Salt River Fields at Talking Stick

Arizona Diamonbacks/ Colorado Rockies (Spring Training)

9/10

The exterior of this one kind of defies convention. I've been here three times and tried multiple angles, but this one I like best.

Finally got a good home plate photo of this one. This was a nice day.

A sizeable crowd sees the Rockies host the Mariners on a pleasant Arizona evening.

I went first went to Salt River in 2011, going straight from the airport to a night game between the Mariners and Rockies. Salt River fields were the talk of Spring Training that year, as its opening meant the end of Spring Training in Tucson, as the Diamondbacks moved there from Tucson Electric Park and the Rockies from Hi Corbett Stadium. In a word, this place is elaborate. Built on the Salt River Indian Reservation, in the Scottsdale area, the stadium seats 11,000, but has been known to squeeze in a thousand or so more. It is very popular, but also expensive, which is the biggest knock I have against it. Still, it is likely the class of the Cactus League at the moment, and was the scheduled as the site of two group games for the 2013 World Baseball Classic, with one moving to Chase Field at the last second due to weather. This is where Italy upset Mexico, to send the Phoenix group on the tournament into disarray. I've been to two Cactus League games and a fall league contest at last count.

But, even if it is expensive, there's a lot about Salt River I like. The layout of the seating is quite good, with a high capacity, but it still feels like there's enough room to be comfortable, with the spectators well spread out, which means it takes a few seconds to get to your seat. Sight lines are good and watching the game is an enjoyable experience. Parking is a bit of a pain, but there are enough spots and some of the farther lots are free, to make it a little easier to swallow. Speaking of easy to swallow, the food here, while expensive, is perhaps the best in the Cactus League. Bison Hot Dogs, numerous varieties of actual ice cream and many other terrific choices make Salt River a park you just have to grab a meal at. The games here are well attended, especially when Arizona is in action. A combination of locals going to their nearest park, fans from across the valley going to their favourite and the usual crowd following the visitors, Salt River has a pretty good atmosphere. It's one of two parks off the top of my head that looks like a strictly Cactus league park instead of a Triple-A park like some of the others.

Overall, Salt River is a good one to visit if you haven't been, or are in the area, but it is a bit of a chore to repeatedly justify the drive over from the western suburbs of Phoenix.

Update 2016: I got some newer pictures here in 2015. I've also been here 4 times now, for 3 cactus league games and one in the fall league. I upped the rating to a 9. The food here is great, I've had a Bison Hot Dog, Garlic Knots, Pizza and I'm not sure what else. A little expensive, but all good. Also, the facility itself is still impressive. Only the atmosphere wasn't amazing, and it was par for the course for the Cactus. Still, I wish I'd been able to sneak another game or two in here.


Linescores

2011-03-23
                     123   456     789   RHE
Seattle           001   020     020   580
Colorado        005   010     00x   661
Temp: N/A  Time:  2:45 Att: 12,261

2011-10-05
                                123      456    789      R  H E
Peoria Javelinas         011     260     300      13 15 0
Salt River Rafters       000     070     000       7  8   2
Temp: 80F   Time: 3:14   Att: 479

2012-03-24
                           123      456     789     R  H  E
Kansas City          200     001     300     6  12  2
Arizona                 000     102     020     5  12  0
Temp: N/A   Time: 3:01  Att: 12,513

2015-03-27
                         123      456      789     RHE
Cleveland            000     000      011      241
Arizona              100     000      02x      381
Temp: N/A     Time: 2:42   Att:  11,537