Tradition Stadium - New York Mets

Tradition Stadium - New York Mets

 

 

The Thomas J. White Stadium, with seating capacity for over 7200 fans, was built in 1988. Operated by the St. Lucie County Parks & Recreation Department the stadium became the spring training headquarters for the New York Mets, summer home for the St. Lucie Mets and the hub for all New York Mets minor league operations. It is also home to Florida State League.

The New York Mets are based in Flushing in the Borough of Queens and play in the Eastern Division of the National League. In 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants abandoned New York for California, leaving the largest city in the United States without a National League franchise. Two years later, a third major baseball league, the Continental League was formed. After a contentious year, the Continental League organizers reached a deal with the established major leagues. In exchange for abandoning the new league, four new expansion franchises were created — two in each league.

The new team required a new name and many were suggested but the owners ultimately selected "Metropolitan Baseball Club of New York," or Mets.

In 2004, Thomas White Stadium became known as Tradition Field after a local real estate development company announced they would pay $150,000 annually for 10 years of naming rights. When the players aren't in town, the Sports Complex is used for a variety of events ranging for the music and art festivals, the St. Lucie Boat Show, the American Heart Walk, RV shows and religious services.  Several baseball tournaments for kids are also held there throughout the year.

Davco Electrical Contractors Corp., built this facility with Musco Sports Lighting Inc.