The Minnesota Twins began spring training in Lee County in 1991, after 53 years in Orlando. For the first time, the entire Twins organization was located in the same place. In the short time that the Twins have been part of the Lee County community they have made a significant economic impact on the area. The Twins inaugural 1991 spring training season set the new grapefruit league attendance mark at 112,355, the best spring training record in baseball, 21-10, and the team went on to be Baseballs World Champions.
The Lee Health Sports Complex is home to Hammond Stadium, five additional playing fields as well as the new Twins Player Development Academy. It is also the home to two Twins' minor league affiliates, housing both the Ft. Myers Miracle of the Single-A Florida State League and the Rookie level Gulf Coast League Twins. In addition, the complex features four state-of-the-art softball fields, which are utilized throughout the year by collegiate and community teams. The main stadium was renamed Bill Hammond Stadium late in the 1994 spring season in honor of the Deputy County Commissioner who was instrumental in getting the complex built for the Twins.
The Lee Health Sports Complex was renovated in 2014-2015. In total, the renovations included $48.5 million in upgrades to the complex -- $42.5 million contributed from Lee County and the remaining $6 million from the Twins.
The first phase of the renovations were unveiled in February 2014 and included renovations to the Minor League clubhouse and administrative areas, an agility field, and expanded Hammond Stadium seating capacity of 9,300 seats, a new parking lot and the completion of a 360-degree boardwalk and concourse.
The second phase of renovations was completed in February 2015 and included upgraded and expanded concourses, improved concessions, renovations to the restrooms, premium seating improvements, the expansion of the clubhouse, a new retail store, new spaces for group seating and renovations to the administrative offices and the media facilities.