Spring Training Question

[astrosfan76]

Bringing my family to Orlando this weekend and was going to catch the Astros game Sunday at Disney while we're in town.  I've never caught a ST game, so does anyone have any pointers (e.g. sections to avoid, when to arrive, etc)?  We're going to try to catch some autographs, would that be easier before the game or after?  Thanks for any advice.

[chuck]

In that stadium I would sit on the first base line (107 to 110) and well back from the field, somewhere in the final six or eight rows, or you'll get blasted by the sun. And I would bring earplugs. And maybe a couple valium.

[Ty in Tampa]

Earplugs for sure.

[astrosfan76]

Thanks.  Is it a loud stadium in general, or the chop that makes it unbearable?

[Ty in Tampa]

Way too much non-baseball entertainment since they think that no one will enjoy a game and a gorgeous spring day without 110 dBs of obnoxious nattering.

[BlownRanger]

Way too much non-baseball entertainment since they think that no one will enjoy a game and a gorgeous spring day without 110 dBs of obnoxious nattering.

Why should spring training baseball be any different than any other sporting event?

[astrosfan76]

Way too much non-baseball entertainment since they think that no one will enjoy a game and a gorgeous spring day without 110 dBs of obnoxious nattering.

Ugh

[chuck]

Way too much non-baseball entertainment since they think that no one will enjoy a game and a gorgeous spring day without 110 dBs of obnoxious nattering.

OutSTANding generosity on this front.

I don't mean to be that guy, but I guess I am that guy. Anyway, Disney is, in my humble opinion, the single worst place to see a spring training game in all of Florida. And it is not close. In addition to the constant barrage of noise, the inconvenient location, the disneyfication of everything, I think the players are more inaccessible here than anywhere else. I have no idea how the new place is set up obviously but at Osceola and at most other ST parks there is an area where players can pause and interact with fans as they stroll onto or off of the field. It is extremely easy to interact with 90% of the players before, during and after a game. Oddly, it's especially easy during. The Braves' place is not like that.

On the other hand, your kid(s) will likely love it since there is a significant amount of commotion throughout the afternoon and, certainly with children of all ages in mind, the game is not the principal focus. I am dead serious about the earplugs, both for your peace of mind (unless you love people screaming into a cheap mic replete with sonorous waves of acoustic feedback and invigorating bursts of staccato static) and for the aural health of everyone involved.

Plus, they help take the edge off of all the horrible Michigan accents you'll hear.

[chuck]

But, I should quickly add, spring training is one of the great things in life and I sincerely hope this will be the first of many, many spring games you enjoy with your family.

Just, you know, other parks are better.

(In before 'Arizona is better in every way.')

[HudsonHawk]

Going to try to catch a couple of non Astro games this week. Thinking about the Phillies in Clearwater Thursday then on  to Joker Merchant in Lakeland to see the Tiggers on Friday.

Having a cigar and a cortadito in Ybor at the moment. There's the smokinest hot Cuban chick at the counter whose accent is driving me crazy.

[chuck]

Greet her with 'asere' and see what she says.

[Limey]

In that stadium I would sit on the first base line (107 to 110) and well back from the field, somewhere in the final six or eight rows, or you'll get blasted by the sun. And I would bring earplugs. And maybe a couple valium.

I recall your enduring affection for that place...

[chuck]

I recall your enduring affection for that place...

I'm sure. And I'll never forget how lovely you look in mouse ears.

Just after I wrote about that place, reflected on it and had moved on to other matters we had a pretty significant earthquake. Either the cosmos is trying to tell me something or McNeck's down here fracking for pixie dust.

[HudsonHawk]

Greet her with 'asere' and see what she says.

Another girl walked in and she said "Mira Mira Mira !"  Which is what every Cuban chick I ever knew said when they were getting ready to chew your ass out. I'm cautious.

[astrosfan76]

But, I should quickly add, spring training is one of the great things in life and I sincerely hope this will be the first of many, many spring games you enjoy with your family.

Thanks, me too.  I really have no interest in going to the park at Disney (we're going to Universal), but with the way the schedule worked out, it was the easiest option.  I definitely want to go back another time to catch the new digs, the pictures of the place look really nice.  And I will take your advice about headphones, I shared an office the summer after college with a woman from Minnysoda who was obsessed with the B-52's.  Every single day, she would sing along to Love Shack.  Every single day.

[MusicMan]

I shared an office the summer after college with a woman from Minnysoda who was obsessed with the B-52's.  Every single day, she would sing along to Love Shack.  Every single day.

That is the textbook definition of a hostile workplace environment.

[chuck]

Dude. After an afternoon at Champion Stadium you'll be begging for Love Shack on infinite repeat. Hell, you'll be happy with Mesopotamia.

[Limey]

I'm sure. And I'll never forget how lovely you look in mouse ears.

Just after I wrote about that place, reflected on it and had moved on to other matters we had a pretty significant earthquake. Either the cosmos is trying to tell me something or McNeck's down here fracking for pixie dust.

Disney now controls the Force...

Seriously, hope everyone and everything is ok. 

[astrosfan76]

That is the textbook definition of a hostile workplace environment.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I needed the money and thought it was decent pay at the time.  But yeah, there have to be trainings somewhere that use that exact scenario.

[Duman]

When we went several years ago, we just bought berm seats.  Noise wasn't too bad out there.  We also wandered over to right field line seats later in the game.  Liked the seats there.

Were able to look right over the visitors bullpen during warm ups.  That was pretty cool. 

We saw games at Astros, Braves, Pirates and O's home fields during our trip.  Pirates was my favorite park. 

