Goodyear Ballpark

Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians (Spring Training)

8/10

I never did get the best shot of the exterior here....

Another beautiful clear day in Goodyear.

The sun begins to set on the only night game I've ever seen here.

Goodyear Ballpark holds a special place in my heart, as it was the first Spring Training, or Cactus league game I ever took in. It was the closest one to the old family condo in Arizona and rarely busy, so 8 games later, I still like it.

This park was built to lure two teams, the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds out from Florida and is located in the City of Goodyear(as in the tires) about 30 minutes without traffic west of downtown Phoenix. It's built on the edge of the desert, near an aircraft boneyard. I thought it looked like an AAA park when I first went, but having a few more under my belt, I'd say AA is a closer fit. It's a pretty simple layout, with all the seats between the foul poles, a BBQ area in right field and a berm out in left. Atmosphere is pretty quiet, with this park being the farthest away from either team's home city, still, the fans do come out and while a little quirky, fans of both teams are pretty easy to cohabitate with in my experience.

I originally gave this park a 9 on my old website, but reviewing it now, it is really "just" an 8. The plus? The food. Cheesesteaks, Pulled Pork, Good Burgers, pizza, Mexican, yam fries, they have everything here. The beer is a good selection, they even have Hefeweizen(German-style wheat beer), that drinks really smoothly. They also have about 7 condiments at each concession, so no one walks off disappointed at "just" ketchup.

The other added bonus here is the lack of crowds. While a lot of cactus league parks are expensive and packed to the gills, with long lines for anything, here, the best tickets are 30 dollars and both teams are in the bottom 5 of Spring attendance MLB-wide. If you are west of downtown and don't care about much else than seeing a game, head here, you won't be disappointed.

Update 2021: Somehow, I haven't been back here since the last update 5 years ago. I did manage to dig up my line scores. I've been here 8 times! I still fondly remember this as a cheap option, to enjoy Cactus league action, with good food and it's still a nice park. If I make it back for spring training here anytime soon, this one will be on my list.

Linescore

2010-03-24

                           123  456  789   R  H E

San Francisco     100  000  110   3  7 3

Cincinnati            101  100  07x  10 10 1

Temp: 82F  Time: 2:41   Att: 4,062

2012-03-23

                               123  456  789   RHE

Los Angeles(AL)      010 100  200  491

Cleveland                001  000  000  170

Temp: 77F   Time: 2:41   Att: 8,630

2012-03-29

                           123  456  789   RHE

Colorado            200  300  010  6 11 0

Cleveland           002  000  001  3 6 0

Temp: 72F  Time: 2:47   Att: 2,877

2013-03-23

                           123  456  789   RHE

Texas                 000  121   011   6 14 0

Cincinnati          100  010  000    2 6 0

Temp: 75F   Time: 2:47  Att: 6,192

2013-03-30

                           123  456  789   R H E

Cleveland            000 100  000   1 8  1

Cincinnati            000 213 03x   9  14 0

Temp: 80F  Time: 2:35  Att: 7,027

2014-03-23

                           123  456  789   R H E

Milwaukee          161 000 100  9 13 0

Cincinnati            000  001  000  1 5 1 

Temp: 81F  Time: 2:36   Att: 5,559

2015-03-23

                           123  456  789   RHE

Oakland               000  100  200  370

Cincinnati            000  000  031 461

Temp: 82F  Time: 2:39  Att: 5,447

2015-04-02

                           123  456  789   R H E

Cleveland             000 110 200  4 10 1

Cincinnati            100  000 110  3 11 0

Temp: 81F  Time: 2:19  Att: 3,069

Cubs Park

Chicago Cubs (Spring Training)

9/10

A healthy crowd takes in the Cubs/Angels

This place is jaw dropping for many reasons, including the teeming mass of humanity on the outfield berms. Not a patch of grass to be had.

I hate sitting this close, or paying this much, but it was this or not going and it would've been a long flight home without at least one new park.

