Joker Marchant, LECOM Finalists In Best of the Ballparks 2017

LAKELAND, FL – Joker Marchant Stadium and LECOM Park have been a source of pride for Florida baseball fans for decades. Now, fans of the venerable facilities have a chance to get their favorite named the No. 1 High-A ballpark in the country for 2017.

Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland and LECOM Park in Bradenton made it to the finals of Ballpark Digest’s Best of the Ballparks 2017 competition for their classification, the website announced Friday, June 15. Throughout the competition, fans vote for their favorite ballparks in a March Madness-style bracket competition until a winner is chosen.

Fans have until noon Eastern on Monday, June 19 to vote for the Minor League Baseball parks at http://ballparkdigest.com/2017/06/15/best-of-the-ballparks-2017-high-a-finals/. Participants can vote multiple times but can only vote once per day.

Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium narrowly reached the finals over Frawley Stadium, home of the Wilmington Blue Rocks, by five votes. LECOM Park had an easier time in the semifinals by beating Ticketreturn.com Field, home of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Kevin Reichard, the founder and publisher of Ballpark Digest, noted that in both semifinals a historic (however newly renovated) Florida State League ballpark was chosen over a newer Carolina League facility. The 29 ballparks of the California League, the Carolina League and the Florida State League were considered in the voting.

Baseball Digest saw things a bit differently for 2017, as LECOM Park finished sixth in their own 2017 rankings, while Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium finished in the 10th spot. Their Top 5 rankings for 2017 were:

1. BB&T Ballpark (Winston-Salem Dash)
2. Hammond Stadium (Fort Myers Miracle)
3. Steinbrenner Field (Tampa Yankees)
4. Bright House Field (Clearwater Threshers)
5. Frawley Stadium (Wilmington Blue Rocks)

Reichard said according to their marketing statistics, two-thirds of their readership either work in or sell to the baseball industry.

For more information about Ballpark Digest, visit http://ballparkdigest.com.

Image via City of Lakeland Government Facebook page