12th Edition of Atlanta Braves Spring Training at Champion Stadium

This year’s schedule to offer best lineup of games in 12-year history
at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2008) – The Atlanta Braves will host several marquee opponents in 2009, including visits from the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies, during the Major League Baseball Spring Training season at Champion Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.

After two weeks of workouts, the Braves play an 18-game home schedule that includes a number of premier opportunities for fans in 2009, such as World Baseball Classic Exhibition games featuring Panama (March 3) and Venezuela (March 5), and a pair of contests against the Yankees and Mets at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, the leading venue for amateur and professional sports in the country.

One of the highlights of the expanded schedule in 2009 is the Boston Red Sox, who will make just their second trip to Disney’s Wide World of Sports on March 30. Atlanta’s 18 games at Champion Stadium mark the highest number of single spring home contests for the Braves since the franchise moved to Disney in 1997.
The 26-time world champion New York Yankees return to Champion Stadium for a pair of dates, March 4 and 28, marking the first time the Yankees will play multiple dates at Disney.

Atlanta will host all four of its division rivals, including the pennant-winning Philadelphia Phillies on March 1 and 8, as well as the New York Mets, March 17 and 21, Florida Marlins, March 20 and Washington Nationals, March 12.

The Houston Astros are slated to visit Disney three times during the spring, including the home opener Feb. 26, as well as March 6 and 15.

The 2009 schedule features three night games, including a March 19 contest with Detroit, as well as the Pittsburgh Pirates game on March 24 (6 p.m.) and Houston’s visit on March 6.

Last season, the Detroit Tigers night game set an all-time record at Champion Stadium with an attendance of 11,606. The Tigers return for a second spring contest on March 27. The Toronto Blue Jays visit Disney’s Wide World of Sports March 26.

Each game has fun for the whole family including entertainment in a way that only Disney can, with appearances by Disney characters, live music, an all-new On-Field Spectator Experience and the opportunity for kids to run the bases after every game.

The Braves drew 138,811 during 16 games at Champion Stadium in 2008 – a total that ranked second only to the New York Yankees among the 18 Major League Baseball teams who trained in Florida as part of the Grapefruit League.

Braves pitchers and catchers report Feb. 14, marking the beginning of the 12th year the Braves have come to Walt Disney World Resort for spring training. Position players arrive Feb. 17, with the first full-squad workouts on Feb. 18.

Individual game tickets for the Braves’ home spring training season go on sale Saturday, Jan. 10, at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster (407/839-3900 and ticketmaster.com) and at the Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex box office. Prices range from $15 (general admission lawn seats) to $28 (lower reserved); please add $4 per ticket for Premium Games (Yankees, Mets and Red Sox).

Information on the Braves’ spring training season, group tickets and mini-packs is available by calling 407/939-GAME (4263) and online at disneysports.com. The popular mini-packs will include both three-game and five-game options in 2009 and are currently on sale, giving fans their first opportunity to purchase tickets to specific games on the Braves’ 2009 spring training schedule. Fans may also purchase Atlanta Braves Spring Training travel packages through Spring Training USA. Travel packages include Braves game tickets, accommodations at Walt Disney World Resort and other benefits. Information is available online at springtrainingtours.com.

About Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex

Opened in 1997 at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex is a leading sports and entertainment venue for amateur and professional sports in the United States. The sprawling 220-acre state-of-the-art complex features The Milk House, a 165,000-square-foot field house which seats 5,500 for basketball; the 9,500-seat Champion Stadium ballpark; Hess Sports Fields, which include multiple baseball, softball and soccer fields; and Jostens Center, an 80,000-square-foot multi-sport field house. In addition, the complex has 11 tennis courts, including a stadium court, and a track & field complex. The complex is home to more than 180 amateur and professional sports and entertainment events each year, including the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp, the Major League Baseball Atlanta Braves spring training, a Tampa Bay Rays regular-season series, the NBA Pre-Draft Camp, the Pop Warner Super Bowl, Chelsea Football Club events, the Special Olympics Florida Summer Games and the AAU National Championship events. Please visit disneysports.com for more information.

2009 Atlanta Braves Spring Training Home Schedule
at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex

Key Dates:
Saturday, Jan. 10 Single-game tickets on sale
Thursday, Feb. 14 Pitchers and catchers report
Friday, Feb. 15 Pitchers and catchers first workout
Tuesday, Feb. 17 Position players report
Wednesday, Feb. 18 First full-squad workout

Game Date Opponent Time
Thursday, Feb. 26 Houston Astros 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 1 Philadelphia Phillies 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 3 World Baseball Classic Exb. (Panama) 1:05 p.m.
Wednesday, March 4 New York Yankees 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 5 World Baseball Classic Exb. (Venezuela) 2:05 p.m.
Friday, March 6 Houston Astros 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 8 Philadelphia Phillies 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 12 Washington Nationals 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 15 Houston Astros 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17 New York Mets 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 19 Detroit Tigers 7:05 p.m.
Friday, March 20 Florida Marlins 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 21 New York Mets 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 24 Pittsburgh Pirates 6:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 26 Toronto Blue Jays 1:05 p.m.
Friday, March 27 Detroit Tigers 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 New York Yankees 1:05 p.m.
Monday, March 30 Boston Red Sox 1:05 p.m.

All times are Eastern and are subject to change.
All games to be played at Champion Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.

Atlanta Braves Spring Training Ticket Prices:

Seat Location Season ndividual Game
Lower Level Reserved $425 $28
Upper Level Reserved (Rows A-L) $340 $24
Upper Level Reserved (Rows M-W) $323 $22
Bleacher Reserved (Sections 104-106) $340 $24
Bleacher Reserved (Sections 101-103) $323 $22
Grass Berm – General Admission $255 $15

(Add $4 per ticket for Premium Games: Yankees, Mets and Red Sox).

Five-Game Mini-Plan includes tickets to: Nationals (3/12), Astros (3/15), Mets (3/17), Marlins (3/20) and Yankees (3/28) games for $128(upper reserved, rows A-L, or bleacher reserved sections 104-106 – on sale now)

First Half Three-Game Mini-Packincludes tickets to: Phillies (3/1), Yankees (3/4) and Astros (3/6) games for $76 (upper reserved, rows A-L, or bleacher reserved sections 104-106 – on sale now)

Second Half Three-Game Mini Pack includes tickets to: Pirates (3/24), Tigers (3/27) and Red Sox (3/30) games for $76 (upper reserved, rows A-L, or bleacher reserved sections 104-106 – on sale now)

Single-Game Tickets: Ticketmaster – 407/839-3900, www.ticketmaster.com or DWWS box office

Season and Group Tickets/Suites/Mini-Packs: DWWS Sports Sales – 407/939-GAME (4263)

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Debra Martin Koma wrote about food, travel and lifestyle issues for a number of local and national publications before she fell in love with Walt Disney World on her first visit — when she was 34! She's returned to her Laughing Place more times than she can count in the ensuing years, and enthusiastically shares her passion with readers of AllEars.Net and AllEars®. Deb also co-authored (along with Deb Wills) PassPorter's Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line, a travel guide designed for all travelers to Walt Disney World who may require special attention, from special diets to mobility issues.

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