 In preparation for the new team's arrival, Charlotte County Stadium, which last housed the Charlotte County Redfish of the now defunct South Coast League, underwent a $27 million renovation, which was completed in January 2009.Renamed Charlotte Sports Park, it became the spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays as well as the regular season home of the Stone Crabs.On April 9, 2009, with the Ft. Myers Miracle as opponents, Alex Cobb threw the first pitch in Stone Crabs history.