WEST PALM BEACH <\/p>\n
The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches will be ready to play ball for the first time on Tuesday but only because of a late-inning rally by construction crews and city inspectors inside the main stadium. <\/p>\n
Fans should see few, if any, signs of lingering construction when gates open at 11 a.m. But theres a chance the city might not issue the stadiums initial certificate of occupancy until Monday afternoon less than 24 hours before the Washington Nationals throw the first pitch at 1:05 p.m. in the inaugural game against the Houston Astros. <\/p>\n
This is something were going to take down to the wire it appears, said Rick Greene, West Palm Beachs development service director. <\/p>\n
But I see no reason why they cant throw out that first pitch on Tuesday. If theres a portion of a room that needs to be closed until something is done, that might happen, but its not going to involve shutting down the right field lines. <\/p>\n
City inspectors agreed to work side by side with construction crews over the weekend, signing off on odds and ends inside the 6,500-seat main stadium and making sure its ready Tuesday when the first beers are poured and toilets flushed. <\/p>\n
Our focus now is the second-level concourse where fans will be watching the game and getting that complete. But most of the heavy stuff is done, Greene said. <\/p>\n
By Monday, the city should be able to issue a temporary certificate of occupancy, which will allow the stadium to open to the public. <\/p>\n
I wouldnt be surprised if they took another month or two after spring training to get the final CO, he said. <\/p>\n
Greene said Hunt Construction, Straticon Construction and their subcontractors have done a remarkable job finishing in roughly 15 months a $150 million project that normally would take two years. <\/p>\n
Work on the 160-acre site, a former trash dump at Military Trail south of 45th Street, started on Nov. 9, 2015. Since September, crews have worked 20-hour days. At its peak, more than 650 workers were on site every day. <\/p>\n
It has been an ambitious schedule, Greene said. <\/p>\n
Despite the frantic pace, the teams and contractors have been cooperative and cordial with the city, said Greene, who said he often cracked jokes during weekly update meetings <\/p>\n
I told the Washington folks I want to take batting practice off (Nationals ace) Max Scherzer, he said. When we gave them their (construction) permit for the stadium, I told them if they read the fine print they will see that I get to be the starting third baseman. They said no. <\/p>\n
As of Friday, the teams had released few details about Tuesdays opening-game ceremonies, other than participation by elected officials from Palm Beach County and West Palm Beach. <\/p>\n
The National Anthem will be sung by Jessica Fishenfeld, a soprano with the Palm Beach Opera. Derrek Stark, a tenor with the opera, will sing God Bless America during the 7th-inning stretch. <\/p>\n
Parking lots open at 9 a.m. and will cost $10 per car, with entrances off Haverhill Road and Military Trail. Valet parking is available for $20. (Tailgating is not permitted on ballpark lots and consumption of alcohol is prohibited inside cars on ballpark lots.) <\/p>\n
Fans entering the ballpark will walk through a security scanning booth, as part of a new Major League Baseball requirement at all Grapefruit and Cactus league stadiums. <\/p>\n
Tickets for the first game were still available Friday, mainly outfield reserve and the grass berm. For more information, go to http:\/\/www.ballparkpalmbeaches.com<\/a> or call 877-935-5668. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Follow this link:<\/p>\n Thanks to late-inning construction rally, Ballpark ready to play ball - Palm Beach Post<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WEST PALM BEACH The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches will be ready to play ball for the first time on Tuesday but only because of a late-inning rally by construction crews and city inspectors inside the main stadium. Fans should see few, if any, signs of lingering construction when gates open at 11 a.m. Continue reading