Joker Marchant Stadium
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Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium is a
On March 15, 2011, the largest crowd in the stadium's history (10,307 people) watched a spring training game between the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox.[3]
Expansions
The stadium could seat 4,900 people when it opened in 1966. In 1988, a bleacher section was added down the left field line, increasing seating capacity to 7,027. In 2002, Joker Marchant Stadium was renovated. The State of Florida's $4.5 million grant was the biggest chunk of the financing, while the Polk County Tourist Development Council chipped in $2 million. The remainder of the renovation's cost was paid for by the Tigers and City of Lakeland, increasing capacity to its present 8,500.[1]
In October 2014, the Lakeland City Commission announced part of a new agreement with the Detroit Tigers included the start of a $37 million renovation and upgrade of the 50-year-old stadium, starting in April 2016
Naming rights
Under a 20-year deal that ends in 2036, the stadium was renamed Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on the first day of MLB's 2017 Spring Training. The Publix supermarket chain is headquartered in Lakeland and their hometown field is the only sports complex for which they have purchased naming rights. [6]
Gallery
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Intersection of Kaline and Horton Way -
Detroit Tigers spring training game 2009 -
View from behind home plate
References
- ^ a b c Knight, Graham (May 29, 2010). "Joker Marchant Stadium". Baseball Pilgrimages. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Zebold, Tom (April 18, 2011). "Spring Attendance Was 2nd All Time for Detroit Tigers". The Ledger. Lakeland. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ^ Online, Spring Training (October 7, 2014). "Joker Marchant Stadium renovations on tap".
- ^ Kennedy, Kyle (October 6, 2014). "Two Firms Chosen for Joker Marchant Stadium Upgrade". The Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Claytor, Stephanie (August 5, 2016). "Lakeland's Tigers stadium to be renamed, renovated for 2017". Bright House Sports Network. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
External links
- Stadium information at Detroit Tigers website
- Joker Marchant Stadium Views - Ball Parks of the Minor Leagues