TD Ballpark, Florida, United States

457Lulu 5:00 PM Feb 24, 2020

Newly Renovated Feb 2020
The Spring Training home of the Toronto Blue Jays just re-opened for the first game yesterday (2/25/2020) after completing major renovations. Capacity has been raised to 8,000. A walkway goes around the stadium and the bullpens are now viewable to fans. Best for me is that there are all new bathrooms and seats that fold up for ease in passing by going in and out of the aisle. Two outfield bars help distribute the crowd from the main concourse; one is air-conditioned and both offer shaded seating. There is no bern but fans can stand on the walkways. The concourses are wider. Most importantly, they left the seats close to the field. You can see your favorite players close up. The safety netting extends all the way down to the foul polls making you watch the game through it which is a drag. Not sure how to get the visiting team's autographs now. The players do send the balls over the netting between innings but unless you are in the 200 sections, your chance of catching a foul bowl is severely diminished now. Beers range from $7.00 to $10.50 depending on the type. Popcorn is $4.50. There is no parking lot for the stadium but businesses around the area do offer parking or you can park downtown for free and walk or shuttle. Most of the neighborhood is resident parking only, the same as before. They did a great job on this place. One of our favorites now.

3cdub333 5:00 PM Apr 24, 2021

Lousy treatment of fans in rain; nice vicinity
When the Toronto Blue Jays announced their early “home” games would be in Dunedin’s TD Ballpark, I had to go. I hoped to be part of baseball history: first time two different MLB series were being played in Pinellas County, Florida. I hoped to see phenom Shohei Ohtani. Hoped to say “thanks” to Angels manager Joe Maddon, a hero to Cubbie Nation. Hoped to belt out “O Canada” and enjoy Gator Bites. I hoped it wouldn’t rain. After keeping soggy fans in the dark for 4 hours in a monsoon (no shelter, no johns), the game between the Blue Jays and Angels was cancelled. They wouldn’t let fans in, so I wandered around the ballpark perimeter and to downtown Dunedin. Baseball has been played on this site since 1930; home to the Jays for Spring Training longer than any other Grapefruit or Cactus League park. It’s had some wacky names (“Knology Park”, “Florida Auto Exchange”). And shouldn’t we see football at “TD Park”? $20 for parking is the norm. I used the muddy VFW lot across the street. You can’t miss the VFW: a hulking LVT (“Landing Vehicle, Tracked”) sits out front, bristling with firepower. Turns out these amphibious landing craft were first built in Dunedin! (Check out the mural behind the VFW.) A bar north of the park charges $10 for its muddy lot. Or bike to the ballyard on the paved Pinellas Bike Trail, which is across the street from TD Park (about 10 bike racks in front.) At first glance, this is not a charming space. Concrete and corrugated steel facade, blue and white hues. A brick watchtower hovers over the entry. The Blue Jays logo has been updated but remains true to the original ‘70s logo: a sleek, stylized bird (light blue and navy blue) with a red maple leaf. Sharp. Downtown Dunedin is charming. The hike through a residential area is tree-lined and mellow. Clever welcoming signs (“Duned IN”). A “tiny house” project designed for vacation rentals. Fun dining options (I enjoyed “Casa Tina”). Back to the ballpark in a storm. Still no word at all from the Jays or MLB. I heard the game was unplugged from an exiting beer vendor. I rate it “Fair”, balancing the crummy treatment of fans in a thunderstorm with the pleasant experience in Dunedin and stadium’s history.