Palm Beach County, Fla. — The Palm Beaches is a top destination for a variety of sporting events, thanks to its state-of-the-art facilities and ideal year-round climate. Baseball thrives here with two Major League Baseball (MLB) Spring Training facilities: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium and CACTI Park of The Palm Beaches. These premier venues attract both amateur and professional events, reinforcing The Palm Beaches’ status as a hub for sports tourism.
Since 1998, The Palm Beaches has been home to Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, the first baseball complex in Florida to host two MLB teams – the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals – for Spring Training. In 2017, Palm Beach County introduced its second two-team facility with the opening of CACTI Park of The Palm Beaches, home to the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals. The Spring Training season embodies one of the most dynamic and special experiences for baseball, offering fans the opportunity to enjoy big-league games in scenic stadiums while fostering an intimate environment that encourages interaction with players and coaches.
MLB Spring Training provides one of the largest tourism impacts for Palm Beach County and the entire state of Florida. It’s not only an incredible attraction for residents but also draws visitors from across the nation. Last year, an independent study commissioned by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission revealed that the MLB Spring Training season generated more than $77 million in economic impact. This significant contribution was fueled by over 223,774 attendees, 55% of whom were nonresidents, resulting in 57,100 lodging room nights.
Beyond the impressive economic impact of MLB Spring Training, these facilities are home to numerous amateur baseball events, which are hosted by the Sports Commission. Both venues are utilized year-round, maintaining The Palm Beaches as a premier destination for baseball. Last year alone, Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium and CACTI Park of The Palm Beaches hosted a combined 33 regional and national baseball events, including some of the largest nationwide tournaments and showcases of amateur baseball.
Events held at these two stadiums last year accounted for nearly 25% of all sports-related room nights generated in The Palm Beaches. These amateur events averaged more than 1,800 room nights per event. The largest contributors were the Men’s Senior Baseball League (MSBL) Fall Classic, the Perfect Game World Wood Bat (WWBA) World Championship, and the Prospect Select National Showcase. (Palm Beach Classic). 
The MSBL Fall Classic is one of the largest amateur baseball tournaments for adults in the United States, uniquely featuring players aged 18 to over 65. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission has successfully bid to host the MSBL Fall Classic at CACTI Park of The Palm Beaches and Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium for the 6th consecutive year. These venues collectively offer 26 diamonds, accommodating 125 teams with over 2,000 athletes from across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Peru.
The impact of baseball in Palm Beach County extends beyond economics. The Palm Beaches welcomes teams from multiple countries for various events. “The World Comes to The Palm Beaches” is an international baseball festival featuring more than 30 teams from over 15 countries. Participants experience The Palm Beaches through baseball, staying in county hotels and dining at local restaurants. Besides the competition, local baseball organizations host practices, clinics, and activities, bringing players to multiple fields outside of the Spring Training facilities.
A wide range of amateur baseball events are held at the two Spring Training venues outside of the MLB Spring Training season, including multiple tournaments hosted by leading baseball organizations. Prospect Select and Perfect Game—recognized for organizing the most competitive high school-age tournaments in the country—bring their premier events to The Palm Beaches. Additionally, two collegiate summer baseball leagues use the Spring Training facilities as anchor venues. These amateur baseball events delivered significant economic impact last year, attracting 1,354 teams, nearly 25,000 athletes, and 43,000 spectators. Collectively, they generated 60,864 room nights and contributed an estimated $42 million to the local economy.
