Hello. I'm looking for some opinions from anyone who has made plans previously or currently to see some MLB spring training in Florida. I'm planning to be in Orlando next March for about 5 days (for Walt Disney World, of course) and was considering taking a few days extra to see some baseball. I want to see the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. Should I get tickets in advance and how soon? Do you get a better chance to get autographs from players there? I would just like to hear from anyone who has planned a vacation for this purpose. Thanks very much!

Sandi

Hi Sandi:

I often go to the S.T. games in St. Lucie and Jupiter. Jupiter, as you may know, is aways from Orlando but lots of people enjoy staying in Orlando and driving around Florida. If I were you I'd definitely buy tix for the ST. GAMES early and online if you can..faster...they go REAL quick. For the practices and stretches and prior to S.T. beginning, you'll be fine if you want to see the players. Players are great (even Mark McGwire) bright and early better than after for autographs at S.T., better than during the season. I'm a big baseball fan and do the S.T. thing when I am able in March.

I went to Spring Training games last year. Went to Vero Beach (Dodgers) and Tampa (Yankees). I recommend Vero Beach. It's like watching major leaguers at a little league stadium. Great for getting autographs before the game, or after the practices. Tampa seemed more like the majors. Much bigger stadium, more separated from the players. I got my tickets early (right after they went on sale, it varies by team) and I was 5 rows up, behind home plate, for Dodgers. It was really cool. Even my wife enjoyed it.

Our son loves the Braves and we follow them all over the state during spring training. It's very difficult to get autographs in Orlando. The best place we've found is in Bradenton (spring home of Pittsburgh Pirates). Andrew Jones, Bobby Cox, CHipper Jones spent a lot of time autographing. Do get online the minute they go on sale.

Hi Sandi,

We live in Baltimore, and enjoy seeing the Orioles during spring training in Fort Lauderdale. The O's don't begin selling spring training tickets until January, but they sell out quickly after going on sale, so my advice is to buy as soon as sales open.

You will find that the players are very relaxed and willing to chat with you, sign autographs, etc. at spring training games. Your best bet is to go early before games or wait around after the games end.

I know you will be fairly far away from Fort Lauderdale, but remember that this will probably be Cal Ripken's last spring training, so try to get to an Orioles game, because he's very generous with signing autographs, posing for pictures, and chatting with fans.

One other suggestion: ask about seats that don't have you facing into the sun during game times. Even with sunglasses and caps on, it can be brutal looking into the sun for an entire game. It's better with the sun coming behind you.

Spring training games are a blast - - - have fun!

Thanks to all for the replies. Do the Cardinals play at the other stadiums in Florida or just at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter? I really have not researched this prospect yet, my mind just runs a bit wild when thinking about vacation. So, I guess it's necessary to get tickets right when they go on sale for the spring training. When will this be?

Thanks again!

Sandi

To the top for more info, please!

Sandi,

Usually tickets go on sale in January. That includes all teams. Call the Cardinals office in St. Louis to find out exactly when they go on sale. Someone there will most likely give you a phone number or email address for the Cards in Florida, so that you can buy tickets directly from the stadium in Florida.

Yes, the teams go on "road trips", just like they do in the regular season. If you want to see games in their "home" stadium in Florida, be sure to ask for the Cardinals' spring training schedule. They might not even be playing at home when you're in Florida. We usually get the schedule first, then decide when we'll go. If you want to travel to other towns in Florida to see the Cardinals play away games, you will have to call that team's office for tickets. Hope this helps.

Rudy,

Thank you for following up again to my questions. I did not know that the teams traveled to different spring training stadiums for games. I will have to see if there would be something closer to Orlando than Jupiter and hope the dates will work. Thank you again.

Sandi

Some of the information here is only partially correct. Yes, the teams "travel," but only for day trips to to the sites of teams training near them. For instance, the Dodgers, training in Vero Beach, often play the Mets, who train in Port St. Lucie--or to Jupiter. Teams very rarely stay overnight at these other sites, as the training camp headquarters already is paid for. In short, there are no "road trips" in Florida spring training.

You're correct, Gary, that the teams don't stay overnight in another town, but they do often travel to other towns for as many as three days in a row, therefore they don't play at "home" during those days. I learned my lesson many years ago when I first traveled to Florida for spring training. I was only in Fort Lauderdale for one week, and the Orioles played away games for all but two days of that week, and the primary reason that I went there was to see them play in Fort Lauderdale. Sandi, make sure that you get a spring training schedule for the Cardinals so that you know where they're playing on any given day.

Sandi,

If you go to www.rogerdeanstadium.com you can get lots of information, including the directions to the stadium, the currect weather on any given day, and the seating chart of the stadium. You can also see photos of specific views from within the seating bowl itself. Roger Dean Stadium is at 4751 Main Street, Jupiter, FL 33458. The ticket office at Roger Dean Stadium is at P.O. Box 8929, Jupiter, FL 33468-8929. Or, you can call them directly at (561) 775-1818. Spring training schedules haven't been released yet by Major League Baseball.

Thanks again, everyone, for the very helpful information. I do appreciate the insight from someone with personal experience in this. I will be waiting anxiously for the Cardinals spring training schedule.

Sandi

I am from Fort Pierce (between PSL and Vero Beach). If you are indifferent to the teams, I recommend Vero Beach. A far nicer community. If you choose to go to Port St. Lucie, I recommend making it into Stuart around the downtown area for night social life. None of these place is a wild scene, but both vero and stuat are very nice and can be fun for all ages.

Ryan

Hello again, Sandi,

I called the Orioles office to find out when the spring training game schedules will be released. I was told that Major League Baseball would probably release them in late November.

Try Kissimee where the Astros play and Baseball City where the Royals have Spring Training. Both are very close to Orlando and will usually have tickets available on the day of the game even for the Cardinals(especially at Baseball City 20 miles from Orlando, they Never sell out). The Cardinals are a very popular team and usually sell out their game at Disney(Braves) and when they play in Winter Haven(Indians)(which they will usually visit for one game) but even then you can get tickets from the scalpers at a little over face value. I know in Florida that tickets for all spring training games can usually be purchased thru ticketmaster. Call your local ticketmaster and they can put you in touch with how to buy tickets in Florida.

Sandi,

I don't know if you're still interested, but if you go to www.springtrainingmagazine.com you can then click on the schedules. The Cardinals' schedule has now been made public.

The cheapest decent place to stay in Fort Lauderdale is the new Fort Lauderdale Beach Hostel on A1A. $15.99 + tax for dorm bed. A very friendly group there.

Of course the teams have to travels to the other stadiums. How could you have any games if you didn't have a visiting team?

Try to visit Dodger Town in Vero beach. It is very rich in tradition and a unique experience.

I've been to the parks in Orlando (Braves), Vero Beach (Dodgers), Clearwater (Phillies) and Tampa (Yankees). This is a great trip. I hear that the cardinals have been a tough ticket since Big Mac started breaking records. You may want to catch them in a visiting park for a team with fewer superstars. Vero Beach is my favorite for its intimate setting. The Braves play at Disney and their park is the most fun. They have an area called the NFL Experience. You can run back punts and attempt field goals. Lots of fun. Try to avoid seeing a split-squad game. They split the team in half and play two games on the same day. You have a harder time seeing stars this way. Happy trails.