Charlotte Sports Park

Charlotte Sports Park (also known as Charlotte County Stadium) will be the Spring Training home (in principle) to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the spring of 2009.

Tenants

The stadium is the former home of the Texas Rangers , minor league affiliate Charlotte Rangers, and has played host to amateur baseball tournaments, including the Port Charlotte Invitational.

A New Tenant

In August 2006, an agreement in principle was made between the Charlotte County Commission and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who will use the facility as their Spring Training home starting in the Spring of 2009. The deal came after the county spent years trying to lure another Major League Baseball team to replace the Texas Rangers, who left for Surprise, AZ in 2001. The agreement could be finalized as soon as September 12, 2006.

As part of a $27.2 million plan to renovate the stadium, the Devil Rays recruited stadium designer HOK Sport, Inc to redevelop the stadium, which was built in 1987. The renovations will take up to 2 years, and are expected to be finished in time for the 2009 Spring Training.

Historical Events

After signing an unprescendented 10 year deal worth $252 million with the Texas Rangers, in 2000, slugger Alex Rodriguez held a press conference with the sports media at the stadium. The stadium, which was being vacated by the club at the end of the 2001 Spring Training, was unable to accomodate the signifcant number of news reporters. In an effort to allow enough room for reporters to speak to Rodriguez, the press conference was held on the roof of the Rangers' dugout -- a clear sign that the Rangers had outgrown the facility.

In the Spring of 1993, Texas Rangers pitcher Nolan Ryan announced his retirement from the clubhouse at the stadium.

Other Uses

The stadium is also used by the local community for events like concerts, festivals, and expos. It has hosted such musicans as Kenny Rogers, The Beach Boys, and A Simple Plan.