Orlando Travel Blog

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, 2009) and Venezuela (March 5, 2009), and a pair of contests against the Yankees and Mets at Disne’s Wide World of Sports Complex, the leading venue for amateur and professional sports in the United States.

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 Complex on March 30, 2009. 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 World in 1997.

The 26-time World Champion New York Yankees return to Champion Stadium for a pair of dates, March 4 and 28, 2009, marking the first time the Yankees will play multiple dates at Disney World.

Atlanta will host all four of its division rivals, including the pennant-winning Philadelphia Phillies on March 1 and 8, 2009, as well as the New York Mets, March 17 and 21, 2009, Florida Marlins, March 20, 2009, and Washington Nationals, March 12, 2009

The Houston Astros are slated to visit Disney three times during the spring, including the home opener February 26, 2009, as well as March 6 and 15, 2009.

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

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, 2009. The Toronto Blue Jays visit Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex on March 26, 2009.

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

The Braves drew 138,811 spectators during 16 games at Champion Stadium in 2008 - a total that ranked second 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 February 14, 2009, marking the beginning of the 12th year the Braves have come to Walt Disney World Resort for spring training. Position players arrive February 17, 2009, with the first full-squad workouts on February 18, 2009.

Individual game tickets for the Braves’ home spring training season go on sale Saturday, January 10, 2009, at 10 AM through Ticketmaster (407-839-3900) 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).