Maryvale Baseball Park

10/10

Milwaukee Brewers,Cactus League

The main sign for the entrance is quite high above the main gate.

 The last home game of 2014 saw the Brewers, Reds and no Sausages.

I was furious.....

The crowd enjoys a nice spring afternoon as the Brew Crew battle the Padres in 2010.

Bonus photo: The victorious Hot Dog and admirable Chorizo after another great Sausage Race.

This might be an unusual pick, but Maryvale is far and away my favourite Cactus League ballpark and I'll tell you why.

The ballpark is one of the older ones in Arizona, built in 1997, which makes it an elderly 17 years old at the time of my writing this. But enough sarcasm. It's actually located within the City of Phoenix's Maryvale neighbourhood. I didn't really notice until my third visit that the area is somewhat run down, which speaks to how it's still quite safe to go to a game here. Parking is no problem in the stadium lots, unless you're quite late(in which case there's lots of options in the area, just don't park at the mall, as they tow) or they're playing the Cubs.

The park is laid out much like your average AAA park, with a concourse behind the seating, as well as an outfield berm. The berm doesn't go all the way around, so there's a gap in center field. There isn't much shade here, which is probably its biggest drawback. Sitting in the back two or three rows of the three sections closest to home plate will do the trick though.

Plus one of Maryvale is the atmosphere. Brewer fans are very loyal to their small market team and very welcoming to anyone who's cheering for the other side, or just around. They will drop in on your conversations, but in a good way. The Racing Sausages will make an appearance during the game, unless, as I found out in 2014, it's too late in the month. "The Beer Barrel Polka" will make an appearance regardless and most fans will sing and some will even dance. The atmosphere is relaxed, and very Cactus league, as opposed to being more of a minor league game. On field promotions do not happen, there is no "in game host" and the music is pretty vanilla. It's all about the game here, the way it ought to be.

The other reason I like this park is the food. Options are limited at the actual concessions, but there are two big plusses, the sausages(they sell all 5 kinds in the race) and the number of food carts thrown onto the concourse behind home plate. You can get a lot of variety in this part of the park.

You do not have to fight much of a crowd here unless they're playing the Cubs. Tickets are reasonable and with Municipal Stadium now off the loop, it's the most centrally located Cactus League stadium. You don't have to be anything resembling a Brewer fan to thoroughly enjoy this place and I highly recommend it.

Update 2016: I am now up to six games here and can't say a bad thing about it. Cheap but enjoyable option for cactus leaguing. I usually get a game in here every year I'm down.

Linescores


2010-03-26
                     123 456  789   RHE
San Diego     303  001 011  9 14 0
Milwaukee    020  000 200  4 7 1

Temp: 71F Time: 3:02 Att: 4,407

2012-03-27
                       123  456   789  R H E
Kansas City     013 001  220  9 12 0
Milwaukee      000 010  231  7  13 1
Temp:78F  Time: 2:47 Att: 2,652

2012-03-28
                     123   456   789  R H E
Arizona         100   000  000  1 5   1
Milwaukee    000   160  000  7 14 0
Temp: 81F  Time: 2:20  Att: 4,543

2013-03-22
                           123   456   789  R H E
Chicago Cubs     000    010  003 4 11 0
Milwaukee          000   000  100  1 7 1
Temp: 80F  Time: 2:47   Att: 8,806 

2014-04-04

                        123   456   789   R H E
Cincinatti         001   012   301  8 14 0
Milwaukee       100   000   010  2 6  2
Temp: 66F  Time: 2:59  Att: 4,016


2015-03-26
                      123  456  789  R  H  E
Seattle            001  000  000  1  4  1
Milwaukee     400  320  24x  15 22 1
Temp: N/A  Time: 3:01   Att:  3,302