| Fort Myers, Florida is the spring training home of | | | | Grapefruit League and teams that train in Arizona |
| the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins. | | | | makeup the Cactus League. Grapefruit League |
| These two perennial American League contenders | | | | teams that train in Florida and compete each |
| compete against each other every spring for the | | | | spring against the Twins and Red Sox include: the |
| hotly contested Mayor's Cup. The victor is the | | | | Atlanta Braves; Baltimore Orioles; Cincinnati Reds; |
| team that wins more games against the other | | | | Detroit Tigers; Florida Marlins; Houston Astros; |
| during the two-month spring training season. | | | | New York Mets; New York Yankees; Philadelphia |
| The Minnesota Twins call Hammond Stadium their | | | | Phillies; Pittsburgh Pirates; St. Louis Cardinals; |
| home during spring training. Debuting in 1991, | | | | Tampa Bay Rays; Toronto Blue Jays and the |
| Hammond Stadium has a seating capacity of | | | | Washington Nationals. |
| 7,500 fans. Hammond Stadium is part of the Lee | | | | Fans that come to Southwest Florida to cheer on |
| County Sports Complex and is named for former | | | | the Twins or Red Sox also enjoy the tropical |
| Lee County Commissioner, Bill Hammond, who | | | | climate and wonderful beaches found throughout |
| played an important role in getting this stadium | | | | the area. Popular destinations include Fort Myers |
| built. Prior to Fort Myers, the Minnesota Twins | | | | Beach, Sanibel, Captiva and Marco Island. The Gulf |
| trained in Orlando, Florida. | | | | Coast barrier islands offer accommodations to |
| Hammond Stadium is also home to the Fort | | | | meet almost any budget and lodging need. |
| Myers Miracle, the Twins affiliate of the Florida | | | | Many Southwest Florida spring training visitors |
| State League. Hammond Stadium is located at | | | | elect to rent a house or condo for the entire |
| 14100 Six Miles Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers. | | | | two-month period of February and March. These |
| The Boston Red Sox play their spring training | | | | longer-term visitors are commonly referred to as |
| games at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort | | | | snowbirds. Snowbirds often look to Cape Coral |
| Myers. City of Palms Park holds 8,000 fans and | | | | and its 400 miles of canals or South Fort Myers |
| was constructed in 1992. City of Palms Park is | | | | and its wide range of condominium communities |
| also home to the Red Sox Rookie Team affiliate | | | | and gated communities for their two-month rental. |
| in the Gulf Coast League. City of Palms Park is | | | | In addition to spring training and the beaches, |
| located at 2201 Edison Avenue in Fort Myers. | | | | other popular Southwest Florida attractions include |
| After a heated courtship with Sarasota, the | | | | the shops, restaurants and glamour of Fifth |
| Boston Red Sox have recently signed a | | | | Avenue South in Naples, the J.N. Ding Darling |
| thirty-year lease to remain in Lee County, Florida. | | | | National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island and the |
| The County has committed to constructing a new | | | | Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers. |
| ballpark before the start of the 2012 spring | | | | For many Bostonians, one of the favorite days of |
| training season. Currently plans call for the new | | | | the year is in early February when the giant |
| stadium to be a replica of Fenway Park and to be | | | | moving van loaded with equipment pulls out of |
| located in South Fort Myers or Estero. | | | | Yawkey Way and starts its journey toward Fort |
| Major league baseball teams train each spring in | | | | Myers. After a long winter, fans of both the |
| either Florida or Arizona and for the most part | | | | Twins and the Red Sox welcome a trip to |
| only compete against other teams that train in | | | | Southwest Florida to bask in the sun cheer on |
| the state. Teams that train in Florida comprise the | | | | their favorite team. |