 This place was the only new park I got in for my 2014 Cactus League trip. The Cubs moved to Cubs Park(now "Sloan Park") for 2014 after deciding that their old digs at HoHoKam Park weren't good enough for their growing fan base in the Cactus and also seeing Salt River Fields elevating Spring Training facilities to a whole new level of amenities....and prices. But at any rate, they didn't move far, less than 4 miles as the crow drives, staying within Mesa, building a 15,000 seat stadium, the largest for Spring Training anywhere. 

Firstly, this place is expensive. Ticket prices are high, food prices are high, parking's around average, but the ingress is a disaster(more on this later). Still, I don't really rate parks based on how affordable or expensive they are, because everyone has a different view of how much things are worth anyway. At any rate, I digress....

Overall, Cubs Park is pretty impressive. It's enormous, easily comparable to a newer AAA stadium, but with major league concessions, which we hardly got into in one day, but not limited to the Turkey Burger or Pulled Pork Hot Dog as options. I watched the first game here on WGN and they had a 5 minute feature during the game on just the food, with the whole telecast coming across like a big commercial to get out to Arizona. The stadium is really well laid out architecture wise, as almost the entire seating bowl, from foul pole to foul pole is under a giant sun shade, which even as the afternoon drags on, doesn't have many gaps. Atmosphere here was largely reflective of a new park, with lots of curious onlookers, snowbirds wanting to see "the new park" and of course, legions of Cubs fans.

The only knock on this place was the fact it was just so crowded, which usually is only so much of a problem, but I anticipated crowds. I also anticipated that at a new park in its first season, things might not run so smooth. So we left the west valley super early, then got off the 202 at 1215 rolled into Mesa and hit a BRICK WALL. It took about an hour to get from the exit, into a parking spot, then from there, back to the ballpark and into our seats, meaning we were in the neighbourhood almost an hour prior to game time and still late.

If the Cubs want to have a "Premium Tier" park to match Salt River, they need to make the experience match up too. I didn't go back in 2014 or 2015, because tickets were simply not possible to get, unless at a substantial markup. Given the choice between 2 and a half hours in the car from the West Valley to Mesa and 20 minutes round trip to Goodyear for the cheapest tickets anywhere, it was not a hard call. For now, my advice is to all but the most loyal Cub fans, go once, enjoy, then stay away and wait a second, until the prices and crowds die down. One of my cardinal rules(no pun intended) of Cactus League games is to avoid the Cubs, as the crowds follow.

But, don't let that take away from this place, which is still pretty impressive. Just don't plan on going too regularly, for your own sake.

Update 2021: The Cubs continue to draw well here. I haven't been to the Cactus league since a short pit stop in 2017, but did not even attempt to come back here, as ticket prices and traffic keep this one down my list. It's been 7 years now, so it should start to work its way up.

Linescore:

2014-03-25

                                123   456   789  R H E

Los Angeles(AL)     100  100  006   8 13 0

Chicago(NL)           020   010  100  4   9 1

Temp: N/A   Time: N/A    Att: 15,276

Tempe Diablo Stadium

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Spring Training)

7/10

The crowd files in prior to the Angels taking on the Brewers in 2012.

A large crowd takes in the game on a nice afternoon.

Albert Pujols swings for the fences against the Rangers in what I believe was his first spring training with the Angels. These two teams battled to the final out.

Tempe Diablo Stadium is one of the older parks in the Cactus League. Case in point: The Seattle Pilots held their only spring training ever here in 1969. I went here for a game against the Brewers in 2011 and against the Rangers in 2012. The stadium was renovated after the other Seattle team, the Mariners, left for Peoria in 1993. The next year, the Angels moved here from Palm Springs  and haven't looked back. They are here, just east of downtown Phoenix until 2025, at least.

This is a relatively basic place, concessions and the stadium itself are markedly average and the atmosphere was not too bad, given the proximity to Los Angeles, but nothing too memorable either. The 2nd time I went, it was a matchup against Texas where both teams appeared poised to battle for the AL West crown in 2012(They kind of did, but Oakland beat Texas by 1 game and the Angels by 5).  I did not get a good shot from the home plate area, but the backdrop features a large hill by the left field pole and I-10 in the background.

I need to get back here sometime soon, as I apparently remember little, but in the meantime, unless you're an Angel fan, or Tempe is your best bet on any given day, I wouldn't be in any particular hurry, given the other options in the east valley.

