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2568x1445-Stadium_Map_Dunedin_BlueJays

Explore Dunedin's TD Ballpark

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@JoshJacksonMiLB
April 3, 2023

Welcome to TD Ballpark, where a walk in the park presents new perspectives, Canadian and Floridian fare are served at the concessions stands and Toronto Blue Jays prospects typically get their first taste of full-season ball.

Dunedin Blue Jays (Single-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays since 2021, Class A Advanced affiliate of the Blue Jays from 1990-2020, Class A affiliate of the Blue Jays from 1987-89, Class A affiliate of the Blue Jays from 1978-79)
Established: 1978 (operating continuously since 1987)
Ballpark: TD Ballpark (opened March 1, 1990, as Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field)
League: Florida State League
Championships: 2017 (Florida State League co-champions with Palm Beach Cardinals)
Alumni: Dave Stieb, Pat Hentgen, Ed Sprague, Jeff Kent, Shawn Green, Derek Bell, Carlos Delgado, Roy Halladay, Vernon Wells, Orlando Hudson, Alex Ríos, Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

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Outfield view
Art or Photo Credit: Courtesy Dunedin Blue Jays

The Blue Jays migrate to Dunedin every spring, and some of the youngest of the flock stick around throughout the season for their first long campaign in professional ball. With a Grapefruit League legacy in the Clearwater-adjacent city going back to the Toronto franchise's very first Spring Training game in 1977, Dunedin boasts generations of Jays fans as year-round residents and is an alluring and worthy destination for members of the organization's base way up north.

Part of Toronto's expansive player development complex, TD Ballpark truly offers a Major League atmosphere in miniature -- with some extra opportunities for Minor League-style family fun.

TD Ballpark

Ballpark Location (Google Maps)
Blue Jays Roster
Blue Jays Schedule

373 Douglas Ave,
Dunedin, FL 34698
(727) 733-0429

Capacity: 8,500
Dimensions: left field, 328 feet; center field, 400 feet; right field, 327 feet

Park Factors (2022)
100 = league average
Runs: 118 | Homers: 140 | Hits: 106
Florida State League environment (2021-22): 4.66 runs per team per game (lowest among 11 full-season leagues)

2566x1445-Logo_Map_Dunedin_BlueJays

Although historic, TD Ballpark is hardly recognizable as the stadium that opened for the 1990 campaign on the same grounds that has been hosting baseball since 1930. It's undergone multiple rounds of renovations, the most recent of which amounted to an investment of over $100 million (including the cost of upgrades to the rest of the complex) and expanded seating.

The renovations did require that the Dunedin Blue Jays spend the 2019 season at Clearwater's Jack Russell Memorial Stadium, but they also ensured TD Ballpark will be a great place to see baseball well into the 21st century -- the Blue Jays' lease runs until 2042.

TD Ballpark's upgrade also allowed it to host 21 Major League games during the 2020 season.

behind home plate courtesy Toronto
Art or Photo Credit: Courtesy Toronto Blue Jays

The Dunedin team's name and origin ensure that its identity is as intrinsically linked its parent organization as that of any Minor League could be. If you're a Blue Jays fan, you're going to love coming to TD Ballpark.

But a baseball fan of any stripe will find a state-of-the-art complex, great eats, a competitive game featuring young prospects and lots of sunshine. What are you waiting for?

Features

The biggest hits of the most recent renovations are new additions. Some are subtle, but all of them make a huge difference.

Not many fans would consider a spiffy, high-tech videoboard a reason to rush out to a ballpark, but TD Ballpark's is an illustrative example of the kind of upgrade that goes a long way in fostering the special, top-of-the-line pro sports atmosphere that permeates the place. That goes, too, for the updated sound system.

Likewise, "renovated bathrooms," on paper, don't necessarily set the oversized novelty foam fingers wagging, but a nice, easy-to-access, uncrowded W.C. at a ballpark has an infinitely positive effect on your day at the park whether you think about it or not.

Other recent additions are impossible to miss, perhaps the biggest being a concourse the team refers to as "the boardwalk," which is an appropriate name for it. Going all around the ballpark, it practically demands a casual stroll with stops along the way to check out everything there is to see, including different vantages of the action on the field -- some from field level, some from up above the outfield. Anywhere you look, you're going to like what you see.

One of the spots to stop is the WestJet Flight Deck tiki bar -- sharing a name with a group area at the Rogers Centre -- out in right field, with plenty of standing room as well as some places to sit.

WestJet Flight Deck
Art or Photo Credit: Dunedin Blue Jays

The Flight Deck is near the beginning of The Orange Trail, which is named for the city's heritage as a major citrus hub. This portion of the boardwalk extends all along the outfield and features opportunities to watch relievers warm up in both bullpens. There are chairs and convenient spots with railings, making it possible to rest a beverage, tray of food or scorebook while one watches an inning or two.

Right field courtesy toronto
Art or Photo Credit: Courtesy Toronto Blue Jays

The kids zone -- er, Jr. Jays Zone -- over behind the third-base area has speed pitch, corn hole and more games and amusements.

That Jr. Jays Zone is part of a larger pavilion called, fittingly, The Pavilion. Catch some shade at covered picnic tables and check out the concession offerings on hand, or find an Adirondack chair to have a seat for a few.

