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Hammond Stadium

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Coordinates: 26°32′18″N 81°50′31″W / 26.53833°N 81.84194°W / 26.53833; -81.84194
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Hammond Stadium
Home of the Mighty Mussels
Map
Location14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway
Fort Myers, FL 33912
Coordinates26°32′18″N 81°50′31″W / 26.53833°N 81.84194°W / 26.53833; -81.84194
OwnerCity of Fort Myers
OperatorLee County
Capacity9,300
Field size
  • Left: 330 ft (100 m)
  • Center: 405 ft (123 m)
  • Right: 330 ft (100 m)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundMay 15, 1989
OpenedMarch 7, 1991
Renovated2014–2015
Construction cost$14 million
($31.3 million in 2023 dollars[1])
ArchitectLescher & Mahoney
Ellerbe Becket
Populous (renovation)
Structural engineerBliss & Nyitray, Inc
General contractorCase Contracting Company[2]
Tenants
Minnesota Twins (MLB spring training) (1991–present)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (FSL) (1992–present)
GCL Twins (GCL) (1991–present)

Hammond Stadium is a baseball field located in the Lee Health Sports Complex in South Fort Myers, Florida, United States. The stadium was built in 1991, and underwent major renovations in 2014[3] and 2015.

The spring training home of the Minnesota Twins saw its seating capacity increased from 7,500 to 9,300 in the spring of 2015.[4] Class A Advanced affiliate, the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (then the Fort Myers Miracle), of the Florida State League finished out their 2014 season and FSL championship at JetBlue Park (Spring home of the Boston Red Sox, also in Fort Myers) in order to get the renovations done in time for catchers & pitchers to report in 2015. The renovations will also increase the amount of walkable area, provide more shaded areas for sunny games[5] and an expanded gift shop, among other amenities for fans and players.[6]

The Twins' Rookie League affiliate, the Gulf Coast League Twins also play in the Lee Health Sports Complex (formerly CenturyLink Sports Complex),[7] however, not usually at Hammond Stadium, but rather at the fields within the surrounding complex.

The stadium is named in honor of retired Lee County Deputy Administrator William H. Hammond Jr., who was instrumental in getting the Lee County Sports Complex (the name it was given prior to its renovations) built to draw the Twins from their previous Spring home in Orlando. Hammond Stadium's outer facade was designed with Churchill Downs in mind. The parking rows all feature streets signs named to honor former Twins greats—including Bert Blyleven, Kirby Puckett, and Kent Hrbek. There is also a waterfall fountain near the stadium's entrance.

The Twins won the World Series following their first spring training in Hammond Stadium. Their agreement with Lee County for use of the complex originally ran through 2012; the Twins then signed a renewal for a 30-year period in 2014. The new lease agreement with Lee County permitted the Twins to sell the naming rights for the complex – which they did, but the contract stipulated that the stadium itself was to retain the name of Hammond Stadium.

The Florida State League held the 48th annual Florida State League All-Star Game at Hammond Stadium in June 2009. The previous time the league held their mid-summer classic in Fort Myers was 2003.

Hammond Stadium and JetBlue Park are two of four spring training facilities in Fort Myers. City of Palms Park and Terry Park Ballfield (also known as the Park T. Pigott Memorial Stadium) in East Fort Myers are currently not in use. City of Palms Park is the former spring training home of the Boston Red Sox, and Terry Park Ballfield is the former home of the Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals.

Field dimensions

[edit]
Field at Hammond Stadium

Hammond Stadium's dimensions compared to Target Field are:[8]

Field Hammond Stadium Target Field
Left 330 ft (100 m) 339 ft (103 m)
Left-center – 377 ft (115 m)
Deep left-center – 411 ft (125 m)
Center 405 ft (123 m) 403 ft (123 m)
Right-center – 365 ft (111 m)
Right 330 ft (100 m) 328 ft (100 m)

References

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  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ Knight, Graham (June 2, 2009). "Hammond Stadium". Baseball Pilgrimages.
  3. ^ David Dorsey (January 10, 2014). "Hammond Stadium $48 million makeover a hit". News-Press. Archived from the original on January 17, 2015.
  4. ^ David Dorsey (December 19, 2014). "Hammond Stadium set to be finished end of January". News-Press.
  5. ^ Joe Roetz (December 17, 2014). "Hammond Stadium renovation project enters final phase". WorldNow & ABC 7 WZVN.
  6. ^ Seth Soffian (December 31, 2014). "Best, brightest of Southwest Florida sports in 2014". News-Press.
  7. ^ "New for 2024: Lee Health Sports Complex". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  8. ^ "Target Field Facts". Minnesota Ballpark Authority.
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