Update 2020:  It's been 8 years since I made it out here, cannot believe it's been that long. I will keep it in mind the next time I do the Cactus League. I don't believe much has changed, but the next visit will tell the story.


Linescores
2011-03-24                  
                                  123   456   789   R  H  E
Milwaukee                   440   021   000  11 13  0
Los Angeles(AL)          002   003   021   8  13  3
Temp: 68F Time: 3:13  Att: 7,906


2012-03-25
                                  123   456   789  RHE
Texas                          000   000   023  582
Los Angeles(AL)           110   000   022  690
Temp: 79F  Time: 3:00  Att: 9,613

Phoenix Municipal Stadium

Arizona State Sun Devils (Pac-12)

8/10

 

The main entrance is on the 3rd base side, you need to go up a spiral walkway, across the street, then back down to get there from the parking lot.

2013 prior to my suspected "Last game at the Muni", I turned out to get one more.

A sparse crowd watches Arizona Fall League action in 2011.

I didn't make it to a game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, a.k.a. "The Muni" until 2011, my 2nd spring in Arizona. This stadium is a little different than the others in the Cactus League at the time, as it's history lends itself more to Phoenix baseball than Spring Training. This stadium hosted AAA baseball in Phoenix for 25 years as the Phoenix Giants, then Firebirds, called the Muni home. The Firebirds moved up Loop 101 to Scottsdale when Scottsdale Stadium opened in 1992. The San Francisco Giants held Spring Training here for one year in the 1960's, before the Oakland A's moved in in 1984. The A's had 20 years here before they too moved across town, to HoHoKam Stadium in Mesa, leaving the Muni open. Taking a page from their cross-state rivals in Tucson, the Arizona State Sun Devils decided to move their baseball team from an on campus stadium to the Muni.

At any rate, this is a very straightforward stadium. Stairs lead up to the main concourse, with box seats in front and loge behind. The backdrop is very much stereotypical Arizona, with red rocks and in the case of a 2011 fall league game, a large dust storm. The concessions here were not my favourite, right up until I wandered out to the barbeque stand in the left field corner. I don't remember exactly what I ended up with, but I do remember the burgers and chicken sandwiches coming out of there looking pretty good. The atmosphere here was slightly above average, as the lack of video board and really anything else going on outside of the game made it very enjoyable. The main reason the A's moved (back) to Mesa wasn't the stadium, but more the back fields, or namely the fact that they were about a mile from the main stadium via bus, across the street from the Phoenix Zoo. Now that the team has moved, everything is contained in one complex.

Overall, this was a somewhat unique Spring Training venue, with slightly above average concessions and atmosphere, which should serve the ASU Baseball program well for years to come.

Update 2019: The Sun Devils are enjoying things at the Muni, averaging 2,913 for 2019, which was 21st in the NCAA. I haven't been here in awhile, so I'm not aware of any serious upgrades. This park is highly unlikely to host professional baseball again. I'd go if I had the opportunity, but many other Phoenix area parks would be higher on my list.

Linescores

2011-03-25

                               123  456  789  R H E

Los Angeles(AL)       104  011  030  10 16 0

Oakland                   000  010  020  3 6  2

Time: 2:39  Temp: 70F  Att: 8,540

2011-10-04

                123  456  789   R H E

Mesa         005 120  000   8 7 1

Phoenix     210  602  01x  12 13 0

Time: 2:54  Temp: 91F  Att: 235

2013-03-27

                        123  456  789   R H E

Colorado           210  020  000   5  9  0

Oakland            010  320  00x  6 12 0

Time: 2:33  Temp: 87F  Att:4,795

2014-03-26

                                   123  456  789  RHE

Los Angeles(AL)           001  000  311  661

Oakland                       001  000  010  261

Time: 2:57  Temp: 75F  Att: 5,033

Tuscon Electric Park

Vacant

8/10

10,000 plus for the last D-Back home game at TEP.

This park was an excellent venue for spring training games.

This place was jammed.

