Roasted peanuts washed down with ice cold beers and the sounds of cracking bats means just one thing in Arizona: Spring Training. Nearly 2 million baseball fans headed to the greater Phoenix area last year to get an advance peek at their favorite teams. This year is a real home run with some delicious new treats!
Get a jump on baseball’s finest players as Arizona’s Cactus League tour amps up from Scottsdale to Mesa and Tempe. Spring training in Arizona has been a tradition for loyal fans since 1947 when just two teams—the Cleveland Indians and the New York Giants—arrived to prepare for another season in idyllic spring weather. Today, the Cactus League, considered the premier preseason destination for baseball lovers, consists of fifteen teams training in the country’s largest concentration of professional ballparks—all within an easy distance to each other.
Fans are apt to find their favorite team at spring training, from the World Series winning Cubs to the Dodgers, Padres, Mariners, Giants and more. The Cactus League offers more than 100 games and plays host to as many teams as the entire rival Grapefruit League in Florida, with all the stadiums are within a 90-minute drive from each other.
Plan your trip to take in one or several games, February 21 through March 26. You can choose a ticket package that fits your trip, from just a single ticket to a package of three or more games. Most games begin around 1 p.m. with a few select premium night games beginning around 7 p.m. Most stadiums offer preferred seating and deals for food.
The Cactus League Stadiums
Camelback Ranch, Glendale
Head to Camelback Ranch in Glendale for the spring training home of the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Parking is free and single tickets range from $10 to $69, depending on the game.
New: Enjoy free Wi-Fi and more shaded areas.
Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear
The Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds train in nearby Goodyear for a 10th anniversary celebration. Tickets range from $8-$31; parking is $5. Both teams are offering fan experiences that include extras such as participating in clinics or meeting players.
New: A new mascot will kick off the 10-year anniversary season on opening day. You’ll also find some new “culinary delights” such as Funnel Cake fries and hatch chili creations. A new shaded bar featuring craft beers will be a popular addition.
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale
The Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks take over Scottsdale’s Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian grounds. Tickets begin at $15.
New: Food offerings are upped with some signature items: a peanut-butter and jalapeno garnished burger and pork carnitas tacos. An adjacent hotel and water park will be debuting later this year, making it a new feature for 2020 baseball fans.
Sloan Park, Mesa
The Chicago Cubs make Sloan Park in Mesa home, affectionately referred to as Wrigley Field West. Tickets range from $14-$94; parking begins at $5 for general parking.
New: With a capacity of 15,000, Sloan Park is the largest spring training stadium by capacity in Major League Baseball. Located on what was once a golf course, the 140-acre complex as an important part of a planned development area that has been named, appropriately, Wrigleyville West.
American Family Fields (formerly Maryvale)
The Milwaukee Brewers are based in what was Phoenix’s Maryvale Baseball Park, now American Family Fields. After more than a $60 million renovation, fans will see an new entrance, clubhouse, shop and concession stands. Tickets range from $8-$34; parking is $5-$10.
New: The entire stadium! Check for some delicacies to munch, from foot-long brats to Wisconsin fried cheese curds.
Peoria Sports Complex, Peoria
Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria is host to the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. Tickets range from $7-$30.
New: Go gourmet with your own make-your-burger bar.
HoHoKam Stadium, Mesa
The Oakland Athletics spring train in this stadium that underwent a renovation in 2015 and includes both stadium seating and lawn seating. Tickets are $10-$35; parking is $5.
Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale
Scottsdale Stadium is home to the San Francisco Giants. Tickets begin at $12 for single ticket purchases; parking is at nearby parking structures, but you can take a handy, free city trolley that stops at the stadium.
Surprise Stadium, Surprise
Surprise Arizona welcomes the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers each spring. Tickets range from $8-$45; parking is free.
New: It’s all about the food this year. Try the new “Double Dog Dare You” that features two hot dogs in a foot-long bun with more toppings than you can imagine (or may want to imagine).
Legends Deck: Upgrade your tickets this year to include a restaurant meal, a drink and private bar.
Diablo Stadium, Tempe
Tempe’s Diablo Stadium hosts the Los Angeles Angels.Tickets range from $15-$100; parking is $5.
No matter what venue you choose for your baseball escape, there is something special to enjoy—often beyond the stadiums themselves.
Follow baseball legacy in Scottsdale
Since the earliest days of spring training baseball in Arizona, downtown Scottsdale has been a sought-after destination for Major League players, coaches, executives, umpires and fans. You can walk in the footprints of Hall of Famers like Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Ernie Banks and Dizzy Dean by stopping at some of their favorite Scottsdale hangouts along the “Cactus League Legacy Trail.”
On the self-guided Legacy Trail, you’ll find various hitching posts and watering holes that share a lengthy association with spring training. For instance, head to Don & Charlie’s where you would have a difficult time finding a wall in this iconic restaurant not covered with memorabilia, all of it representing decades of baseball history. And everything and everyone who stops in this spring training spot have a story to tell. You may find yourself sitting next to one of your favorite players or coaches.
Plan dessert at the iconic Sugar Bowl for much more than ice cream. Rookie ballplayers have been stopping by the Sugar Bowl for a “double frosted” ice cream treat since the 1950s, and it is definitely a step back in time. Bil Keane immortalized the Sugar Bowl in his “Family Circus” cartoons – many of which adorn the restaurant’s walls that share space with Cactus League memorabilia.
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