Atlanta Braves Spring Training: When It Starts and How It Works for Atlanta Fans

If you follow the Atlanta Braves, spring training is your first real taste of baseball after the offseason. For fans in Atlanta, Georgia, the big questions are usually: When does Braves spring training start, where is it, and how can I actually go?

Below is a clear, Atlanta-focused guide to help you plan.

When Do the Atlanta Braves Start Spring Training?

The Atlanta Braves typically start spring training in mid-February each year.

While exact dates change slightly from season to season, here’s the general pattern:

• Pitchers and catchers report: Around mid-February
• Full-squad workouts begin: A few days after pitchers and catchers
• First spring training games: Usually late February
• Spring training runs through: Most of March, ending just before Opening Day of the regular season

Because dates shift every year, Atlanta fans should check the current year’s Braves spring training schedule before making travel plans. The schedule is usually released in advance during the offseason.

Where Do the Braves Hold Spring Training?

Even though the team is based in Atlanta, the Braves hold spring training in North Port, Florida, at:

CoolToday Park
18800 South West Villages Parkway
North Port, FL 34287

This means that:

• Games and official workouts are in Florida, not in metro Atlanta
• Atlanta fans often travel from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport to nearby Florida airports (like Sarasota–Bradenton or Tampa) to see games in person

If you live in Atlanta and want to attend, plan for a trip out of state—spring training is not held at Truist Park in Cobb County.

Typical Braves Spring Training Timeline (At a Glance)

While exact dates vary by year, Braves spring training generally follows this rhythm:

How to Find the Exact Spring Training Start Date

Since you’re likely planning from Atlanta, the most reliable ways to confirm the current year’s start date are:

• Check the Atlanta Braves official schedule (preseason or spring training tab)
• Follow the team’s announcements and calendar leading up to February
• Ask your local Atlanta-area Braves ticket office or trusted ticket outlet for spring training dates and game info

Because game times, opponents, and special events can shift, it’s smart to double-check details shortly before you finalize any travel from Atlanta.

Spring Training vs. Regular Season in Atlanta

For Atlanta residents, it helps to understand the difference between spring training in Florida and the regular season in Georgia:

• Spring training (Florida):

  • Preseason, exhibition-focused
  • Mix of major leaguers and prospects
  • More relaxed atmosphere, smaller ballpark
  • Great for close-up looks at players and prospects

• Regular season (Atlanta / Truist Park):

  • Official games that count in the standings
  • Larger crowds and full game-day experience in Cumberland / The Battery Atlanta
  • More game-day traffic and parking planning for metro Atlanta residents

If you’re mainly asking “when can I see the Braves play in Atlanta?”, that usually starts with home games at Truist Park in late March or early April, after spring training finishes.

Watching Braves Spring Training From Atlanta

If you can’t travel to Florida from Atlanta, you still have several ways to follow spring training:

• Television or streaming: Some spring training games are televised or streamed, especially on dates closer to Opening Day.
• Radio broadcasts: Certain games may be carried on Braves radio partners that serve the Atlanta area.
• Game updates and highlights: Many fans in Atlanta follow lineups, results, and standout players through game recaps and highlight packages.

Keep in mind that not every spring training game is broadcast, so availability can be limited compared with regular-season coverage.

Planning a Trip From Atlanta to Braves Spring Training

For Atlanta fans who want to make spring training a trip:

Travel basics

• Driving:
  • North Port, Florida, is roughly a day’s drive from Atlanta, depending on your route and stops.
• Flying:
  • Many Atlanta travelers fly from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to airports near North Port, such as Sarasota–Bradenton (SRQ), Punta Gorda (PGD), Fort Myers (RSW), or Tampa (TPA).

Timing your visit

To catch the team when everyone is in camp and games are in full swing, Atlanta fans often target:

• Late February to mid-March for the best combination of workouts and games
• Early March if you want plenty of game options but still see roster battles unfolding

Booking early can help with hotel availability near CoolToday Park and better seat choices for popular weekend games.

What Atlanta Fans Should Know About Tickets

Even though games are in Florida, tickets are still oriented toward Braves fans:

• Spring training tickets are usually less expensive and easier to get than prime regular-season games in Atlanta.
• Reserved seats, berm seating, and small sections near the field are common at CoolToday Park.
• Fans traveling from Atlanta often choose weekend series or games when a lot of regular starters are more likely to play (often later in camp, but this can vary).

Always check the specific game date and opponent; some games, such as rivalry matchups or weekend games, can sell faster.

How Spring Training Affects Atlanta Locally

Even though camps are in Florida, spring training still affects Atlanta fans and the local baseball scene:

• Anticipation in the city: Local sports talk in Atlanta shifts heavily to roster debates, new signings, and prospects once pitchers and catchers report.
• Youth and amateur baseball: Many youth leagues and high school programs in metro Atlanta align their opening practices and games around the same late-winter period, so the start of Braves spring training often signals the start of baseball season locally.
• Business and hospitality: Bars, restaurants, and sports venues around The Battery Atlanta, downtown, and Midtown may adjust their screens and promotions once spring games start appearing on TV.

For most Atlantans, spring training is the mental start of baseball season, even if the games are several hundred miles away.

Key Takeaways for Atlanta Fans

• The Atlanta Braves start spring training in mid-February each year, with pitchers and catchers reporting first.
• Full-squad workouts and games run from mid-February through March, mostly at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida.
• Spring training is not held in Atlanta; the team returns to Truist Park for the regular season in late March or early April.
• If you live in Atlanta, you can travel to Florida to see spring training in person or follow games by TV, radio, or online coverage when available.

Checking the current year’s Braves spring training schedule is the most reliable way to confirm exact start dates and game times before you make any Atlanta-to-Florida travel plans.