I went to my one and likely only game at then Tucson Electric Park in 2010, during Spring Training. The Arizona Diamondbacks played their last game as a full-time tenant here against the Milwaukee Brewers. I dragged my stepfather out here, as he wanted to take me to the Pima County Air Museum and I shoehorned him into going to the game as well. I had to agree to leave early, but a deal was struck.

We arrived early enough, but got stuck in a large line to park, had to buy tickets(military buy 1, get one free, yay!) and got inside in the 2nd inning. Stayed for 5 innings, then left at the end of 7, to beat the crowd.

I thought from a baseball standpoint, the park was well laid out, concessions were good and not very expensive, but we only had some light fare(Ice Cream Sandwiches and perhaps some Beer). It's a relatively straightforward layout with a wraparound concourse, a decent view of some nearby mountains and a 2nd level with some shaded seating.

This stadium is a somewhat cautionary tale. The spring tenants left for Phoenix when that trend continued. The Sidewinders suffered from low attendance, because of Tucson's 100+ degree summers. The AAA Padres were clearly a temporary resident and struggled to draw over 2,500 in their three seasons here. Now, it hosts 4th tier soccer(sometimes) and two or three Cactus league games a season. This was strictly a location issue, as the park itself is new and at the time of its being yanked, was still better than at least 2 of the stadiums in the Phoenix area.

 Overall, this is still a relatively nice park, with the location being the main reason that someone isn't training here. The capacity crowd was a strain on everything, but it was still an enjoyable place to catch a game. Hopefully someone will move back in here soon, but with the Arizona summer being what it is, Spring Training is the only thing that seemed to work.


Update 2018:  I still have not been back here, but since my last review, another tenant has come and gone. The Pecos League put the Tucson Saguaros here and while the team played well, baseball in the summer heat of Tucson just didn't sell to anyone and with sparse crowds, the expense of playing here just wasn't justified. They will move to a city park with a capacity of around 1,000 for this year. The team only played here Thursday-Saturday, with Sunday home games in nearby Bisbee, although this year, Sundays will be in Winslow, 4.5 hours away.  The park is known as Kino Veteran's Stadium again, after the sponsorship deal with Tucson Electric expired.

Pima County, who own the facility, made a push at the end of 2017 to have the Milwaukee Brewers relocate their Spring Training here from Maryvale, after a possible new park in Gilbert, on the east end of Phoenix, fell through. This doesn't appear to have gotten any traction, as the Brewers are reportedly now negotiating a long term lease to stay in Maryvale, which I'm glad to hear about.

I would give this place a point for facility, if only barely, so it remains an 8.

Linescore:
                      123    456    789   RHE
Milwaukee       000    000    100   1XX
Arizona           104    100     21x  9XX

Temp: N/A  Time:  N/A   Att: 10,009 

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

HoHoKam Stadium

Oakland Athletics(Spring Training)

8/10

The exterior of the ballpark was somewhat bland and didn't do it justice. See the new one further down.

The stadium teems with rooters for a Satuday afternoon clash with San Diego.

Another shot of a nice crowd.

Bonus Picture: This shot from the left field pole shows the layout of the grandstand, with only a few spectators dotting the seats.

The newly repainted exterior really "pops" (I hate that phrase, but it's true). No wondering who plays here.

A giant new LED scoreboard welcomed me in 2014

Pre-game preparations for Cubs/Oakland

HoHoKam Stadium was the Chicago Cubs Spring Home from 1997-2013. I've been to two games here, a Fall League game in 2011 and a Cactus League game the next spring. HoHoKam was the last Cactus League park I went to and I was glad to have all of them in the bag.

My first experience with this park was in the fall league, seeing a decent game with only around 50 people in the stands. The fans ended up bunching up in the middle innings as it began to rain, with the only cover in the back few rows.

Still, the Fall league doesn't give you a really good picture of a park, so I decided that I had to get this one in for 2012. We headed over for a Saturday afternoon game versus the Padres and found out that in March, the area gets unbelievably crowded on game days. Traffic is bad, parking is worse and you must brave the crowds for everything from food to the toilet. This place averaged over 10,000 people....in 1999(!) and it hasn't let up since. I'd recommend avoiding the Cubs when they're on the road and only going to their home games when you feel you must(Cubs fans are exempt from this). The Cubs know they have a good thing going in Mesa, so prices for everything from tickets to concessions can be relatively high. The exterior is a bland grey, although Cubs legends names and numbers are in the sidewalk outside, which I thought was a nice touch.

