Play ball

The Detroit Tigers recently agreed to continue holding its spring training in Lakeland for another 20 years, and having a newly renovated stadium makes the deal that much sweeter.

The $48 million facelift to Tiger Town was completed in February — a joint deal between Lakeland, Polk County and the state.

The overhaul comes during a time of transition for some Major League Baseball teams' spring training homes. The Atlanta Braves, for example, are negotiating a deal with Sarasota County, where the team would relocate from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World to North Port. The move involves construction of a $74 million baseball complex, paid, in part, with $21 million in county funds.