Clover Park – St. Lucie Mets

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29

Clover Park 525 NW Peacock Blvd Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

St. Lucie Mets website Clover Park website

Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 7,347

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Baseball on the Treasure Coast

The St. Lucie Mets may be one of the more famous minor league baseball teams of late, thanks to the appearance of Tim Tebow on the roster. However, the team has had a history in the local community for 30 years and has helped to bring some of baseball’s stars into the league. Their home, Clover Park, formerly First Data Stadium, is also perfectly located between two major highways in Florida, making it an easily accessible option for baseball fans in the area.

The ballpark was renamed in February 2020 after a $57 million renovation to Clover Park. The name change follows the 2019 acquisition of First Data by Fiserv, a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology. The new stadium name highlights the Clover platform from Fiserv, which has been powering payments at First Data Field since 2017.

Food & Beverage 3

The concession stands at First Data Stadium feature your traditional baseball fare – burgers, hot dogs, and nachos to peanuts, popcorn, and Cracker Jack. Nothing rises too high in price, with most items ranging from $3 to $7, and beer and drinks are also available. Leftfield at Clover Park features a patio area with a tiki bar, which serves various cocktails and alcoholic drinks during games. Unfortunately, the outfield bars and concessions stands that are open for New York Mets spring training games are rarely open during St. Lucie Mets competition.

Atmosphere 3

Clover Park features the unpolished concrete look that various stadiums in Florida feature (American Airlines Arena and Al Lang Stadium are a few examples). While the outside of the stadium looks state of the art and quite attractive, the concourses inside look aged and unimpressive. Thankfully, the colorful interior helps to change that mundane feeling, but the lack of open patios from which to watch the action is unfortunate.

Neighborhood 3

Clover Park is located in a highly residential area, so getting to the nearest shopping or dining options takes a few minutes to drive to the south. Off St. Lucie West Blvd you can find restaurants in the form of Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and Hurricane Grill & Wings. For lodging, your nearest options are Hampton Inn & Suites Port St. Lucie West, and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Port St. Lucie West. For visitors to the area, nature lovers can drive east to Savannas Preserve State Park for great nature and hiking trails, while tourists flock to the white sands of Jensen Beach Park.

Fans 3

The fans at First Data Stadium are comprised mostly of baseball diehards and locals who don’t want to drive to Miami to catch a Marlins game. Also, the Treasure Coast area of Florida is home to a lot of New York transplants, so New York Mets fans tend to head over to Clover Park for a feeling of nostalgia for the Empire State. Lately, large crowds have begun to swarm First Data Stadium to catch a glimpse of Tim Tebow in his quest up the baseball rankings. Most nights feature a large contingent of young players from local youth teams or leagues as well, making the St. Lucie Mets a great option for families.

Access 4

First Data Stadium is sandwiched between I-95 and the Florida Turnpike, so getting to the stadium is a cinch – no matter what direction you come from, it is hard to miss the ballpark. Once you get off the highway, getting there may be a bit daunting, however, as the facility is located off the main road (St. Lucie West Blvd); but thankfully signs help point the way to the stadium.

Return on Investment 4

Tickets to St. Lucie Mets games are affordable, falling in line with what draws so many fans to minor league baseball games in the first place. The number of ticketing packages offered, along with special themed nights, also makes First Data Field a great option for families looking for an affordable night out at the ballpark. Free parking also makes taking in a St. Lucie Mets game that much more affordable.

Extras 3

During certain Saturday night games, a post-game fireworks show is put on for fans in attendance. In addition, as with most MiLB teams, the St. Lucie Mets put on special themed nights throughout the year, such as Star Wars or Harry Potter nights. Clover Park also features a team store that sells not only St. Lucie Mets merchandise, but items from New York Mets spring training as well.

Final Thoughts

The St. Lucie Mets are a popular team among the locals, and while games aren’t always packed to the gills with screaming fans, a night out at Clover Park is no less enjoyable. The affordability of minor league baseball is once again on full display here, making a St. Lucie Mets game a great option for baseball fans, travelers, and families alike along the Florida Treasure Coast.