It’s the time of the year again for anyone that does and doesn’t live in Arizona.

It’s Baseball Spring Training baby!

Now I’m not the biggest baseball fan, or any sports fan really. But I mean that in a I don’t like watching them on the television sort of way. I enjoy writing about sports. (You can read each of my YA Sports Romance novels here. I have a hockey, snowboarding & swimming book and many more on the way).

And then I really enjoy going to LIVE games.

Yes, you put me in a live game and I’m balls to the walls a crazed fan whether or not I actually know who’s playing or which team I root for.

And surprisingly (or not that surprising) I have been to a lot of baseball games. Maybe it’s because there’s always a cool stadium in almost every new city I visit. Or the fact that it’s cheap to get nosebleed seats. But I’ve been to my fair share of baseball games.

One of them being an Arizona Spring Training Game.

And considering I’ve made a residency in Arizona, it’s no surprise that I’ve been to at least one.

I not only want to share with everyone my experience at a game, but I wanted to share how best you can prepare for Arizona Spring Training! Especially with the first game starting up this February 21st!

So let’s start shall we.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR AZ SPRING TRAINING

First question out of the way now.

What exactly is Arizona Spring Training?

For those that aren’t baseball fans. It’s the before season training time for major league baseball. There are two locations, one in Florida called the Grapefruit League and the other here in Arizona called the Cactus League.

This is basically the perfect time to get up close and personal to your favorite baseball teams. And you can get passes to games, practices, etc. Seriously the perfect time if you have a favorite baseball team and maybe meet some baseball stars.

Who plays in this league?

First thing to know about Arizona Spring Training is that there are 10 stadiums that house the 15 MLB teams in this league. And all 10 stadiums are set up to give you as close to being in the home stadium as possible.

Arizona Diamondbacks – Salt River Fields
Chicago Cubs – Sloan Park
Chicago White Sox – Camelback Ranch-Glendale
Cincinnati Reds – Goodyear Ballpark
Colorado Rockies – Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
Kansas City Royals – Surprise Stadium
Los Angeles Angels – Tempe Diablo Stadium
Los Angeles Dodgers – Camelback Ranch-Glendale
Milwaukee Brewers – Maryvale Baseball Park
Oakland Athletics – Hohokam Stadium
San Diego Padres – Peoria Sports Complex
San Francisco Giants – Scottsdale Stadium
Seattle Mariners – Peoria Sports Complex
Texas Rangers – Surprise Stadium

The stadium I went to was the Chicago Cubs Stadium in Sloan Park, Mesa. And let me tell you, it’s supposed to look like a mini Wrigley Field which I found super cute!

So make sure to look up where exactly your teams are playing and where they are at so you can plan your trip accordingly!

Also take note that during games you might not see your all-star favs playing. Spring training is a chance for people to make teams, etc. So it won’t be the exact all-star favorites playing on the fields. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be there. Most of the time they are at practices, so if you’re keen to meet someone in particular definitely check out practice games! And some stadiums have an autograph alley or basically where the players line up or exit.

How to purchase spring training tickets?

You can get tickets at each teams websites. Or go to the MLB.com website and it’ll take you to the season’s games and where you can get tickets. They can range from cheap 10 dollar seats on a weekday game or 100 for prime seats on a weekend game.

A lot of the stadiums have lawn seating, which is just as it sounds. A big lawn that is great for big families. And you don’t have to spend a ton of money and can bring your own chairs or just a blanket to sit on.

You’ll definitely want to get tickets in advance for big weekend games where big players will play against each other. Like I’m sure a Dodgers/Cubs game will sell out.

But most of the time you can just show up on game day and buy a ticket, especially on the weekdays. And don’t sleep on some package deals they have for families since most spring training goers are out-of-towners, they do offer some deals.

Also shaded spots are golden because Arizona has a lot of sun and you’ll definitely want to end up in a shaded spot if you’re going to a packed game. Definitely look into it in advanced if you want to steer clear from the sun.

And don’t forget you can also go and watch practices for these baseball teams. They start as early as 9 A.M. and it’s the best chance you can to meet players if you want to meet them. Do note most practices are open to the public and have free entry, but some may charge.

Where to stay?

Since the leagues stadiums are all over the place in Arizona, make sure you pick the best accommodation that is nearest to the stadium you plan on attending to maximize travel time because let’s face it, they are located in cities where there will probably be traffic. Arizona life still goes on during this busy time.

But there are a lot of great places to stay in the Phoenix area where most of the stadiums are. I’m sure if you book enough in advance there will be deals you can get for hotels. And even if you don’t score a hotel near the stadium, don’t be afraid to look at nearby cities.

Like for the Sloan Park, Chicago Cubs Stadium is located in Mesa. You can find some great places in nearby cities that aren’t too far like Tempe, Chandler and Gilbert. And booking websites like are always a great place to start!

And don’t forget that while hotels are available, I do always recommend Airbnb as your first stop to checking out places to stay. They are usually cheaper and they have great locations.

But be sure to book these in advance. And of course be prepared that most places will amp up their prices since this is the most popular time for Arizona.

