Governor’s Baseball Dinner Set Feb. 17, Grapefruit League Brings $687 Million Annually To Florida

exciting evening will showcase America's pastime

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – The Governor’s Baseball Dinner, a celebration of a new season of Major League Baseball Spring Training in Florida, makes its second stop in Palm Beach County in the last five years when the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, in West Palm Beach, hosts the event on Sunday, February 17.

“This will be an exciting evening showcasing one of America’s greatest pastimes,” said Florida Sports Foundation President & CEO, Angela Suggs.

“Now with two stadiums and four teams in Palm Beach County, the area has become a prime spring training destination.  We are honored to continue this historic event once again in West Palm Beach.”

The 2019 Governor’s Baseball Dinner begins at 7 p.m. as dinner will be preceded by a VIP Reception and meet and greet.  MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is scheduled to attend along with representatives from many of the 15 teams who annually train in Florida, along with a number of baseball greats.

Tables for the event, which seat 10, are priced at $1,200 and includes admission to pre-dinner reception.

A limited number of VIP tables of 10 are available at $2,000 and includes access to a VIP Baseball Legends Reception.  Individual seats are $135. Baseball fans in attendance will also have the opportunity to bid on silent auction items from Florida’s Spring Training teams.

Table and seat purchases can be made online at www.palmbeachsports.com. For more information, call the Palm Beach County Sports Commission at 561-233-3096 or the Florida Sports Foundation at 850-298-6638.

A 2018 Economic Impact Survey showed the Florida Grapefruit League brings $687.1 million annually to the state’s 12 locations during the months of February and March and attracts 1.5 million fans a year.

Spring Training Baseball in Palm Beach County dates back to 1928 when the Baltimore Orioles came to the area and stayed through 1938. 

Since that time, the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics (1946-62), Atlanta Braves (1963-97), and the Montreal Expos (1969-72 and 1981-97) called West Palm Beach home.

Roger Dean Stadium, in Jupiter, opened in 1998 and has hosted the St. Louis Cardinals, the Washington Nationals, and Miami Marlins at that location.  The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches opened in 2017 and has been the spring training home of the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals the last two seasons.

For 2019 Florida Spring Training schedules for all 15 teams beginning on Saturday, February 23, visit www.floridagrapefruitleague.com.

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