When Cool Today Park opened in March, 2019, at a project cost of $140 million, we here at Venice City Lifestyle were as excited as everyone else in our community. After all, the park has been a hugely consequential project, bringing jobs, economic development, positive attention, and new entertainment opportunities to our region. The Spring Training home of the World Champions Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball team, the state-of-the-art facility is much more than just a place to catch a spring training baseball game. In fact, the park is a year-round dining and shopping destination, offering off-season concerts, special events, and more.
A quick look at our City Scene section on page TK is a good glimpse at the kinds of events the Braves organization regularly hosts at Cool Today Park. Over two days in February, the park’s campus was the site of the World Champions Welcome Weekend, which celebrated the Braves’ World Series win. The packed event included free, family friendly activities during the day, and concerts both evenings. The World Series trophy was on display, the Budweiser Clydesdales and Dalmatian were on parade, Braves legends signed autographs, and Wellen Park hosted a Fun Zone with competitive speed pitching. The concerts featured the B Street Band—the #1 rated and longest running tribute to the Boss, Bruce Springsteen—and country superstar John Stone.
“Braves’ events are first rate,” says fan Stewart Cummings of the World Champions Welcome Weekend. “They always pull out the stops. The park is beautiful and a great place to go with friends.”
Even when the Braves aren’t in town, the park is a destination. The Superior Pools Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill is open from 11 AM to 8 PM every day, features tasty pub fare, a full bar, regular live entertainment and even a popular trivia night. The latest Braves merchandise is always available at the Clubhouse Team Store, open 11 AM to 6 PM six days a week.
“First and foremost, we are a baseball manufacturing facility, we manufacture baseball players,” says Mike Dunn, Vice President of Florida Operations for the Atlanta Braves. “That’s a year long process that goes from Major League Spring Training, to our minor league camp, to our summer camp, to our rehabilitation, to our strength and conditioning, to our way of life curriculum. The public doesn’t necessarily see that. They may see glimpses of it when the players are working out on the field. Aside from the baseball side of things, the park is open all year with our Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill. We have special events, extended happy hours, there is always something going on. We employ over 100 people year round from housekeeping, to security, to hospitality. We pride ourselves on being part of the community, and keeping our doors open to the public.”
Parking is plentiful, and visitors can arrive by golf cart, or over even by bicycle—there are bike racks at the park. During the summer, minor league games are free to attend, and though the schedule of the games is often released close to game time, typically the first pitch is thrown at 1 PM.
The park also offers behind-the-scenes guided tours of the field, dugout, press box, luxury suites, and clubhouse. Tours are conducted on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month after Spring Training (adults $35, seniors $25, age 15 and under $15, under age 4 free). Group tours must be reserved in advance.
“Give us a visit,” says Mike. “This is a special setting and the amenities are very nice.”
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Superior Pools Tomahawk Tiki Bar & Grill
Open everyday for lunch and dinner from 11 AM to 8 PM, the tiki bar has great food, great service, and a full bar, all in an amazing setting at the park. Featuring lives music on most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the Thursday Trivia Nights are also very popular.
Clubhouse Team Store
The retail store at Cool Today Park is open from 11 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Saturday. Featuring the latest in Atlanta Braves branded merchandise, this is the place to get your 2021 World Champion Atlanta Braves gear.
Tours For Individuals And Groups
Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the park, including the clubhouse, press box, and luxury suites. You might even catch a glimpse of your favorite minor league player. The minor leaguers are at the facility all year and their summer games are free.
18800 South West Villages Parkway, Venice. 941.413.5000. SpringTraining@Braves.com. Facebook.com/CoolTodayPark/.