The Pittsburgh Pirates play on 80,000 square feet of new Celebration Bermudagrass installed at the state-of-the-art McKechnie Field. Adding to the ideal, ball-playing Florida weather, several area accommodators are making it easier -- and more affordable -- for families and fans to enjoy a few days of baseball fun and Florida sun this March. Local hotels step up to the plate each year with special rates and unique travel packages that include everything needed to enjoy a game at Pirate City, from popcorn and peanuts to Cracker Jacks.

Visitors can also head over to Anna Maria Island, just 30 minutes from McKechnie Field, and witness a historical Spring Training display, “The Boys of Winter – Spring Training and the Island Connection,” at the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum. The display pays tribute to the Boston and Milwaukee Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates teams who have played in Bradenton over the years, as well as their players and their families. Several notable players built homes on Anna Maria Island in what is known as the "Baseball Zone," while others spearheaded the creation of the Island Youth Center and adjacent baseball fields, now known as the Anna Maria Island Community Center.