Supermarket chain Publix will pay $3M over the next 15 years to "have its name on the home" of the Tigers' Spring Training facility, which "now will be called Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium," according to Tony Paul of the DETROIT NEWS. The deal "will help fund recent upgrades, including a 72,000-square-foot dorm for major- and minor-league players; a high-definition video scoreboard; new seating alignments, including additional shade; and artificial turf for the minor-league complex, among other improvements." The ballpark's left-field berm area "also will get an upgrade, with new concession options." The Tigers have been training for 80 years in Lakeland, Fla., the location of Publix' HQ. Publix has "more than 1,000 stores in the South, with its first opening in Winter Haven, Fla., in 1930" (DETROIT NEWS, 8/4). In Florida, Christopher Guinn notes the new name also "preserves the contribution" of late former Lakeland Parks & Recreation Dir Joker Marchant, who is "credited as Tigertown's champion and an instrumental figure in keeping what remains the longest relationship between a spring training host city and its big league guest" (Lakeland LEDGER, 8/4).
