Charlotte Sports Park

Charlotte Sports Park (formerly Charlotte County Stadium) was originally constructed in 1987 as the spring training facility for the Texas Rangers and served in that capacity until the team moved to Surprise, Ariz. in 2002.

During the Rangers’ tenure, the stadium was also home to the Charlotte Rangers, the Single-A Texas affiliate that played in the Florida State League. When the major league team left in 2002, the minor league affiliate left with them, leaving Charlotte County without baseball until the Charlotte County Redfish occupied the stadium during the summer of 2007.

The Redfish were part of an independent baseball league called the South Coast League that was not affiliated with major league baseball. Former major leaguer Cecil Fielder served as the manager for the team that finished in last place with a 22-64 record in what turned out to be its lone season. Under financial pressure, the South Coast League suspended its 2008 season indefinitely, and the Redfish left Charlotte County.

Charlotte Sports Park was not without a tenant for long though. In 2006, The Tampa Bay Rays announced that they would move their spring training to Port Charlotte in 2009 and signed a 20-year agreement with the city, thus guaranteeing baseball in the Charlotte County community until at least 2029. Renovations estimated at more than $27 million started in summer 2008 with plans for the Rays to host spring training beginning in March 2009.

On August 25, 2008, the Rays announced that they would partner with Ripken Baseball to purchase and move their Single-A affiliate from Vero Beach to Charlotte County. Not only would the Rays move their spring training to Port Charlotte, but the Stone Crabs would also play their home games at Charlotte Sports Park starting in April 2009.

Renovations are currently underway at the stadium in preparation for the 2009 season.