All-Star
Posted 27 October 2023 - 07:29 PM
I’ll be semi-retired by the end of the year. As a reward, I’m going take something off my bucket list - attending spring training in Sarasota. I’m looking for advice on things such as places to stay, places to eat, things to do not related to baseball. Is there a recommended week to attend? How do you get tickets? Can you watch workouts? I’m so new to this that I’m looking for any advice any of you want to give me.
I’ll appreciate any advice you can send my way.
HOF
Posted 27 October 2023 - 07:37 PM
If you haven't already, sign up for the official O's newsletter. Sometime before the holidays the preseason schedule will be announced with tickets available.
Do not sleep on those tickets.
All-Star
Posted 27 October 2023 - 07:41 PM
If you haven't already, sign up for the official O's newsletter. Sometime before the holidays the preseason schedule will be announced with tickets available.
Do not sleep on those tickets.
Thanks, good advice.
HOF
Posted 27 October 2023 - 07:47 PM
Thanks, good advice.
And do yourself a favor: make sure the newsletter doesn't get caught up in your spam filter. My email app (or maybe it's Google) sometimes gets tired of newsletters and just randomly assigns them "junk" status.
I Miss McNulty
Posted 27 October 2023 - 07:56 PM
There is baseball, and occasionally there are other things of note
"Now OPS sucks. Got it."
"Making his own olive brine is peak Mackus."
"I'm too hungover to watch a loss." - McNulty
@bopper33
I Miss McNulty
Posted 27 October 2023 - 07:57 PM
There is baseball, and occasionally there are other things of note
"Now OPS sucks. Got it."
"Making his own olive brine is peak Mackus."
"I'm too hungover to watch a loss." - McNulty
@bopper33
HOF
Posted 28 October 2023 - 06:34 AM
I’ll be semi-retired by the end of the year. As a reward, I’m going take something off my bucket list - attending spring training in Sarasota. I’m looking for advice on things such as places to stay, places to eat, things to do not related to baseball. Is there a recommended week to attend? How do you get tickets? Can you watch workouts? I’m so new to this that I’m looking for any advice any of you want to give me.
I’ll appreciate any advice you can send my way.
HOF
Posted 31 October 2023 - 05:19 PM
I’ll be semi-retired by the end of the year. As a reward, I’m going take something off my bucket list - attending spring training in Sarasota. I’m looking for advice on things such as places to stay, places to eat, things to do not related to baseball. Is there a recommended week to attend? How do you get tickets? Can you watch workouts? I’m so new to this that I’m looking for any advice any of you want to give me.
I’ll appreciate any advice you can send my way.
I'm planning that next Spring. I might be picking your brain after all the advice you'll get. 
I Miss McNulty
Posted 01 November 2023 - 03:35 PM
I’ll be semi-retired by the end of the year. As a reward, I’m going take something off my bucket list - attending spring training in Sarasota. I’m looking for advice on things such as places to stay, places to eat, things to do not related to baseball. Is there a recommended week to attend? How do you get tickets? Can you watch workouts? I’m so new to this that I’m looking for any advice any of you want to give me.
I’ll appreciate any advice you can send my way.
Sorry, been owing you a response:
Getting in: Southwest flies to SRQ which is the local airport, this is relatively new and they don't have a ton of flights and they can get pretty expensive especially during peak hours. Your other options are Tampa or Ft Myers, both of which require, obviously renting a car. But even if you fly into SRQ you'll probably want a car anyway to get around. Definitely price shop. The drive from Tampa is about an hour but can get backed up during rush hour.
Places to stay: To be nice, Sarasota is mostly a dump. There are very nice hotels "downtown" which is where the players stay I think but those are insanely expensive. Your absolute best bet is to stay on Siesta Key and just drive to Sarasota. Outside of seeing a game or two, you'll want to stay on the Key. Not sure if you're a beach guy but Siesta Key beach cannot be missed -- it's gorgeous. They have a ton of hotels, air bnbs etc but I would book sooner rather than later.
