The Wandering Disciple

Situated along Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami, American Airlines Arena is home to the 2020 Eastern Conference Champions, the Miami Heat.  Opened in 1999, the art deco inspired arena is the home of the Heat as well as a popular concert venue.  It is sponsored by American Airlines, who is the primary airline servicing nearby Miami International Airport.  It is one of two NBA arenas sponsored by the airline.  The $213 Million dollar arena can host 19,600 spectators for a basketball game and a little more that 21,000 for a concert depending on configuration.  (Photo: February 16, 2018)

Lakeland Florida, the southern home of the Detroit Tigers for 83 years. Known to many Tiger fans as TigerTown, Lakeland has seen many of Detroit's greatest players pass through town. And when its not the stars of today hitting the fields in the spring, the town is filled with the stars of tomorrow as the Lakeland Flying Tigers and Gulf Coast Tigers build the skills of future greats. At the center of the action is Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. The stadium which was recently upgraded in 2017, has been the heart of the action since 1966. (Photo: June 29, 2019)

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, commonly known as The Swamp, is one of the toughest college football stadiums for a visiting team to play in the nation.  Home to the Florida Gators, the Swamp can hold over 88,000 screaming Gators fans on game day. (Photo: November 10, 2013)

While much has changed over the course of the years, the game of baseball has remained pretty much the same.  The stadiums have gotten newer and fancier, but there is one spring training site that still feels like the old days.  Built in 1923, McKechnie Field is the oldest spring training field still in operation and while much of the part has been upgraded, it still maintains the old feel.  (Photo: May 24, 2010)

The worn out look of the old Ed Smith Stadium back in 2007 when it was the Florida operations for the Cincinnati Reds.  The stadium hosted the Cincinnati Reds for spring training, the Sarasota Reds of the Florida State League and the Gulf Coast Reds of the Gulf Coast League until they moved operations to Arizona.  The stadium then underwent a major face lift before becoming the Florida home for the Baltimore Orioles.  (Photo: January 31, 2007)

Tropicana Field as viewed from Section 303 prior to a Sunday afternoon game. The 31,000 plus seat stadium was built in 1990 and is the only domed stadium in Major League Baseball. It has been the home of the Tampa Bay Rays since their inaugural season in 1998 as well as hosted arena football, college football, hockey, concerts and much more. (Photo: September 20, 2015)

It may be quiet and empty now but on Saturday afternoons in the fall, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium comes to life with thousands of screaming Gators fans. More commonly known as the “The Swamp” the stadium is rated as one of the toughest places to place because of the crowd noise. (Photo: November 10, 2013)

Located in the heart of downtown Orlando is the Amway Center. Opened in 2010, the Amway Center is home to the Orlando Magic of the NBA, Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League and the Orlando Solar Bears minor league hockey team. (Photo: July 9, 2013)

Bright House Field in Clearwater is consistently voted as the top baseball facility in Florida.  Built in 2004. Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies and regular season home of the Clearwater Threshers of the Florida State League.  The stadium has seating for 7,000 but the grass berms help swell attendance to 8,500.  (Photo: May 17, 2008)

A view of Florida Auto Exchange Stadium as seen from the first base seating section.  Built in 1990, the stadium seats 5,509 fans and is home to the Toronto Blue Jays during spring training and the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League.  (Photo: April 26, 2008)

George M Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida is the spring training home of the New York Yankees and the regular season home of the Tampa Yankees of the Florida State League.  The field has the same dimensions as Yankee Stadium making it a great place to prepare the prospects for life in the big leagues.  (Photo: July 27, 2013)

A look inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, more commonly known as The Swamp. The stadium is home of the University of Florida Gators football team and can hold close to 90,000 fans, making it the eleventh largest college football stadium. (Photo: November 10, 2013)

The iconic Buccaneer logo of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers adorns the end zone entrance to Raymond James Stadium. Raymond James Stadium is home to both the Bucs and the University of South Florida Bulls football team. (Photo: September 6, 2008)

A gem of Florida ballparks, McKechnie Field represents an era of baseball stadiums that has been replaces by more modern ballparks. Opened in 1923, it is the second oldest stadium to host a major league baseball team. It is the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the home of the Bradenton Marauders of the Florida State League. (Photo: June 23, 2010)

Charlotte Sports Park is the spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays and the regular season home of the Charlotte Stone Crabs. Built in 1988 as the spring training home of the Texas Rangers. The stadium hosted the Rangers and their minor league team, the Charlotte Rangers until the club moved their operations to Arizona in 2001. In 2007, the stadium was home to the Charlotte County Redfish of the Independent South Coast League. The stadium underwent a $27 million dollar renovation in 2008 to make way for their new tenants, the Rays. (Photo: March 15, 2009)

One of the top rated facilities in Florida, Brighthouse Networks Field is home to the Florida operations of the Philadelphia Phillies. Opened in 2004, it is home to the Phillies spring training games as well as the regular season home of the Clearwater Threshers. It also hosts the annual Big East NCAA Championship tournament. (Photo: May 17, 2008)

Knology Park, now known as Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, has been the Florida base for the Toronto Blue Jays since its consturction in 1990. Although its name has changed several times in its history, its tenant has remained the same since opening day. It is the spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays and the regular season home of the Florida State League Dunedin Blue Jays and Dunedin High School. (Photo: April 26, 2008)

Bradenton, Florida: Known as Florida’s Fenway Park, McKechnie Field in Bradenton has been a major venue of spring baseball since 1923. Baseball greats like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Roberto Clemente along with the stars of today and the future stars have played in the confines of this historic stadium. The stadium was built in 1923 as the spring training home of the St. Louis Cardinals. Throughout the years, it has been the spring training home to the Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Braves, Oakland Athletics and since 1969 the Pittsburgh Pirates. The stadium located in the heart of downtown is built with the Florida Spanish Mission architecture that is popular in the region. There is seating for 6,602 fans with the bulk of the reserved seating area covered by roof, a great feature for the hot Florida sunshine. In 1993 the stadium received a major facelift. The metal chair were replaced by modern stadium seating and the old wooden bleacher were also ...

Port Charlotte, Florida: Charlotte Sports Park is a baseball stadium located in Port Charlotte, Florida. The 7,000 spectator stadium is home to the Tampa Bay Rays and Charlotte Stone Crabs. Originally built in 1988, Ranger Stadium was the spring training home of the Texas Rangers and Florida State League Charlotte Rangers. The complex saw many historical moments in baseball during its time with the Rangers including the signing of Alex Rodriguez, Michael Jordan playing baseball for the White Sox and the announcement of Nolan Ryan’s retirement. At the end of the 2001 season, the Texas Rangers determined that the stadium could no longer accommodate their operations and moved the team to Arizona. The stadium was renamed Charlotte County Stadium following the relocation of the Rangers. The stadium remained without a professional team for several years. During this time, it played host to amateur baseball, concerts and fairs. In 2007, the stadium became home to sanction baseball once ...

Bradenton, Florida: Pirate City in Bradenton is the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates as well as the base for the Pirate’s Florida operations. It is also the home to the Gulf Coast League Pirates during the summer. The facility received a major facelift in 1993. The grounds include five practice fields, batting cages and even a three story building with dorms and offices. It is the southern home of the Pirates. The Pirates keep the facility busy all year round with major and minor league baseball activity. But it is also available for rent for amateur events as well as corporate events.