If you need to get out of the heat, take a breather at Eddie's Bar along the third-base side, or stop in the team store. This being a recently renovated Spring Training home of a big league club, the store is stocked with just about everything a fan of the Blue Jays -- Toronto or Dunedin or both -- would hope to find.

Concessions

Homesick Canadians will be comforted with poutine and Labatt Blue.

If that sounds a bit heavy for Florida, you'll want to grab some local bites. These can be found at a concessions stand just on the third-base side of home plate called Local Bites. Offerings have included such delicacies as conch fritters and grouper tacos. Veggie wraps and chicken Caesar wraps have also been available here.

Nearby, find all your favorite ballpark staples and more at Home Plate Classics.

Barbecue is the main attraction on hand near The Pavilion, but if the tent covering isn't enough to cool you off, make sure to find a frosty beverage over there, too.

Locally celebrated craft brews (like Sunshine City IPA from St. Petersburg-based Green Bench Brewing Co., Beach Blonde Ale from 3 Daughters Brewing, Dunedin Brewery's Peach ale and others) are available at various parts of the park.

Mascot

With a name like DJay, you know this bird is ready to get funky.

Dj

Known for being approximately seven feet tall and favoring high-top sneakers -- two traits extraordinarily rare in birds generally and blue jays specifically -- DJay is always up on the latest dance crazes and has possibly invented or inspired a few himself.

He's a fan-favorite for all ages, but he seems to consider baseball-loving kids his true flock.

Where to Stay

Headed to the stadium and looking for a hotel nearby? Your Wyndham is waiting. As the Official Hotel of Minor League Baseball, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts welcomes baseball fans with a portfolio of 24 trusted brands. Find Hotels by Wyndham closest to the ballpark below and book now at wyndhamhotels.com.

• Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach
• Days Inn by Wyndham Clearwater/Gulf to Bay
• Howard Johnson by Wyndham Clearwater FL
• Safety Harbor Resort & Spa, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
• La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Clearwater Central

Local attractions

Dunedin is home to one of the crown jewels of the Florida State Parks system, Honeymoon Island. If you're a birdwatcher, you've likely already heard of this barrier island hot spot of osprey, spoonbills, egrets and great horned owls. It's also a good place to spot gopher tortoises and armadillos. Of course, if you just want to paddle through the surf or sit on the white-sand beaches, you'll be perfectly happy here, too.

Honeymoon Island is also a great place to catch a ferry to one of Florida's other prized beaches, Caladesi Island State Park (alternatively reachable by foot via Clearwater Beach).

You can get to Honeymoon Island State Park in about a 15-minute drive from the ballpark, and the adventurous will likely be interested in getting there by bicycle -- a ride of about a half hour.

If you are on a bike (or if you're looking for a place for a good walk or jog), you're likely to enjoy the Pinellas Trail, which starts up in Tarpon Springs to the north and cuts all the way down to St. Petersburg with a route that goes directly through downtown Dunedin (and right near the ballpark).

In downtown Dunedin, find an array of boutiques and eateries by cruising Main Street and the streets it intersects with. Whether or not you're interested in shopping and eating, it's a charming place to pass some time before the game.

Although there's plenty to explore and enjoy right in Dunedin, you'll be forgiven for also taking some time to check out all the attractions of Tampa and St. Pete -- you're just over a half hour from each.

Food and drink

Downtown Dunedin is the place to be. For upscale new American, check out The Living Room. Find slightly more old school fine dining at Bon Appetit, right on the waterfront. Grab a casual breakfast or lunch at Wild Iris Cafe, featuring a gorgeous outdoor space.

If you have any appetite for good Mexican food, you can't lose at Casa Tina's. A family-owned-and-operated establishment about a half mile north of the ballpark, it offers all the classics -- some with Floridian flare (try the mahi mahi with the pescado a la veracruzana) as well as vegetarian and vegan options (ask your server about the daily meat substitute). All this in an atmosphere that balances warmth and sophistication, colorful and classy.

Feeling tipple-ish? Dunedin Brewery, Woodwright Brewing Company, The Honu Tiki Bar, Caledonia Brewing and the Dunedin House of Beer are all right in downtown.

If you do head out to Honeymoon Island State Park, you'll likely want to stop at Frenchy's Outpost for some fried fish, a frozen cocktail or a cold soft drink.

Moving on

The geographic layout of the Florida State League makes this area tough to beat in terms of seeing maximum Minor League Baseball with minimal travel time. For example, you can get drive from a Dunedin Blue Jays game to a Clearwater Threshers (PHI) game in about 15 minutes, and from a Threshers game to a Tampa Tarpons (NYY) in under a half hour.

In fact, from Dunedin, it'd be astonishingly easy to travel to any venue in the FSL's entire West Division. If it weren't for the intricacies of scheduling, you could see the home parks of all six clubs in a six-night span with the following route or variations thereof: the Lakeland Flying Tigers (DET), Tampa, Dunedin, Clearwater, the Bradenton Marauders (PIT), the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (MIN).

The road to Toronto

An assignment from Dunedin starts a long path to Toronto, figuratively and literally. For Blue Jays prospects making the migration in order, the Single-A assignment at TD Ballpark is followed with a stint way out on Canada's west coast, with the High-A Vancouver Canadians. Double-A makes a ballplayer a member of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, and a Triple-A assignment is with the Buffalo Bisons.

Single-A: Dunedin Blue Jays
High-A: Vancouver Canadians
Double-A: New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Triple-A: Buffalo Bisons

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