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Osceola County Stadium

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Osceola County Stadium
Map
Location631 Heritage Park Way
Kissimmee, FL 34744
Coordinates28°17′54″N 81°21′50″W / 28.29833°N 81.36389°W / 28.29833; -81.36389
OwnerOsceola County
OperatorHouston Astros
Capacity5,300
Field sizeLeft field: 325 feet (99 m)
Center field: 405 feet (123 m)
Right field: 325 feet (99 m)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Opened1984
Renovated2003
Tenants
Osceola Astros (FSL) (1985–1994)

Kissimmee Cobras (FSL) (1995–2000)
A-Sun Tournament (1998–99)
Gulf Coast League Astros (GCL) (2009–2016)
Houston Astros (MLB) (spring training) (1985–2016)

Brevard County Manatees (FSL) (2017-)

Osceola County Stadium is a baseball park located in Kissimmee, Florida. It is the home stadium of the Gulf Coast League Astros rookie league minor league baseball team of the Gulf Coast League. It is also the spring training home of the Houston Astros and their minor league affiliates. The stadium holds 5,300 people, the smallest seating capacity of any Grapefruit League stadium. It has previously served as the home field for the Class A Florida State League's Kissimmee Cobras (1995–2000) and Osceola Astros (1985–1994).

Renovations

The Osceola County Stadium and Complex underwent a significant renovation in 2003 at a price of US$18.4 million[1] The renovation increased seating capacity, upgraded the press box, improved the clubhouses, and added "Autograph Alley" which is a popular feature of spring training events.

End of lease

The Astros' lease with the ballpark ends in 2017. On November 9, groundbreaking commenced for a new spring training facility for both the Astros and Washington Nationals in West Palm Beach.[2]

Other uses

The Osceola County Complex is also home of the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring where many hopeful future major league umpires go to learn their trade. Additionally, it hosts numerous amateur baseball events throughout the remainder of the year in conjunction with the United States Specialty Sports Association, Triple Crown Sports, World Baseball Federation, and Promotion Sports.

The venue hosted the 1998 and 1999 Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball Tournaments, won by Florida International and Jacksonville, respectively.[3]

  • A view of additional fields at the complex
    A view of additional fields at the complex

References

  1. ^ SpringTrainingOnline.com "Houston Astros." Spring training Online. Retrieved on 13 September 2010.
  2. ^ http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ap/ap/florida/astros-nationals-getting-new-spring-training-ballp/npJ5X/
  3. ^ "Atlantic Sun Recordbook - Baseball". AtlanticSun.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 17, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
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