The Spring Training Epicenter

"Tampa is the epicenter of spring training," baseball fan Richard Gourmant says.

He is one of thousands of baseball fans and tourists who visit the area every March, and for good reason: Within an hour's drive of Tampa in any direction, fans have the choice of watching nine major league teams readying for the new season. No other spring training city boasts that many teams.

The World Champion New York Yankees base themselves in Tampa, playing at the new Legends Field along the city's main thoroughfare, Dale Mabry Highway. The Detroit Tigers are in Lakeland; the Cincinnati Reds in Plant City; the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater; the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin; the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Petersburg; the Chicago White Sox in Sarasota; the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, and the Cleveland Indians in Winter Haven.

"In spring training, teams like to clutter around each other so they don't have to travel far to play. And that's good for us," says Charlie Reese with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce.

Fan Brian Bahn came to Tampa from Baltimore, leaving behind at least three inches of snow for the golden rays of the Sunshine State.

"I've been to six different stadiums so far," he says. "Tampa is the greatest place to see major league baseball."