On the plus side, this is a nice place to watch a game. There is an upper concourse effectively dividing the park in half, the lower seats are close to the action, but the loge seats have most of the shade. The atmosphere is pretty good, the Cubs have a pretty good contingent come to Arizona from the Chicago winter, following them from park to park around the Valley.

But, the park was at its limit and the Cubs decided they'd rather build their own and for 2014, they will be training at Cubs Park, a brand new 15,000(!) seat facility about two miles west, but still in Mesa. The Cubs were giving up a few thousand paying customers for every home game and the neighbourhood wasn't handling the game day crowds too easily. But unlike most ballparks that get passed by, HoHoKam is still relevant. The Oakland A's, training in Phoenix at Municipal Stadium, see HoHoKam as a massive improvement over their current digs, particularly on the training side of things, so after a year to get ready, Cactus League baseball will return in 2015. HoHoKam is now one of the older parks in the area, but with the A's wisely choosing to move in, it will be in the Cactus League loop for years to come.

Update 2016: I managed to get back here to see the A's version of this place in 2015, it's first season since Oakland's return and was pretty happy with the work that'd been done. The two big differences I caught were the Facade and the Scorboard. The board is a big new LED job which in my opinion, does add to the experience slightly, while the park is painted(on the outside) in A's colours. On the inside, things are only so different, with concessions being adequate and the atmosphere being around normal for Spring Training. Still, the improvements here are worthy of a point for facility, so this place goes up to 8/10. If I was in the East Valley(as opposed to out west) I'd likely make this a regular.

Linescores

2011-10-16
                                  123    456   789    RHE
Surprise Saguaros         000   052   001   891
Mesa Solar Sox             201  210   001   791
Temp: 83F  Time: 2:45  Att: 145

2012-03-24
                                123    456   789    RHE          
San Diego                  000  300   002    591
Chicago Cubs             010  000   000    133
Temp: 86F  Time: 2:40   Att: 12,872

2015-03-24
                         123    456   789    R  H  E
Chicago Cubs      101    000   000   2  6  2
Oakland               226    120  10x    14 18 1
Temp: N/A  Time: 3:27   Att: 9,032

Peoria Sports Complex

San Deigo Padres, Seattle Mariners, Spring Training

8/10

A crowd takes in the Padres and Mariners in 2010.

The grounds crew prepares for AFL action in October 2011.

The Padres and Mariners head towards a nice sunset in 2013.

Peoria was the 2nd Cactus League park I went to in 2010, watching a night game between the Mariners and Padres, with San Diego as home team. I went back in 2011 for another night game, this time with the Arizona Fall League, where an Indians prospect named Jesus Aguilar hit two homeruns that went so far, I had my head on a swivel walking to the car, just in case they hadn't come down yet. I went in 2012 for a Cactus League game where a Mariner squad of largely AA players with Kevin Milwood pitching showed the Padres that the gap between AA and the Majors isn't so big, winning handily. In 2013, I finally saw this place during the day, as the Royals and Mariners squared off.

My opinon of Peoria changed drastically from after my first visit, where I found it underwhelming, to my other three, where I loved it. I'd have to say that besides Maryvale Ballpark, Peoria is the most underrated in the Cactus League.

The park itself a relatively unassuming complex located in the Phoenix suburb of Peoria, northwest of downtown. The ballpark is accessible via Loop 101, but be ready for traffic prior to game time. Showing up overly early here isn't a bad idea, especially if you aren't familiar with the park, or the area. The main stadium is located between the Mariner and Padre training areas and is a subdued Tan, concrete park, with little in the way of an exterior façade. Food is around average at around average prices. I've been here 4 times and cannot remember one unique offering from either team. Prices are below average for the area.

