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Grapefruit League Stadiums: #5 Roger Dean Stadium

Roger Dean Stadium Grapefruit League Spring Training

There is no shortage of fields at Roger Dean Stadium

Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, is the only Grapefruit League stadium that hosts two teams. The St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins share the complex that comes in at #5 in our Spring Training Grapefruit League countdown.

The Cactus League in Arizona heavily utilizes the shared stadium strategy, compared to most of the single field formats used in the Grapefruit League. Roger Dean Stadium is the lone exception. Each team has its locker room and quadrant of practice fields. Two minor league teams also utilize the stadium in the regular season: the Jupiter Hammerheads and the Palm Beach Cardinals of the Class A Florida State League. Additionally, it hosts multiple amateur tournaments in the off-season.

This is the newest venue in the Grapefruit League and has the flare to show it off. There is nothing throwback about the stadium as everything looks and feels like South Florida. Upscale stores and restaurants are right across the street. Palm trees are everywhere. And people even dress up for games. This is probably the only Spring Training spot where you will see someone in high heels at a game.

Roger Dean Stadium Grapefruit League Spring TrainingWith the glamorous atmosphere comes glamorous talent. The Cardinals have been one of baseball’s best for years. They have Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright and so on. The Marlins have coveted All-Star Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Fernandez. While these teams are at opposite ends of the spectrum in results, there is bound to be top talent for any game at Roger Dean Stadium.

Seating can be expensive. Tickets run from $15-$60. The stadium charges different prices based on the opponent, and those $60 tickets will get you a bullpen table or bullpen rail seat. You can pay the extra money for a guaranteed seat or try and grab a spot in the grass just a few feet away near the right field foul pole.

Parking will run you about $10, but there may be a free option if you are lucky. There is a parking garage adjacent to the field that used to be free, but that was before. Odds are the city has an attendee to happily take your money.

One downside is that Roger Dean Stadium isn’t close to many Spring Training sites. The Mets’ Tradition Field is under an hour away, but the other stadiums will put on the road for over two or three hours. Although it is out of the way for most people on a baseball road trip, this stadium is definitely one to see. It has the modern feel that most teams want in today’s game and has games practically every day with two host teams.

Roger Dean Stadium Grapefruit League Spring Training

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