Opinion: Florida Spring Training Has a Rich History, and St. Lucie Was Among the Best

Port St. Lucie's Clover Park and the old Dodgertown in Vero Beach rank among the finest spring training destinations Florida has ever produced, according to a national opinion piece published by Yahoo Sports.

The column argues that while Florida's Grapefruit League circuit remains a worthwhile experience for baseball fans, the Treasure Coast's two flagship sites represent something special — a more intimate, community-rooted brand of spring baseball that newer, corporate-style complexes have struggled to replicate.

Dodgertown in Vero Beach hosted the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers for more than six decades before the club departed in 2008. It is cited as a benchmark for how spring training can weave itself into the fabric of a local community. The sprawling campus in Indian River County became a destination unto itself, drawing fans from across the country each February and March.

Port St. Lucie's Clover Park, home to New York Mets spring training, is held up alongside Dodgertown as a model of the fan-friendly, accessible atmosphere that defines the best of Florida's baseball tradition. The Mets have trained in St. Lucie County since 1988, making it one of the longest-running spring training relationships in the Grapefruit League According to initial reports,.

Mets spring training at Clover Park remains an annual economic and cultural anchor for Martin and St. Lucie County residents, drawing thousands of visitors each spring and providing a rare opportunity to see major league talent up close.

No specific 2025 Clover Park game results or attendance figures were cited in the source material.

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