The main concourse out of view of the field, but a wide walkway between the lower and upper seating sections acts as another concourse as well, although there aren't any kiosks or anything blocking it. My big plusses for Peoria are sightlines and an atmosphere that is less like a carnival and more about baseball. The Mariners and Padres organizations, to their credit, seem to think this is a plus to and recently extended their leases in Peoria until 2034, which means that fans of both the M's and the Fighting Friars have 20 more springs to look forward to. The Mariners bring several vendors and the like down from Seattle, to add to the local experience. This is a conversation from 2010:

A longtime Mariner Vendor, on the long gone Kingdome:
Fan: Do you miss the dome?
Vendor sits down.
“People ask me:do you miss the dome? I tell them: Only in April.”

Now that I've seen them all, I realize how special Peoria is. It was the first park in Arizona to house two teams well, which became a model for others to follow. It also isn't well attended compared to some of it's counterparts. It isn't going to blow you away, but my suggestion is to cut away from the herd and catch a game here, especially at night. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Update 2016: I have now been here a total of 6 times, for four spring training games and two fall league. When I last went back for a Fall League game in 2015, the park was being renovated, the front entrance had an actual sign (really!) and the concessions that weren't open had new signage giving them Seattle and San Diego themed names. The left field corner was closed as it appeared that new suites were going in in that area. Both teams are committed here for the long term, so it's not surprising that the almost 25 year old park was up for some renos. Under the new rating system, I'd still keep an 8, giving half points for atmosphere and facility, but I will make a stop here for sure the next March I go to Phoenix, as the renovations could make this score higher.

 Linescores
2010-03-24
                        123    456   789   R H E
Seattle              000    100    000  1  4  3
San Diego         000     000   20x  2 10 1
Temp: 66F  Time: 2:34  Att: 7,173

2011-10-06
                                   123   456  789    R  H  E
Phoenix Desert Dogs     010  122  013   10  11  1
Peoria Javelinas            000   011  200    4   7   0
Temp: 65F  Time: 2:49  Att: 269

2012-03-31
                         123   456   789   R H E
San Diego           000  010   000   1 5  2
Seattle               002  002   11x   6  12  0
Temp: 90F  Time: 2:27  Att: 5,773

2013-03-26
                      123   456   789   R  H   E
Kansas City     001   060  022  11 18  0
Seattle             003  100  200    6  11  0
Temp: 81F  Time: 2:58  Att: 6,098

2014-03-26
                          123    456    789   R H E
Chicago Cubs      001   000    013   5 11 3
San Diego           012   000   200    5  6  2
Temp: 85F  Time: 3:16  Att: 5,407

2015-11-19
                                123   456   789  RHE
Surprise Saguaros      001  003   030   791
Peoria Javelinas         300  100   000   492
Temp: 74F   Time: 2:46  Att: 603 

Hi Corbett Field

Arizona Wildcats (Pac-12)

No Rating

A photo stop at Hi Corbett in 2010 shows how the main tenants at the time were the Colorado Rockies for Spring Training and the Tucson Toros of the Golden League for summer baseball. 2010 was the last year for both.

                

A nice usher let us in to have a look, as long as we stayed in sight of him. You can see how the stadium was expanded a few times from this one.

2012 saw Hi Corbett alive with Spring Baseball again, as the Arizona Wildcats moved in. Here, a pause between innings versus Stanford.

                    
Firstly, I didn't rate Hi Corbett, because I have only seen a few college games there, still, I did see enough to write a review. Consider it an exchange.

I first saw Hi Corbett the way most people saw it, on the screen as the Spring Home of the Cleveland Indians in the baseball cinema classic Major League. I remember Willie Mays Hayes doing his happy dance outside the front entrance. I first saw it in person in 2010, when we made a photo stop between the Pima Air and Space museum and a quick bite at Jack in the Box. The Rockies were out of town for the day, but due to play the Dodgers the next afternoon. The park is more a collection of different stands than one big unit. There's the main grandstand, under a roof, to large bleachers offset to either side and smaller metal ones beyond that. The Rockies were due to leave for 2011, when they moved to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, along with the other team in Tucson at that point, the Arizona Diamondbacks. The move ended Hi Corbett's run of 65(!) seasons of Spring Training between the Rockies and Indians. The local independent league team, the Tucson Toros of the Golden League, packed up after 2010, when it was revealed that the Portland Beavers would be moving to town for a 1 year pit stop as the Tucson Padres(they ended up staying for 3). The Padres ended up playing at Tucson Electric Park, although Hi Corbett was their first choice, with negotiations breaking down.

