While Braves season-ticket holders enjoyed the exhibition game at SunTrust Park on Friday, the team’s players settled in to their internal work areas. The luxury features, space and ambience made that easy.
Those touches won’t help the Braves win games, but they do create an atmosphere in which players can relax and get ready for games.
“The working conditions for these guys is really good,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “As much time as they spend here and it’s comfortable, it’s spacious. The cages are really neat. The weight room is huge. They have everything they need to prepare, which is the way it should be.”
The batting cages and weight room earned high marks from players after those areas were cramped at Turner Field. But it was the home clubhouse that got the most rave reviews.
The locker room is airy and plush. The center of the room includes a pool table and is encircled with leather seats and a sectional couch. A ring of high-definition televisions hang over the pool table.
The dimmed, theater-style lighting helps to create a tranquil mood.
“They made it to where you want to come to the ballpark early and hang out with your teammates,” left fielder Matt Kemp said. “It’s comfortable.”
Second baseman Brandon Phillips said the clubhouse includes sleeping areas for players and a sauna. He said he’d never seen a clubhouse with so much space that a pool table fits in the middle of the room.
“Everything (is) in there you can think of,” he said. “It’s like a kid in the candy store. I hope we don’t get real comfortable in the clubhouse and can keep our focus on the field.”