Food/drinks: Get Yoder's for breakfast before a game -- it's Amish so they're closed on Sundays -- but it's delicious. Adam Jones used to eat there a lot when he was on the team. My recommendation is to go to a 1 pm game and get breakfast beforehand. Other than that, Duffy's is a solid spot to pregame near Ed Smith Stadium; their specials are buy one get one free all day. Other than that, you'll want to stay on Siesta Key for all eating and drinking. Siesta Key Oyster Bar is great. Old Salty Dog too. There is also a good Mexican place but the name escapes me. If you like to drink you'll have no problem. I like Gilligan's and Daiquiri Deck (during the day). At night, a little off the beaten path is Captain Curt's Sniki Tiki. Beach Club if you like clubby dancing (I do not).
As for going to the game/workouts: I've never seen a workout but I would imagine you can go. Game tickets aren't that expensive and are easy to come by (a little tougher if you want to see a popular team like the Yankees on a weekend). Our season ticket package used to include free spring training tickets but they erased that deal. Bastards. Again, Sarasota the city is nothing special and the stadium is sort of in the middle of nowhere. You drive through suburbs/strip malls and there it is. Drive in, go to the game and get back to Siesta Key.
Other stuff to do? I dunno. All I've done when I go there is drink and watch baseball. There are a ton of other teams that play close by: Pirates are in Bradenton. Jays, Phillies and Yankees in the Clearwater area. If you fly home from Ft. Myers the Red Sox and Twins play down that way. So, you could always see another park.
Guess that's about it. Let me know if you need anything else. We are gonna book our trip soon. Fired up.
There is baseball, and occasionally there are other things of note
"Now OPS sucks. Got it."
"Making his own olive brine is peak Mackus."
"I'm too hungover to watch a loss." - McNulty
@bopper33
All-Star
Posted 02 November 2023 - 06:16 AM
Sorry, been owing you a response:
Getting in: Southwest flies to SRQ which is the local airport, this is relatively new and they don't have a ton of flights and they can get pretty expensive especially during peak hours. Your other options are Tampa or Ft Myers, both of which require, obviously renting a car. But even if you fly into SRQ you'll probably want a car anyway to get around. Definitely price shop. The drive from Tampa is about an hour but can get backed up during rush hour.
Places to stay: To be nice, Sarasota is mostly a dump. There are very nice hotels "downtown" which is where the players stay I think but those are insanely expensive. Your absolute best bet is to stay on Siesta Key and just drive to Sarasota. Outside of seeing a game or two, you'll want to stay on the Key. Not sure if you're a beach guy but Siesta Key beach cannot be missed -- it's gorgeous. They have a ton of hotels, air bnbs etc but I would book sooner rather than later.
Food/drinks: Get Yoder's for breakfast before a game -- it's Amish so they're closed on Sundays -- but it's delicious. Adam Jones used to eat there a lot when he was on the team. My recommendation is to go to a 1 pm game and get breakfast beforehand. Other than that, Duffy's is a solid spot to pregame near Ed Smith Stadium; their specials are buy one get one free all day. Other than that, you'll want to stay on Siesta Key for all eating and drinking. Siesta Key Oyster Bar is great. Old Salty Dog too. There is also a good Mexican place but the name escapes me. If you like to drink you'll have no problem. I like Gilligan's and Daiquiri Deck (during the day). At night, a little off the beaten path is Captain Curt's Sniki Tiki. Beach Club if you like clubby dancing (I do not).
As for going to the game/workouts: I've never seen a workout but I would imagine you can go. Game tickets aren't that expensive and are easy to come by (a little tougher if you want to see a popular team like the Yankees on a weekend). Our season ticket package used to include free spring training tickets but they erased that deal. Bastards. Again, Sarasota the city is nothing special and the stadium is sort of in the middle of nowhere. You drive through suburbs/strip malls and there it is. Drive in, go to the game and get back to Siesta Key.
Other stuff to do? I dunno. All I've done when I go there is drink and watch baseball. There are a ton of other teams that play close by: Pirates are in Bradenton. Jays, Phillies and Yankees in the Clearwater area. If you fly home from Ft. Myers the Red Sox and Twins play down that way. So, you could always see another park.
Guess that's about it. Let me know if you need anything else. We are gonna book our trip soon. Fired up.
This is awesome, thank you.
HOF
Posted 02 November 2023 - 06:21 AM
We went for ST in 2022 - and all games were canceled for the work stoppage. So instead we just hung out in Siesta Key and still had a great time. Didn't even go in to Sarasota to see the stadium.
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