I made a point of travelling back in 2012 when I had seen all the Cactus League parks and wanted to pick up a game. I arrived late thanks to the Phoenix traffic and found out about something I noted in 2010: there isn't much parking. I highly recommend arriving early. The park itself is a nice place to watch a game. There is a relatively thick screen though, with large posts. I found moving up high on the third base side to be a smart move, you could see the whole field well, which is important, because this park is quite large. The college ballgame can be a lot of fun at the right place, Hi Corbett is one of them. The atmosphere was a good mix of baseball and college shenanigans(including a drunken student singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame). Old Park, good crowd, cheap everything, and a product that translates to somewhere between Rookie and Short Season A for the major conferences. I enjoyed my time here and if I was rating it, would give it an 8 or 9. I'm even considering a trip back just for the atmosphere.

Update 2016: I went back here in 2014 for another Wildcat game against Oregon State. I found out about something I didn't notice in 2012, the sun shines into the seats in the afternoon and it is very hot. The 2012 Wildcats ended up winning the College World Series. Pro baseball is giving Tucson another try this summer, with a Pecos League team setting up at Tucson Electric Park.

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

Scottsdale Stadium

San Francisco Giants(Spring Training)

7/10

     The crowd assembles for a night game between the Giants and Indians

The last few minutes before game time in the Arizona Fall League in 2015.

         These seats would fill almost totally for the game.

This is the current Cactus League park for the San Francisco Giants, as well as the former home of the AAA Phoenix Firebirds and a site for some group games of the inaugural World Baseball Classic, in 2005. In the offseason, it sees Arizona Fall League Action. Also, my hometown Edmonton Capitals trained there in 2011, which turned out to be their last year.

The park is located centrally in downtown Scottsdale, which in turn, is northeast of downtown Phoenix by around 20-30 minutes. Scottsdale itself is probably the most affluent suburb of Phoenix, with lots of trendy restaurants and shops. If you plan on heading to a game here, planning to spend time in the area either before or after is well worth it.

The stadium itself is pretty standard for the Cactus League, there are three types of seating in the grandstand and an outfield berm. I was still in the process of checking off all the Cactus League parks and when I flew in for a 4 game in 3 day express vacation in 2011, I asked to head off to this one. My stepfather, who had been here several times, agreed, but pointed out that Scottsdale is probably the most expensive park in the Cactus League now, with outfield berm "seating" going for 25 dollars a head. Compare that to a front row seat in west valley parks like Goodyear or Surprise and it's hard to justify too many trips.

Still, I did enjoy the experience overall, a plucky young Cleveland side managed to down the Giants, who were just coming off their first championship since moving to SFO. We sat behind two girls from San Fran who asked me to take their picture and an older couple who had come out from Ohio to watch the Indians. They appreciated my answer when asked by my mother "Who's your second favourite team?" to which I replied, "Whoever's playing the Yankees."

I'd give Scottsdale Stadium a 7/10. It would be an 8, but the high prices for everything drive the rating down. I realize I don't have the greatest photos for this one and it's the only Cactus League park that I haven't been to more than once, so a trip in 2014 is a good bet.

Update 2016: I have thought a few times of making another trip here during Spring Training, but the fact of the matter is that Giants tickets have become some of the most expensive and sought after anywhere in the Cactus League. They also use a "floating" pricing model, so ticket prices vary from game to game. I couldn't find any good seats available just doing a search, so I don't know how much they even go for. I did get a fall league game in here in 2015 and got some better pictures in. I have no idea when I'll come back here, but I'd hope to get a Giants Spring Training game in here within the next five years at least.

