Osceola County Stadium
Encyclopedia
Osceola County Stadium is a baseball park
located in Kissimmee, Florida
. It is the home stadium of the Gulf Coast League Astros
rookie league minor league baseball
team of the Gulf Coast League
. It is also the spring training
home of the Houston Astros
and their minor league affiliates. The stadium holds 5,300 people, the smallest seating capacity
of any Grapefruit League stadium. It has previously served as the home field for the Class A Florida State League
's Kissimmee Cobras (1985–2000) and Osceola Astros
(1985–1994).
The Osceola County Complex is also home of the Jim Evans
Academy of Professional Umpiring
where many hopeful future major league umpires go to learn their trade. Additionally, it hosts numerous amateur baseball events throughout the remainder of the year in conjunction with the United States Specialty Sports Association
, Triple Crown Sports, World Baseball Federation, and Promotion Sports.
The Osceola County Stadium and Complex underwent a significant renovation in 2003 at a price of $
18.4 million The renovation increased seating capacity
, upgraded the press box, improved the clubhouses, and added "Autograph Ally" which is a popular feature of spring training events.
Baseball park
A baseball park, also known as a baseball stadium, ball park, or ballpark is a venue where baseball is played. It consists of the playing field and the surrounding spectator seating...
located in Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County...
. It is the home stadium of the Gulf Coast League Astros
Gulf Coast League Astros
The Gulf Coast League Astros are a minor league baseball team of the Gulf Coast League , and a Rookie-level affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Kissimmee, Florida, and play their home games at Osceola County Stadium. The GCL Astros began play in 1977. The team suspended operations...
rookie league 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...
team of 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...
. It is also the 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...
home of the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and their minor league affiliates. The stadium holds 5,300 people, the smallest seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of any Grapefruit League stadium. It has previously served as the home field for the Class A Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
's Kissimmee Cobras (1985–2000) and Osceola Astros
Osceola Astros
The Osceola Astros were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1985 to 1994. They played in the Florida State League and were affiliated with the Houston Astros. They were based in Kissimmee, Florida, making them the first professional baseball team from Kissimmee...
(1985–1994).
The Osceola County Complex is also home of the Jim Evans
Jim Evans
James Bremond Evans is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1971 to 1999. He now operates one of baseball's two major umpiring schools...
Academy of Professional Umpiring
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
where many hopeful future major league umpires go to learn their trade. Additionally, it hosts numerous amateur baseball events throughout the remainder of the year in conjunction with the United States Specialty Sports Association
United States Specialty Sports Association
The USSSA is a volunteer, sports governing body, non-profit organization based in Kissimmee, Florida. It was founded in 1968, originally in Petersburg, Virginia....
, Triple Crown Sports, World Baseball Federation, and Promotion Sports.
The Osceola County Stadium and Complex underwent a significant renovation in 2003 at a price of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
18.4 million The renovation increased seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
, upgraded the press box, improved the clubhouses, and added "Autograph Ally" which is a popular feature of spring training events.