MLB Spring Training Facility for Cleveland Indians & Cincinnati Reds
Project Overview
The Goodyear Ballpark and Recreational Complex is a Major League Baseball spring training facility, home to the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds. Boasting stunning architecture and first class amenities, Goodyear Ballpark can host 10,000 fans within its 8,000 fixed seats, six private suites, two party decks and outfield seating berm. Proximate to the ballpark are two 50-acre player development complexes where the teams train year-round. Each complex includes a 42,750-square-foot clubhouse featuring major and minor league locker rooms, weight training and physical therapy facilities, classroom and dining areas, as well as administration offices overlooking the practice fields. Outdoors, each complex has six full-sized fields, two half fields, one agility field, twelve batting tunnels and eighteen pitching mounds. Among spring training ballparks, this one is truly unique in that it will ultimately be integrated into a larger master planned development. Goodyear’s “Ballpark Village” is envisioned to be a dynamic mixed-use center with residential, office, retail and hotel components. The 240-acre campus is destined to be a premier sports, entertainment and lifestyle destination that will raise the bar for future spring training developments.
Our Role
JMI Sports created an innovative concept to integrate a publicly owned ballpark with a private mixed-use development. The City of Goodyear embraced this plan and engaged our firm to secure interest from a Major League Baseball team. After playing an instrumental role in the negotiations with the Cleveland Indians and providing critical support during the public approval process, JMI Sports (in partnership with a local Arizona developer) was named Development Manager for the new spring training facility. Prior to breaking ground, our team carefully managed the evolution of the project’s budget and schedule and diligently led the design effort to ensure that both the Indians and the City would have a beautiful asset to serve their needs for many years. Subsequently, our firm assisted the City in securing the Cincinnati Reds as the second tenant of the facility and similarly managed their design process. JMI Sports then oversaw the construction of the ballpark and both player development complexes – delivering the entire $108 million project on-time and on-budget.