAINING HOMES OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE AFFILIATES. IN MARCH
CROWDS OF PEOPLE FILL THESE PARKS BUT ONCE APRIL HITS, THESE PARKS DRAW
LESS THAN 1000 PEOPLE PER NIGHT, MANY DRAW LESS THAN 500. MOST OF THE TEAMS RELY ONLY ON SPRING TRAINING AND DON'T DO MUCH FOR THE SEASON, HERE AT HAMMOND STADIUM IT IS DIFFERENT. THE FORT MYERS MIRACLE SEEMS TO TRY
TO DRAW FANS AND BEING OWNED MY MIKE VEECK, THEY DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

WHEN DISCUSSING HAMMOND STADIUM, YOU HAVE TO START WITH THE EXTERIOR. $3
GETS YOU INTO THE PARKING LOT WHERE YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO PARK IN ROWS
NAMED AFTER TWINS GREATS. KAAT, CAREW, AND HRBEK GIVE A MAJOR LEAGUE FEEL TO THE PARKING AREA.

BEING THE SPRING TRAINING HOME TO THE MINNESTOA TWINS, HAMMOND FIELD OFFERS FANS WHO ARE USED TO DOULBE DIGIT NEGATIVE TEMPERATURES A GRAND ENTRANCE LINED WITH PALM TREES AND AN ATTRECTIVE FOUNTAIN. ALL OF THIS MAKES FOR A FIRST CLASS FEEL TO THE LEE COUNTY SPORTS COMPLEX.  

ONCE THROUGH THE GATES, TAKE A WALK UP TWO FLIGHTS OF STAIRS TO THE MAIN CONCOURSE AREA.  A GIFT SHOP AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS AWAITS AND A COUPLE OF CONCESSION STANDS LOCATED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HOME PLATE AREA. SO FAR EVERYTHING SEEMS PRETTY GOOD AND WITH ACTUAL FANS ATTENDING THIS FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE GAME, THERE IS A VERY GOOD FEEL TO THE PARK.

ONCE INTO THE SEATING AREA, THERE ARE PLENTY OF SEATS AVAILABLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 20 ROWS OF CHAIRS MAKING UP THE LOWER LEVEL AND THE REST OF THE PARK MADE UP OF ALUMINUM BLEACHERS, THANKFULLY WITH BACKS.

AS FOR THE GAME, IT IS HANDLED PRETTY WELL HERE. THERE AREN’T MANY BETWEEN INNING PROMOTIONS BUT EACH DAY OF THE WEEK HAS A PROMOTION FROM A LOCAL ESTABLISMENT. I ATTENDED ON A 2 FOR 1 BEER NIGHT, THE CROWD MAINTAINED CIVILITY AND MADE FOR A CONTINUED ENJOYABLE NIGHT.

HAMMOND STADIUM OFFERS A MAJOR LEAGUE ENTRANCEWAY AND AN OWNERSHIP GROUP THAT TRIES TO MAKE SOMETHING WORK. I WILL SAY HIS ABOUT THE FANS IN FORT MYERS, THEY ARE VERY BRAVE WHEN IT COMES TO STORMS. THERE WERE
THREATENING CLOUDS, THUNDER AND LIGHTENING CLOSE TO THE PARK TREATING THIS ACTIVITY AS PAR FOR THE COURSE.