Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
(JUPITER, FL) Since 1998, the St. Louis Cardinals have called Roger Dean Stadium in Palm Beach County its Spring Training nest and the team will once again occupy the Jupiter compound for a full schedule of pre-season games beginning the first week of March.
Within the span of a calendar month, the Redbirds’ 14-game local stand will feature a trio of games against both Miami (who also plays its exhibition games there) and Washington, a pair of tilts against 2015 World Series runner-up New York Mets and solo contests against Minnesota, Detroit, Atlanta, Houston and Boston. A March 2 exhibition game against hometown collegians Florida Atlantic launches the pre-season schedule.
Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
It’s a pretty solid diamond docket, but for Redbird Nation, the personal proximity to both last season’s starters and April’s roster potentials makes the trek to the Sunshine State a must-do for fans’ bucket lists.
“Spring training is a different environment,” said Roger Dean Stadium General Manager Mike Bauer. “It’s a fresh season. Everybody is still in the hunt and you get to see the new faces. It’s a different experience because you’re up close and personal with the guys.”
In certain situations, that access is extremely close. Last year, the facility offered visitors a “VIP Batting Practice Experience” that was extremely popular.
Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
“For years, our fans said, ‘Hey Mike, you open the doors an hour and a half before the game, but when we get in, home batting practice had already taken place,’” said Bauer. “For $30, you can get in an hour earlier, come inside, stand on the field right behind the batting cage and watch your favorite St. Louis sluggers belt them out of the park. It sells out really quickly.”
An additional pitch this year is the availability for those to manage their pre-season experience in advance online. Through tickets.com, fans can create accounts, print purchased tickets and eliminate same-day trips to either the will-call window or to the Roger Dean box office.
Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
“We’re getting into the new tech age,” said Bauer. “We’ll be able to e-mail tickets, finally. It should make things a lot easier for fans.”
During any given week during the month of March, a fan can see up to at least three Cardinal games.
According to March projections by accuweather.com, temperatures are expected to be in the high ‘70s with a good portion of the month being hampered by occasional rain.
Photo Credit: Brian Ledford
That being said, there are still a lot of non-diamond experiences to take advantage of if one visits. It includes the numerous beaches that are in close proximity and the dining, shopping and entertainment venues that encompass the area.
“Everybody comes down here to make a vacation out of it and there’s no better place than Jupiter,” said Bauer. “Palm Beach is beautiful. Come see the beach, come see the great things to do here in Palm Beach County and enjoy some baseball.”
For more information and ticket links for Roger Dean Stadium, go to THIS LINK.
CARDINALS 2016 HOME PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
(Games played at Roger Dean Stadium – First Pitch 1:05 PM ET)
WED 3/2 vs. Florida Atlantic
THU 3/3 vs. Miami
SUN 3/6 vs. Washington
MON 3/7 vs. New York Mets
WED 3/9 vs. Miami
FRI 3/11 vs. Atlanta
SAT 3/12 vs. Houston
MON 3/14 vs. Minnesota
FRI 3/18 vs. Detroit
SUN 3/20 vs. Miami
MON 3/21 vs. Boston
WED 3/23 vs. Miami
SAT 3/26 vs. Washington
MON 3/28 vs. New York Mets
TUE 3/29 vs. Washington
