Spring has sprung for the Astros
Palm Beach has much to offer faithful baseball fans — inside and outside of the ballpark
The roots of baseball in Palm Beach stretch back to the Gilded Age.
In the early 1900s, railroad and hotel tycoon Henry Flagler, a key player in Florida’s business and tourism history, installed baseball diamonds at his properties, the Royal Poinciana Hotel and The Breakers Hotel. Spectators included upper-crusters such as the Vanderbilts, Morgans and Astors. Flagler also was key to the expansion of the sport because the teams were made up of black players who worked as bellhops, waiters and other hotel jobs.
Now, about a century later, the Astros are adding a new chapter to the area’s rich history book. After years at Kissimmee in central Florida, the team joins the Washington Nationals at the brand-new Ballpark of the Palm Beaches for spring training Feb. 28 through March 29.
For baseball tourists, the new facility is a home run: 6,500 seats, a $15 general-admission lawn with room for 1,500, a 360-degree concourse, plentiful shaded seating, two party decks and six suites. The complex’s 160acre City Park features a playground, splash pad, four lighted basketball courts and a 1.8 mile walking trail. The Astros and Nationals training areas each have a fanfriendly, six-field layout. Star concessions include craft brews from Due South Brewing Co., 126 tap handles and a signature cocktail to honor each team.
Meanwhile, the action takes place minutes from some of the state’s most beautiful Atlantic Coast beaches and attractions. The Palm Beaches region — a haven of fashionforward shopping, cool cultural centers and casual-gourmet dining — offers visitors a fresh opportunity for a wellrounded spring vacation.