As the Peoria Sports Complex -- the Mariners and Padres' spring training site -- "continues to improve" the offseason amenities of the facility, construction is "near completion on the new conference room/luxury suites down the third-base line," according to Darrell Jackson of the PEORIA TIMES. The new "4,000-square-foot conference room/luxury suites will be able to accommodate one large group of 200 or separate into three suites" during spring training. Workers "removed a grandstand down the third-base line and installed nearly 900 new, fixed seats" above the new conference room. Peoria Sports Complex Manager Chris Calcaterra said, "We actually had a smaller school come check it out with a prom, which we hadn't even thought of. Now, this room will open up this complex to other events to be held here during the off season." Jackson notes the facility will "now be able to offer full catering for the events, a full bar, and a social area in front of the suites" that allows people to stand outside and socialize or watch the games. Each suite will also have approximately 20 seats, so people can "come out and sit with the crowd to watch the games." Calcaterra: "Attendance was up 37 percent last season and the response to all of our other improvements has been so positive. Now, with this new room and suites, we can continue to offer businesses or groups a place to have events all year round." During Spring Training, Calcaterra said that they are "working on showing" other Cactus League games being played elsewhere on TVs in the suites during Mariners and Padres games. Construction is "on track to finish" by December (PEORIA TIMES, 11/6).