[chuck]

I think the visitor's bullpen is nestled into the berm down the left field line which, now that you mention it, might not be a bad place to settle if you bring some sunscreen. The Braves' pen is the one visible from the end of the right field seats. I have a vivid memory of watching Tim Hudson warm up there one afternoon.

I'm with you on the Pirates' place. The older parks are my favorites. I especially like the Tigers' stadium, too. I used to really like the Indians' place down the road in Winter Haven.

[astrosfan76]

The berm sounds like a winner.  Looking at the stadium, there's an entrance to the field in LCF; is that where the players enter, by any chance?

[chuck]

The berm sounds like a winner.  Looking at the stadium, there's an entrance to the field in LCF; is that where the players enter, by any chance?

Hell if I know. I think the only real entrance come game time is behind home plate. If I were to guess I would say that the players enter along the right field line. The Braves' parking is back there and I assume that's where the busses park, too.

[HudsonHawk]

Here at the opener in Clearwater. There's a guy in front of me wearing a Roy Oswalt Phillies jersey.  Did t think he was even there long enough to have his jersey sold.

[Navin R Johnson]

FWIW here is the pricing for Astros home Spring Training games.

Vs the Marlins
Select a Price Level (all amounts in USD)
$42.00 Home Plate Box
$31.00 Dugout Box
$28.00 Infield Box
$23.00 Outfield Reserve
$15.00 Banana Boat Lawn

Vs the Red Sox
Select a Price Level (all amounts in USD)
$47.00 Dugout Box
$42.00 Infield Box
$32.00 Outfield Reserve
$20.00 Banana Boat Lawn

Vs the Yankees
Select a Price Level (all amounts in USD)
$65.00 Home Plate Box
$47.00 Dugout Box
$42.00 Infield Box
$32.00 Outfield Reserve
$20.00 Banana Boat Lawn

It has been 4 or 5 years since I went to kissimmee , I cant recall what the prices were there.  But there is 0 chance I am paying $70-100+ for 2 tickets to watch a scrimmage.

[Fredia]

for sure not priceless.

[juliogotay]

FWIW here is the pricing for Astros home Spring Training games.

Vs the Marlins
Select a Price Level (all amounts in USD)
$42.00 Home Plate Box
$31.00 Dugout Box
$28.00 Infield Box
$23.00 Outfield Reserve
$15.00 Banana Boat Lawn

Vs the Red Sox
Select a Price Level (all amounts in USD)
$47.00 Dugout Box
$42.00 Infield Box
$32.00 Outfield Reserve
$20.00 Banana Boat Lawn

Vs the Yankees
Select a Price Level (all amounts in USD)
$65.00 Home Plate Box
$47.00 Dugout Box
$42.00 Infield Box
$32.00 Outfield Reserve
$20.00 Banana Boat Lawn

It has been 4 or 5 years since I went to kissimmee , I cant recall what the prices were there.  But there is 0 chance I am paying $70-100+ for 2 tickets to watch a scrimmage.

I haven't been to a ST game in 25 years or so and I'm stunned by those fares.

[Navin R Johnson]

I haven't been to a ST game in 25 years or so and I'm stunned by those fares.

It is ridiculous.  I work in Tampa several times a year, last Spring my boss and I thought about cutting out early and going to a Yankees game, our office is about 3 minutes from the stadium.  I got online and the cheapest  GA ticket was like $30.   We just wanted to go have a couple beers and see a few innings.

We passed and went and had some beers at Cigar City brewery at 1/10th the price.

[chuck]

I can't for the life of me figure out how much I used to pay for the tickets. It couldn't have been more than $20 apiece.

[chuck]

It is ridiculous.  I work in Tampa several times a year, last Spring my boss and I thought about cutting out early and going to a Yankees game, our office is about 3 minutes from the stadium.  I got online and the cheapest  GA ticket was like $30.   We just wanted to go have a couple beers and see a few innings.

The other day I noticed that the Phillies and the Yankees were playing on the MLB Network so I tuned in. The majority of the first inning I saw consisted of some fat woman who's apparently a member of the Yankees broadcast team discussing the outstanding new dining options available at Steinbrenner Field. I had no idea who was pitching, batting, if I hadn't already known it might have been difficult to tell who was playing. Good, I thought, these guys are already in midseason form.

[Navin R Johnson]

I can't for the life of me figure out how much I used to pay for the tickets. It couldn't have been more than $20 apiece.

The 1st time my wife and I went to kissimee to see the Astros, I can't imagine we paid more than $20 a ticket,and that was probably 8-10 years ago. The subsequent times we went we got the redhead reporter discount (aka free).

I can't blame the teams for charging what idiots are willing to pay now, I just wont do it.   At some point I will likely go check out the new park, but paying those prices for a scrimmage is not something I plan on doing.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I remember sitting in the outfield bleacher seats at the dome for $2.00. And got to see guys like Mays, Gibson, Aaron, Bench, Rose... In 2005 I think I paid $18 to sit behind home plate at Kissimmee.

[chuck]

I remember the outfield being general admission and tickets were something ludicrous like fifty cents. This is in the 70's. We almost always sat in toppermost, just below the sky boxes. Those seats were indeed two dollars. And you know what? They were just fine.

[HudsonHawk]

When I was a kid, I can't imagine we paid more than a couple of bucks for a ST game. Hell, they gave out tickets with a $10 purchase at the Winn-Dixie. Spring Training wasn't the "event" it is now, but it was still popular among the locals. It the only chance they got to see Big League players  but it was a happy diversion. It wasn't exactly a bucket list item.