A Sneak Peek at JetBlue Park
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 – JetBlue Park, Ft. Myers
I happened to have one day to spend in Ft. Myers this week, so I made sure to go over to the site of JetBlue Park, the new spring training home of the Red Sox. It’s still 47 days until pitchers and catchers report, and we weren’t allowed through the gates, but I did get a good early peek at the complex. All of the pictures below can be clicked to enlarge.
JetBlue Park as seen on 1/3/12. Click to enlarge.
There’s still a lot of landscaping to be done, but the stadium looks to be complete. Look closely and you’ll see the replica Green Monster (with what looks like a roof over its seats for shade), a tall batter’s eye wall in center field, and green seats in the left field stands. Behind the stadium are six practice fields, at least one of which has the same dimensions as the stadium (which itself has the same dimensions as Fenway) with yet another Green Monster for the players to practice on.
One of the practice fields at JetBlue Park has the same dimensions as Fenway, including its own Green Monster wall. Click to enlarge.
I also got a copy of a map of the complex. With the stadium in the center, there’s a small paved parking lot to the right. More parking is available on both sides of the ballpark on grassy areas that will double as soccer fields during the months when baseball is not taking place. In the back are the practice fields, with the one closest to the paved parking lot shaped just like Fenway Park.
The layout of the Red Sox' new spring training complex, featuring JetBlue Park in the center, practice fields in the back, and parking lots/soccer fields on both sides. Click to enlarge.
I only had one day in the area (and as luck would have it, it was not only the coldest day of this year, but colder than any day all last year too) but it was fun to get a sneak peek at the place where I’ll be spending a lot of time in the coming years. Two months from today the first games will be taking place against Boston College and Northeastern University. I’ll be back for real when the weather is more spring-like, but at least now I have something tangible to look forward to.
