Play Ball!

Okay, so there’s still snow on the ground and Canadians continue to shiver in the icy grip of winter, but there is hope. Consider the fact that the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel are getting ready for the 2014 baseball spring training season. The popular Florida vacation area is the spring training home of the 2013 World Series champs, the Boston Red Sox, along with the Minnesota Twins. Training is set to begin on Feb. 27, with two college exhibition games. The spring training season runs through March 29. The tentative season schedule includes 17 games at JetBlue Park, Fort Myers. Tickets are currently on sale.

Once again, the Red Sox will hold an open house at JetBlue Park on Feb. 22. The event is scheduled to include a celebration of the 2013 World Series Championship, give fans an opportunity to tour JetBlue Park, and enjoy concessions and entertainment on Fenway South Drive, a street festival reminiscent of Yawkey Way in Boston. The open house is free to the public.

Fans will want to be in the stands on March 17 at 1:05 p.m. when the St. Louis Cardinals visit JetBlue Park for a St. Patrick’s Day rematch of the 2013 World Series participants. Many area hotels are promoting special offers for the Red Sox spring training season.

These include GrandStay Hotel & Suites, Best Western Airport Inn, Best Western Airport Inn, La Quinta Inn & Suites Fort Myers Airport, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fort Myers, Courtyard by Marriott – Metro Pkwy., Crowne Plaza, Residence Inn Fort Myers Sanibel, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, and the Embassy Suites Estero.

So check it out at http://www.FortMyers-Sanibel.com .