Marlins spring training home getting 'first-class facelift'

[Ely Sussman]

The long overdue Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium renovations have begun. When the dust settles, Marlins Grapefruit League games should be comfortable for both players and fans.

Spring training baseball returns to Jupiter in less than three months. The 2025 edition will look different than it has over the past two-plus decades as Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium modernizes. Key components of the renovation project that the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals have spent years pushing for began this week, Mike Diamond of the Palm Beach Post reports.

All of the old grass at Roger Dean has been excavated and workers began laying sod on Monday as a new drainage system is being installed. Rain only falls sporadically throughout February and March, but this will come in handy during the regular season when the Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals combine to use the facility six days a week. Hopefully, more efficient drainage will cut down on the number of games that get postponed due to "wet grounds."

No more bullpens along the foul lines—those are being relocated beyond the outfield walls.

Those are the first wave of renovations. The majority of the work will be done after spring training, according to the Marlins.

The teams' clubhouses will still be in separate buildings from the ballpark itself, but Roger Dean general manager Mike Bauer says "we will add on both sides to increase the square footage so we can take care of the deficiencies we had. There’ll be more space for a larger weight room, more space for physical training and hydrotherapy.“ In terms of fan-friendly changes, the stadium is setting up complimentary Wi-Fi. The gift shop will be expanded to three times its original size. There are new socialization spaces coming to left field and center field. The Fish On First staff will be pleased to hear about the upcoming pressbox improvements.

The Marlins and Cardinals are receiving some financial assistance from both the state of Florida and Palm Beach County on the $108 million project.

Marlins spring training tickets went on sale earlier this month. Dynamic pricing applies to single-game tickets, with reserved box seats going for $42, $49 or $56 a seat depending on the popularity of the matchup (yes, I see the irony in median prices for Marlins exhibition games being significantly higher than regular season games at loanDepot park).

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[rurrusuno]

I'm glad to hear about the much-needed improvements at Roger Dean Stadium that have been talked about for a while now. It's been years since I was last there so I should make a trip there next spring.

Yes, it's very ironic that the Spring Training games are more expensive than the actual regular season games. 

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

I have hotel and other arrangements in place for the last week of February in Jupiter. I spend a hunk of the winter in Jacksonville, which leaves a pleasant drive down the coast. I preferred Space Coast Stadium, formerly the Expos ST site, and then it served the Nationals. The Viera, Florida, location was even closer to Jax, and I had my favorite restaurants and the like. Oh, well, nothing can stay the same. 

As for me, I like the foul territory bullpens, especially in ST. Perhaps it's just nostalgic, but it's still one of the aspects of many MiLB facilities that I like. Again, times change, and I figure most people (as well as the players) prefer the outfield configuration. It's a longer run into the infield when there's a brawl!  LOL.