The contract to design upgrades to Lee County Sports Complex and Hammond Stadium, spring home of the Minnesota Twins, has been awarded to Populous.
The Lee County Board of Commissioners approved the deal with Populous to design the $42.5 million renovation. The ballpark also serves as home to the Fort Myers Miracle (High Class A; Florida State League).
“Hammond Stadium is synonymous with the Twins and Spring Training baseball in Lee County. We have some great ideas about creating a fantastic Spring Training experience in Lee County,” said Bruce Miller, Populous Principal. “These renovations will ensure thousands of fans will continue to experience Twins Spring Training right here at Hammond Stadium for decades to come.”
There is some history between the Twins and Populous: the firm also designed Target Field, the team’s critically acclaimed home in Minneapolis.
“The Twins have enjoyed an outstanding and long relationship with Populous and the renovations to Hammond Stadium and the Lee County Sports Complex will ensure our team continues to have access to a state-of-the-art Spring Training facility while assisting the county in drawing visitors from across the nation to Fort Myers to enjoy Spring Training,” said Dave St. Peter, President of the Minnesota Twins. “We’re pleased we’ll be able to join forces again with Populous as well as the other members of the project team to create a great new Spring Training experience.”
The upgrades include:
- An expansion of Hammond Stadium from 8,000 to 9300 seats.
- A reconfiguration of the outfield fence to match Target Field dimensions, along with the addition of a 360-degree concourse boardwalk.
- Upgraded concession services and restroom renovations.
- New premium seating.
- A new residential Twins Academy for both players and staff.
- A new practice field and a new agility field.
- Clubhouse renovations.
Construction on the project will begin in April 2014 and is expected to be completed in time for Spring Training 2015. The construction management team will be the Manhattan Twins Joint Venture, which is a partnership between Manhattan Construction Group, Chris-Tel Construction and Casey Construction.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with the Twins because not only are they a great organization to work with, but this ensures the team and its fans will be with Lee County for decades to come,” said Dave Harner, Acting Assistant County Manager and Director of Parks and Recreation for Lee County. “We’ve worked with Populous on past projects and garnered results that made Lee County proud.”
Rendering of renovated Hammond Stadium courtesy of Lee County.
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