Lakeland, Fla. — So deep and so mutually valuable is the Tigers-Lakeland, Florida, relationship that the old ballpark, while comfortable, simply wouldn’t do.
Joker Marchant Stadium is part of a $48 million re-do at Tigertown, the one-time World War II pilot training base, which decades ago was converted into a baseball facility and during the past year has been transformed into what is almost sure to be known as the Grapefruit League’s crown jewel.
Inside the gleaming beige ballpark, which has been expanded and has ditched its old soft-yellow motif, new roofed grandstand areas have replaced hot, sun-baked bleachers and seats along the third- and first-base lines.