Linescores
2011-03-24(Spring Training)
                       123    456    789   R H E
Cleveland          003   001    300     7 10 0
San Francisco   000   000    100     1   6  1
Temp:66F  Time: 2:30 Att: 10,292


2015-11-16
                                    123  456  789  R H E
Surprise Saguaros          300  000  400  7 10 0
Scottsdale Scorpions      001  101  000  3 7 3
Temp: 57F Time: 3:06  Att: 374

Surprise Stadium

Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals (Spring Training)

9/10

The third base gate is used more for leaving than entering, the front door isn't much more notable.

The view from behind home plate for 2011 Fall League action.

The view from centre field shows the grandstand, press boxes and a bit of the 2nd level seating.

I first came here in 2010 for a Cactus League contest and as of 2015, have been a total of 7 times, for 6 Cactus League games and one Fall League game in 2011, which featured a young Bryce Harper.

As the name suggests, the park is in the Phoenix suburb of Surprise, about 40 minutes northwest of downtown. The Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers have been training here since 2003. 2005 saw Golden League baseball here as well, with the Surprise Fightin' Falcons lasting just the one season. It's more of an AAA style ballpark than one of the bigger stadiums built lately. It's pretty well laid out, with a ton of shade in the infield, a pretty wide concourse, that is a little dark, but nothing too wild. The two sections of upper deck seating are popular and are well shaded with a good sight line. The quirkiest plus of the park is the unique design of the roof, which has circle-shaped depressions in it to stop foul balls from rolling back down and landing on spectators. 

Concessions here are pretty good too, embracing the local tastes of the two teams. Kansas City naturally features BBQ, which in this case, meant a pulled pork sandwich. I beleive that Tex-Mex also featured prominently, as do usual ballpark favourites.

Atmosphere here is subdued, rarely crowded, but always interested in the action on the field. There's no mascot or promotions as far as I can remember.

Overall, I am generally so engrossed in enjoying a game and the experience that I remember little else about it. This is among about 5 parks in the Cactus League that I would go to anytime, just a very enjoyable ballpark. A point for concession, plus a half point for the park and atmosphere gives it a 9.

Camelback Ranch

Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox (Spring Training)

9/10

Crowds line up at automated kiosks to print their tickets.

Another clear day in Glendale.

I made sure to go out into left field to get a shot on my first trip here.

This place is the spring home of both the LA Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. The Dodgers were coaxed west from their longtime spring home in Vero Beach, Florida and the White Sox left Tucson to join them here. It is technically just inside the city limits of Phoenix, but is on land owned by the city of Glendale, which is also the home of the NFL Cardinals and NHL Coyotes.

The stadium is visible from nearby Camelback Road and has a pronounced western theme, starting with the name, which is historically the name for the land and continuing with the rustic looking wood finish on the press boxes. This is definitely one of the new breed of Cactus league parks, which are more than just AAA calibre parks that host 20ish games a spring. It compares somewhat to Cubs Park or Salt River I have now been here a total of 7 times, 6 Cactus League and 1 Fall League game, so it's a place that I'm becoming familiar with, which is great, because there's lots to like.

Firstly, this place actually captures the possibilities of building a unique new park. There's no park you can point at and say it looks like Camelback Ranch, because there's not one. The theme of the architecture, wide open concourses, that somehow always seem to feature a gentle breeze on a hot day, some shade, some sun, lots of good places to stand, there's not much about the place to dislike. Parking is still free, egress is easy before the game, as long as you're 20 minutes early. Leaving can be a bit of a hangup, but traffic control here is good too, so it's not as long as it ought to be.

Food here is also good. The Dodgers naturally have the Dodger Dog on feature, but there's Vienna Beef for the Southsiders as well. There are some specialty places, but I haven't tried anything besides pizza and dogs here.

Atmosphere is pretty good too. There used to be disastrous sellouts here, with large crowds. My stepfather was even more averse to big crowds than me, so we'd usually head for Goodyear, Surprise or Maryvale. When we finally went in 2012, we both really liked it, the crowds for Dodger games are a little bigger, but only so much. The White Sox crowds are just fine, at around 6,500 or so.

Overall, this place is at the cutting edge of the newer spring parks and in the west valley, is always a good option to take in a game. I give it an extra point for the food and half points for atmosphere and the park. 9/10.