AdventHealth opened its new training center Thursday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, marking a milestone in the historic venue’s ongoing transformation into a community hub. The facility supports the Daytona Tortugas minor league baseball team with spaces for training, conditioning and recovery, including indoor batting cages, modern fitness areas, a clubhouse and team facilities. Daytona Beach City Manager Deric Feacher said the ballpark renovations represent a major investment in the downtown area.
“This will be a central hub for our downtown for Daytona Beach,” Feacher said. “So we got two and three other phases, but we’re going to spend between $30 and $50 million here for this community, but the economic impact that’s going to come back is going to be double, triple in what we invested in this facility.” The training center opening coincided with the Tortugas’ season opener, where they defeated the Jupiter Hammerheads 4-2. Erik Nason, director of strategic sports partnerships, emphasized the healthcare partnership’s importance for player safety.
“They’re doing this full time and injury is part of the game and also injury prevention and care, and so we’re proud to be able to partner with the Cincinnati Reds and the Tortugas and being part of that health care system,” Nason said. The ballpark holds special significance as the site where Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier. Logan Lecras, club services manager, noted the historical importance of the venue’s restoration.
“It will be, this year, 80 years when he broke the color barrier here in Daytona Beach for the first time, so not only is it a historical ballpark from that aspect, but also for the city, it’s needed some upkeep, some fixing up,” Lecras said. The renovations include an upstairs event space, a new brick-and-mortar team store and a Jackie Robinson Museum. Feacher said the facility will expand beyond baseball to host concerts, corporate events and retreats.
“It’s a great day to be in Daytona Beach,” Feacher said. The renovations began in late 2024 and are still ongoing, with completion expected by June or July. The project represents one of the largest infrastructure investments in downtown Daytona Beach in recent years, transforming a historic sports venue into a multipurpose community asset that honors Jackie Robinson’s legacy while serving modern needs.