Major League Baseball team the Pittsburgh Pirates has agreed a naming-rights deal with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) for its spring training ballpark.
Under the 15-year agreement, the former McKechnie Field ballpark in Bradenton, Florida will become known as LECOM Park.
“The need to bring new health care professionals to Florida drew LECOM to Bradenton where we found a welcoming community spirit that included the Pittsburgh Pirates,” LECOM president John Ferretti said.
“This is an opportunity to encourage wellness and health in this community as we prepare a new generation of physicians, pharmacists and dentists to meet the growing health care needs in Florida and across the nation.”
The Pirates also announced that the recently constructed home clubhouse at LECOM Park will be known as the Bill McKechnie Home Clubhouse to honour the team’s former player and manager.
LECOM Park has hosted Pirates spring training every year since 1969, the second-longest run in MLB. The Pirates’ home spring game this year is against the Baltimore Orioles on February 25.