Joker Marchant Stadium, baseball field located in Lakeland, FL
Joker Marchant Stadium is a baseball venue in Lakeland, Florida, featuring both covered and open seating areas for spectators. The facility includes a wide walkway that circles the field and a play area for children to enjoy during games.
Joker Marchant Stadium opened in 1966 with 4,900 seats. A bleacher section along the left field line was added in 1988, raising capacity to 7,027. A 2002 renovation, funded by a $4.5 million state grant, $2 million from the Polk County Tourist Development Council, the Tigers and the City of Lakeland, brought capacity to 8,500. A $37 million upgrade began in April 2016 and finished in 2017.
The ballpark is named after Marcus "Joker" Marchant, a former Lakeland Parks and Recreation Director. Since 2017 it has carried the name Publix Field under a 20-year deal ending in 2036; Publix is headquartered in Lakeland and this is the only sports complex for which the chain has bought naming rights.
The stadium is easy to reach and convenient for visitors from the surrounding area. Parking is cashless, using credit cards at special payment devices, and accommodates various vehicle types.
The Detroit Tigers have trained in Lakeland since 1934, using Henley Field until this stadium opened in 1966. On March 15, 2011, a record 10,307 spectators watched a spring game against the Boston Red Sox. The stadium also hosted matches of the 1974 Amateur World Series, the only edition held in the United States.
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