Blue Jays officials said that things are "shaping up nicely" for a Feb. 24 Spring Training opener against the Braves, the team's first of 16 home dates following a $102M renovation/expansion of TD Ballpark, according to Jim Byers of the TORONTO STAR. The Blue Jays, the city of Dunedin and the state of Florida each "invested at least" $102M in the project, while the team covering $40M of that amount. Among the changes:
- The video board in left-center field.
- Standing-room-only spots with a drink rail.
- A wraparound, 360-degree concourse so fans can "walk the entire length" of the ballpark.
- A new left-field section of seats, with an air-conditioned bar on top and a "special kids' zone."
- The addition of large speakers around the ballpark to "improve the sound," as there was "only one speaker in the entire place" previously.
Meanwhile, there will be room for roughly 8,500 fans, about 3,000 more than last year, which will make tickets "easier to come by." But Blue Jays Dir of Florida Operations Shelby Nelson said that the team has "preserved the intimacy of the park" (TORONTO STAR, 2/9). Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro said that the renovated ballpark will be "ready for spring games, though work at their nearby training center will continue into the summer" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 2/9).