What about the weather?

The next thing you need to know and best prepare for is the Arizona Weather!

Arizona is a desert. Plain and simple. Dry, arid, climates that will give you higher than normal temperatures in the spring, and can have random spouts of massive downpour.

Most of the time, the weather will be gorgeous during the spring training season. You won’t get the outrageous summer heat that you’d normally get in Arizona. BUT that doesn’t mean you can get away with no sunblock or protecting yourself from the sun.

Because while it may be in the 70’s, when that sun comes out, it’s easy to reach into the 90’s. And those sun rays can leave you sunburned to a crisp.

And don’t underestimate cloudy days. You can still easily get a sunburn if you don’t wear appropriate clothing and sunblock. The sun is super extreme in Arizona. Just sayin’! And believe me on this one, I’m pretty sure I was born tan and my worst sunburns are from cloudy days.

SO PLEASE. Be aware of the temperatures and wear sunblock and appropriate clothing. Since it’s a baseball game, best time to bust out that baseball hats you’ve been leaving on the hat rack. Because you’ll definitely need it.

I’m actually a huge fan of baseball hats because they really do protect you from the sun that burns down on Arizona. And, don’t worry, you’ll find baseball hats almost anywhere in Arizona.

And also don’t forget to check out the team stores. You can find some great merch that are exclusive to Spring Training Attendees and your fav team merch. But forewarning, merch is merch, and will be the same price as if buying from the actual home stadium.

PRO TIP:

Best choice of clothing for a baseball game: Baseball Jersey, shorts, baseball hat, sunglasses and lot and lots of sunscreen. If it’s looking cloudy, keep a light sweater in your car!

And this brings me to my NEXT point. WATER.

BRING IT.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

YOU WILL NOT SURVIVE WITHOUT WATER SO YOU NEED LOTS OF IT!

There are water fountains so you can bring empty reusable water bottles to fill up as well! Like my new fav, especially since living in Arizona, the Hydro Flask!

What about FOOD?

Well, there are lots of places to eat pretty much at any stadium you go to. There is also the regular baseball food concession stands that have the soda, hotdogs, and pretzels.

Some even make city specific food from each stadium. So expect some great food choices that are based from other cities!

Just watch out on weekdays sometimes they won’t have full concessions stands available with the full menu. But don’t worry they should always have water fountains and water you can buy.

Don’t forget to check out restaurants around the stadium or around town. Look it up online because some places will have deals if you show them you are ticket holders. So that’s always a bonus.

What should I expect?

It’s a baseball game or practice. fairly straightforward for America’s Pastime Sport.

So, if you’re a huge baseball fan then this is the thing for you to go to every game, practice, etc. Especially for your favorite teams that are in the Cactus league. This is an exciting time and people travel great lengths to go to the training.

If you’re like me, where I enjoy games, but I’m not a die-hard baseball fan, then expect names from players you aren’t familiar with and not as exciting of a game. But the stadiums are super nice and you can walk around and see everything it has to offer for you. Almost like going to the regular season games at their home stadium.

So you make it how you make it.

They are fun nonetheless. Make it a trip out with your girls, family, your significant other. The best times are always when you surround yourself with family and friends.

And even during games, you’ll be surrounded by some other baseball fans. So you can end up making a friend or two, or have some awesome talks with some baseball fans.

All in all, you’ll definitely have a great time.

Also, if you’re already here. Might as well make it a full on trip. This is the perfect time to go visit Arizona with the weather in all parts of AZ. You’ve got the Grand Canyon a few hours away. And beautiful Sedona only two hours away.

And, of course, some awesome hikes just around the Phoenix area alone.

If you’re not a huge hiker. There are also some awesome other things to do in the Phoenix areas. There are great bars, restaurants, clubs, art galleries, etc.

I mean I MAYBE bias since I live here, but it truly has a lot to offer that’s not just all baseball games! And that’s the beauty of the Arizona Spring Training, there is so much to do in this town!

Fun facts

-This started just in 2018, but they are now hosting a music festival called The Innings Festival that have musical guests and appearances by some MLB people to presumably kick off the baseball season that happens in March. It is on March 2-3rd!

-I recently read that spring training brings in millions of dollars in economic boosts for Arizona every year. So keep it coming and boost up this desert state that I currently call my home!

-And new to 2019, the Milwaukee Brewers put in millions of dollars to renovate their Maryvale Baseball Park before this season. So it’s going to be a state of the art stadium that people should definitely check out! I’m definitely going to want to check it out!

-More than 50% of people that attend spring training are out-of-towners.

-Each stadium is different. Go visit them not just for baseball, but for the scenery. But I know it’s mostly for baseball.

There we have it! I hope you enjoyed these tips on Arizona Spring Training from a now local of The Grand Canyon State.

Oh don’t forget for all you visitors, check out all the cool places that surround us like Sedona, Grand Canyon. It’s the perfect time for hikes and seeing beautiful nature before the hot summer months arrive!

Happy Spring Training!

XOXO

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XOXO

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