Ed Smith Stadium
Encyclopedia
Ed Smith Stadium is a baseball field
located in Sarasota, Florida
. The stadium was built in 1989 to replace Payne Park
as a Spring Training
and Minor League Baseball
site. In 2010, the Baltimore Orioles
began playing spring games at the ballpark.
(1989–1997) and the Baltimore Orioles (1991). In 1998, it replaced Plant City Stadium
as the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds
. The Reds remained at the facility through 2008. After Cincinnati's club moved its spring activities to Arizona
, Ed Smith Stadium spent a year without major league Spring Training.
The Orioles became the stadium's tenant and operator in 2010. Baltimore had trained in Sarasota before -- at Twin Lakes Park in 1989 and 1990, as well as at Ed Smith in 1991 -- before moving to St. Petersburg and then Ft. Lauderdale for spring games.
From 1989 to 2009, the stadium hosted a series of Minor League Baseball teams, the Single-A Sarasota White Sox, Sarasota Red Sox, and Sarasota Reds. From 2004 until 2009, it housed the Gulf Coast League
's Gulf Coast Reds
. Ed Smith has also hosted high school and college baseball tournaments.
On November 1st, 2008, Barack Obama gave a speech to a crowd of ten thousand spectators as part of his 2008 presidential campaign.
, located in Arizona
, in 2010.
The Baltimore Orioles
reached a tentative 30-year agreement to begin spring training at Ed Smith Stadium starting in 2010 which included renovations to the stadium and surrounding areas. The $31.2 million renovation was completed prior to the beginning of spring training in February 2011.
. Three air-conditioned suites added to the park are numbered Suites 66
, 70
, and 83
, corresponding to the club's three World Series
championships. A fabric sun shade system extends from the stadium's original roof to nearly double the number of seats in the shade.
A series of photos produced by the Orioles shows the dramatic changes resulting from the renovation.http://mlb.mlb.com/bal/downloads/y2011/ess_enovations.pdf
Seating is available for 7,428 spectators, with standing room space taking the park's total capacity to 8,500. Two concourses include food and beverage stands, a cafe, and a 2000 square feet (185.8 m²) gift shop. One hundred high-definition televisions are located throughout the stadium and a high-definition LED video board in the outfield measures 17 feet (5.2 m) high by 30 feet (9.1 m) across.
Baseball field
A baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The terms "baseball field" and "ball field" are also often used as synonyms for ballpark.-Specifications:...
located in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
. The stadium was built in 1989 to replace Payne Park
Payne Park
Payne Park refers both to a baseball field that stood from 1924 to 1990, and which has since been replaced by a public park of the same name in the same location, in Sarasota, Florida. Payne Park, the original stadium for the city of Sarasota, was built on a portion of of land donated by Calvin...
as a Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
and Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
site. In 2010, the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
began playing spring games at the ballpark.
History
Ed Smith Stadium was formerly the spring home of the Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1989–1997) and the Baltimore Orioles (1991). In 1998, it replaced Plant City Stadium
Plant City Stadium
Plant City Stadium is a stadium in Plant City, Florida. It is primarily used for softball and was the spring training home of Cincinnati Reds prior to moving to Ed Smith Stadium in 1998. The ballpark has a capacity of 6,000 people and opened in 1988....
as the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. The Reds remained at the facility through 2008. After Cincinnati's club moved its spring activities to Arizona
Goodyear Ballpark
Goodyear Ballpark is a stadium in Goodyear, Arizona and part of a $108 million baseball complex that is the current spring training home of the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds. The stadium opened to the public with a grand opening ceremony on February 21, 2009 and held its first Cactus...
, Ed Smith Stadium spent a year without major league Spring Training.
The Orioles became the stadium's tenant and operator in 2010. Baltimore had trained in Sarasota before -- at Twin Lakes Park in 1989 and 1990, as well as at Ed Smith in 1991 -- before moving to St. Petersburg and then Ft. Lauderdale for spring games.
From 1989 to 2009, the stadium hosted a series of Minor League Baseball teams, the Single-A Sarasota White Sox, Sarasota Red Sox, and Sarasota Reds. From 2004 until 2009, it housed the Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
's Gulf Coast Reds
Gulf Coast Reds
The Arizona League Reds, formerly the Gulf Coast League Reds, are a minor league baseball team in Goodyear, Arizona. They are a Rookie-level team in the Arizona League that begin play as a Cincinnati Reds affiliate in the summer of 2010. The AZL Reds play home games at the Goodyear Ballpark...
. Ed Smith has also hosted high school and college baseball tournaments.
On November 1st, 2008, Barack Obama gave a speech to a crowd of ten thousand spectators as part of his 2008 presidential campaign.
Renovation
In 2008, a planned renovation fell through when a proposed bond issue from the city of Sarasota to partially fund the renovation was rejected by the voters. The Reds, whose lease with the city and the stadium expired after the season, announced that they intend to seek a new spring training home. They moved to Goodyear BallparkGoodyear Ballpark
Goodyear Ballpark is a stadium in Goodyear, Arizona and part of a $108 million baseball complex that is the current spring training home of the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds. The stadium opened to the public with a grand opening ceremony on February 21, 2009 and held its first Cactus...
, located in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, in 2010.
The Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
reached a tentative 30-year agreement to begin spring training at Ed Smith Stadium starting in 2010 which included renovations to the stadium and surrounding areas. The $31.2 million renovation was completed prior to the beginning of spring training in February 2011.
Features after renovation
Seats in the renovated stadium are refurbished seats from the Orioles' revolutionary home ballpark, Oriole Park at Camden YardsOriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a Major League Baseball ballpark located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home field of the Baltimore Orioles, it is the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised. The park was...
. Three air-conditioned suites added to the park are numbered Suites 66
1966 World Series
The 1966 World Series matched the Baltimore Orioles against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Orioles sweeping the Series in four games to capture their first championship in franchise history...
, 70
1970 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 10, 1970 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioThe Jackson 5 performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to the game, which almost became an embarrassment when the group realized shortly before their performance that they weren't familiar with the lyrics...
, and 83
1983 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 11, 1983 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, MarylandJohn Denver, whose Thank God I'm a Country Boy was played at the seventh-inning stretch of each Orioles home game, sang the National Anthem prior to this game....
, corresponding to the club's three World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
championships. A fabric sun shade system extends from the stadium's original roof to nearly double the number of seats in the shade.
A series of photos produced by the Orioles shows the dramatic changes resulting from the renovation.http://mlb.mlb.com/bal/downloads/y2011/ess_enovations.pdf
Seating is available for 7,428 spectators, with standing room space taking the park's total capacity to 8,500. Two concourses include food and beverage stands, a cafe, and a 2000 square feet (185.8 m²) gift shop. One hundred high-definition televisions are located throughout the stadium and a high-definition LED video board in the outfield measures 17 feet (5.2 m) high by 30 feet (9.1 m) across.