Clearwater Invitational Softball 2027: Tickets, Parking and Staying on the Beach

When and where is the 2027 Clearwater Invitational?

The tournament runs Thursday, Feb. 18 through Sunday, Feb. 21, 2027, at the City of Clearwater's Eddie C. Moore Complex. ESPN Events owns and runs it, Shriners Children's is the title sponsor, and 2027 is its eighth edition. The dates sit a week later than usual, on the weekend after Presidents' Day. The 2026 event ran Feb. 12 to 15, and ESPN Events says the tournament moves back to Presidents' Day weekend in 2028.

Don't picture one stadium. The city describes nine softball fields at three locations on Drew Street, and the tournament's map spreads them from Fields 8 and 9, just east of Fairwood Avenue, to Fields 1 and 3 by McMullen-Booth Road. The tournament gives 2780 Drew St. as the address; the city uses 3050 Drew St. You won't park at either one (more on that below).

The 2026 tournament had 16 teams and 40 games. With 11 teams in 2027, there should be fewer games across the same four days. Times also shift once the event starts. In 2026 the Sunday games first announced for 6 and 8 p.m. were moved up to noon and 3 p.m., so check the official site the night before.

Which teams are in the 2027 field?

ESPN Events says the 11 teams come from six conferences. National runner-up Texas Tech is back, and eight of the 11 made the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The last two columns come from the official 2025 and 2026 schedules and show who has played here recently.

Matchups and game times weren't out as of early October 2026. For the 2026 event, the schedule came out Nov. 5, 2025.

What else is happening that weekend? A day-by-day clash planner

The official site doesn't mention this. In 2025 and 2026 the tournament wrapped up before the first spring training game in Clearwater or Dunedin. In 2027 it falls on the opening weekend of spring games, and on two of the three baseball days the Phillies play at BayCare Ballpark, just across Old Coachman Road from the softball parking lot.

The drive times are no-traffic floors from map routing, not forecasts. They leave out the wait to get into the lot, the shuttle ride to your field (about 1.5 to 2.1 road miles from the lot, depending on the field) and the walk from the drop-off. We found no published traffic plan for this weekend, so we can't say how much time to add. On Saturday and Sunday, add plenty.

How do tickets work, and do they sell out?

As of October 2026, the official ticket page said only that 2027 tickets go on sale in fall 2026, with no prices posted. In the last two years the schedule came out first and tickets followed one to two weeks later:

• 2026 tournament: matchups released Nov. 5, 2025; tickets on sale Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. ET.
• 2025 tournament: matchups released Nov. 14, 2024; tickets on sale Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. ET.

The only sellout figure we could source comes from the tournament itself. In a Sept. 26, 2023 announcement, ESPN Events said all-session tickets for the 2023 edition sold out in 14 minutes, with buyers in 47 states and four countries. We found no official sellout figure for 2024, 2025 or 2026. Both the 2026 and 2027 field announcements tell fans to buy early.

Here's how tickets were set up on the official site as of October 2026:

• General Admission All Access gets you into the complex. Seating isn't guaranteed.
• Home Plate Reserved Seating is an add-on (you need the All Access ticket first) for your team's section behind home plate. Space is limited and first come, first served, and the section is cleared after each game for the next team's fans.
• Prime Games take a separate ticket. On Sunday the complex is cleared before these games.
• Tickets can't be returned, but the site's FAQ says you can resell them on a third-party exchange.

Tickets are digital and arrive by email. For missing tickets, the official site points you to the City of Clearwater.

Where do you park, and how do you get there from the beach?

Park at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex, at the northwest corner of Drew Street and Old Coachman Road. The tournament says it's the only spectator parking. A shuttle, drawn as a Jolley Trolley route on the official map, runs east along Drew Street to the fields, and all shuttles are ADA accessible. The lot and shuttle start 1.5 hours before first pitch; gates open an hour before. The tournament site doesn't list a parking price.

From Pier 60, take the Memorial Causeway into downtown Clearwater, then Drew Street east to the lot. That's 6.9 miles, about 14 minutes with no traffic.

The Phillies' parking page calls the same complex Lot C, with a free shuttle to BayCare Ballpark. As of October 2026 it listed car parking at $15 in advance or $20 on game day. Nobody had published how the lot will be shared on Feb. 20 and 21. Check the tournament's parking page and the Phillies' page the week before. Our Phillies spring training guide covers the ballpark's other lots and the beach trolley that runs to games.

Flying in? Our Tampa vs St. Pete-Clearwater airport comparison weighs the two. You'll need a car to reach the fields, so read our guide to rental car tolls before you pick up the keys.

What can you bring in, and what stays in the car?

These rules come from the official fan page as of October 2026. Your beach tote won't get through the gate.

The event is cashless, and vendors take major credit cards. Kids 3 and older need their own ticket; under 3 get in free but sit on an adult's lap. Strollers are banned, so bring a carrier for a toddler.

Should you stay on the beach or near the fields?

Our call: if you're catching one or two games a day, stay on the beach. If your daughter is on a roster, or you'll be there for every game from 9 a.m. on, a mainland hotel near Drew Street cuts the daily driving. If you're weighing beach or mainland Clearwater, our explainer covers how the two differ.

In 2027 the first spring training weekend falls on the same nights, so baseball fans will be competing for rooms. We didn't survey hotel prices. Book early and pick a room you can cancel. The tournament's site has a Book Hotel button for its preferred hotels, and its menu links to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, the area's tourism office. Our where to stay in Clearwater Beach guide breaks down the island by area, and our hotel parking and resort fees guide shows what overnight hotel parking adds once you're back on the island.

What's the weather like in late February?

Mild by day, cool at night. On Feb. 18 to 21 from 2006 to 2025, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport averaged a high of 75°F and a low of 56°F. One day in five had a low under 50°F, and the coldest morning in that stretch hit 37°F. Measurable rain fell on about 18% of those days, a quarter-inch or more on about 4%. The sun sets around 6:25 p.m. that weekend, so bring a jacket for evening games. Our Clearwater Beach in winter guide has Gulf water temperatures if you're thinking about swimming between games.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2027 Clearwater Invitational?

Thursday, Feb. 18 through Sunday, Feb. 21, 2027, at the Eddie C. Moore Complex on Drew Street in Clearwater. Game times weren't announced as of October 2026. In 2026, the first games started at 9 or 10 a.m. each day.

Which teams are playing in 2027?

Clemson, East Carolina, Florida State, Liberty, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UCF, Virginia Tech and Washington. ESPN Events announced the 11-team field on Aug. 20, 2026.

When do tickets go on sale?

The official site says fall 2026, after the schedule is released. Tickets for the 2026 event went on sale Nov. 13, 2025, eight days after the matchups came out.

Where do you park for the Clearwater Invitational?

Only at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex, at Drew Street and Old Coachman Road, with a shuttle to the fields. The lot opens 1.5 hours before first pitch. On Feb. 20 and 21, 2027, the Phillies play at BayCare Ballpark next door and use the same complex as a parking lot, so arrive early.

Do kids need a ticket, and can I bring a stroller?

Everyone 3 and older needs a ticket. Children under 3 get in free but sit on an adult's lap. Strollers aren't allowed, and neither are chairs or umbrellas.

Is the Clearwater Invitational on TV?

In 2026, ESPN Events put all 40 games on its platforms, 19 of them on TV, across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network and ESPN+. The 2027 network schedule hadn't been announced as of October 2026. Last time it came out on Jan. 22.