Marlins spring training home getting 'first-class facelift'

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).