Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Detroit Tigers and the City of Lakeland broke ground Wednesday on the Detroit Tigers Player Development Academy, a residential and training facility aimed at enhancing player development and strengthening the club’s culture of excellence. The ceremony took place at 10 a.m. at Tigertown, 2301 Lakeland Hills Blvd..
Replacing the aging Fetzer Hall dormitory, the four-story, 59,000-sq. ft. academy will serve as a year-round home for Tigers minor league and developmental players. The facility will feature 76 sleeping rooms, a 200-seat dining hall with world-class kitchen facilities, a player lounge and recreation area, a multi-purpose meeting room for up to 200 people, and administrative office space.
“This project is about more than just bricks and mortar—it’s about creating a best-in-class player experience,” said Bob Donahay, director of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts. “The new Player Development Academy will help foster an environment where players can grow, recover, and thrive, both on and off the field.”
Designed by Wannemacher-Jensen Architects of St. Petersburg and constructed by Rodda Construction of Lakeland, the academy represents a collaborative investment between the Tigers and the City of Lakeland, which has been the club’s Spring Training home since 1934.
The facility will support the Tigers’ year-round programming, including Spring Training, Extended Spring Training, Florida State League games with the Lakeland Flying Tigers, Florida Complex League rookie-level play, specialized skill camps, and player injury rehabilitation programs.
The groundbreaking follows a $9 million upgrade to the Tigers’ Lakeland complex, which added a covered half field with artificial turf, a fully enclosed, air-conditioned five-lane batting cage, and upgraded bullpen areas with 20 pitching mounds integrated with advanced technology.
Together, the upgrades and the new Player Development Academy highlight the Tigers’ commitment to cultivating talent in an environment designed for championship-level growth.
