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Welcome to the Ultimate Sports Road Trip handy guide to the Cactus League. Twelve
Major League Baseball teams share nine different venues in the Tucson and Greater
Phoenix areas, and this is great for the sports traveler, for all the ballparks in the
Cactus League are in close proximity to one another. A visitor can conceivably visit all
nine parks in the span of an average trip.
Also, the laid back informality of attending a Spring Training game just can't be beat!
With all the ballparks 10,000 seats or less, you're bound to have a close up seat no
matter where you are. There are plenty of opportunities to catch your favorite star along
the foul lines for an autograph, and there are also plenty of chances to get photos of the
players.
Most of the parks are operated and staffed by local service clubs, such as the Ho Ho
Kams in Mesa and the Sundowners in Surprise. For these groups, March gives them
the opportunity to welcome visitors to their part of the world, so you know you're going to
be treated well.
So here is a stab at ranking all nine venues in the Cactus League. For the most part,
there is no rhyme or reason for these rankings, just a whimsical look. And overall, there
is no BAD venue in the Cactus League. Hey, it's baseball, it's 80 degrees and sunny,
the smell of hot dogs, the crack of the bat, singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame. What
could possibly be wrong with this picture?!
Major League Baseball teams share nine different venues in the Tucson and Greater
Phoenix areas, and this is great for the sports traveler, for all the ballparks in the
Cactus League are in close proximity to one another. A visitor can conceivably visit all
nine parks in the span of an average trip.
Also, the laid back informality of attending a Spring Training game just can't be beat!
With all the ballparks 10,000 seats or less, you're bound to have a close up seat no
matter where you are. There are plenty of opportunities to catch your favorite star along
the foul lines for an autograph, and there are also plenty of chances to get photos of the
players.
Most of the parks are operated and staffed by local service clubs, such as the Ho Ho
Kams in Mesa and the Sundowners in Surprise. For these groups, March gives them
the opportunity to welcome visitors to their part of the world, so you know you're going to
be treated well.
So here is a stab at ranking all nine venues in the Cactus League. For the most part,
there is no rhyme or reason for these rankings, just a whimsical look. And overall, there
is no BAD venue in the Cactus League. Hey, it's baseball, it's 80 degrees and sunny,
the smell of hot dogs, the crack of the bat, singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame. What
could possibly be wrong with this picture?!
#1 SURPRISE STADIUM
Surprise indeed! This venue opened in 2003 and shoots to the top the list. Small and
intimate, yet has all the feel and ambience of a MLB venue. This ballpark is the
signature venue for a complex with seven separate ball fields, and two teams train
here, so chances are there will be a game here every day in March. But try to to catch a
Royals game and maybe, just maybe, you'll see country music star Garth Brooks in the
lineup!
#2 PEORIA STADIUM
Why does Peoria Stadium get a high ranking? No not Ichiro, or the decidedly HOK
architect look to the place. It's the food baby! Randy Jones BBQ, Lousiana Sausages,
Philly cheese steaks and Shish Kebabs all make up for the lack of San Diego's
signature fish tacos. Stadium is set in the middle of a bustling suburban shopping
area, with plenty of malls and chain eateries nearby.
#3 HO HO KAM PARK
Drive over to Mesa and Ho Ho Kam Park, and our best advice is... arrange for tickets in
advance, and leave early for the game. Long lines start forming on the streets outside
the venue two hours before first pitch, and the Chicago Cubs pride themselves on
contending for the attendance crown here year in and year out. In a tribute to the great
seventh inning stretch tradition at Wrigley, the folks here know how to do it up as well!
#4 SCOTTSDALE STADIUM
Nice ballpark with hints of Spanish architecture, and even some suites and club
seating here. Lots of star power with Barry Bonds and the Giants, and the venue is
steps away from Old Scottsdale, a very cool shopping and restaurant district with lots to
do and see.
#5 MARYVALE BASEBALL PARK
Not too sharp, not too snazzy, minimal in terms of foods selection and amenities....in
other words, just like a spring training park should be. So relax and kick back and enjoy
the sun while America's pastime plays out in front of you.
#6 PHOENIX MUNICIPAL STADIUM
An historic, old school spring training facility that goes back decades. Walk along the
concourse and read all the inground plaques that explain the storied history of spring
training and Cactus League baseball.
#7 HI CORBETT FIELD
The oldest operating ballpark anywhere in spring training, this was the longtime home
of the Cleveland Indians before the Tribe moved to Florida and the Rockies took their
place. The spring training scenes from that great movie "Major League" were filmed
here, and longtime baseball types from these parts will regale you with a million
stories of the antics of local icon "Tucson Lenny". Somewhere Willie Mays Hayes and
Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn are smiling.
#8 TEMPE DIABLO STADIUM
Yes Anaheim celebrates their history with their 2002 World Championship banner
hanging on the building, and a bust of legendary owner Gene Autry graces the entrance
lobby at the first base side. A spectacular rock formation beyond the left field wall gives
this venue a decidedly Arizona feel.
#9 TUCSON ELECTRIC PARK
Shared by the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox, this is also the
regular season home of the PCL Tucson Sidewinders, and for a triple-A venue, this
place is pretty ordinary. Misting cones above the lattice canopy help to cool fans in the
hot summers, and the white capped mountains off in the distance make for a nice view.
Surprise indeed! This venue opened in 2003 and shoots to the top the list. Small and
intimate, yet has all the feel and ambience of a MLB venue. This ballpark is the
signature venue for a complex with seven separate ball fields, and two teams train
here, so chances are there will be a game here every day in March. But try to to catch a
Royals game and maybe, just maybe, you'll see country music star Garth Brooks in the
lineup!
#2 PEORIA STADIUM
Why does Peoria Stadium get a high ranking? No not Ichiro, or the decidedly HOK
architect look to the place. It's the food baby! Randy Jones BBQ, Lousiana Sausages,
Philly cheese steaks and Shish Kebabs all make up for the lack of San Diego's
signature fish tacos. Stadium is set in the middle of a bustling suburban shopping
area, with plenty of malls and chain eateries nearby.
#3 HO HO KAM PARK
Drive over to Mesa and Ho Ho Kam Park, and our best advice is... arrange for tickets in
advance, and leave early for the game. Long lines start forming on the streets outside
the venue two hours before first pitch, and the Chicago Cubs pride themselves on
contending for the attendance crown here year in and year out. In a tribute to the great
seventh inning stretch tradition at Wrigley, the folks here know how to do it up as well!
#4 SCOTTSDALE STADIUM
Nice ballpark with hints of Spanish architecture, and even some suites and club
seating here. Lots of star power with Barry Bonds and the Giants, and the venue is
steps away from Old Scottsdale, a very cool shopping and restaurant district with lots to
do and see.
#5 MARYVALE BASEBALL PARK
Not too sharp, not too snazzy, minimal in terms of foods selection and amenities....in
other words, just like a spring training park should be. So relax and kick back and enjoy
the sun while America's pastime plays out in front of you.
#6 PHOENIX MUNICIPAL STADIUM
An historic, old school spring training facility that goes back decades. Walk along the
concourse and read all the inground plaques that explain the storied history of spring
training and Cactus League baseball.
#7 HI CORBETT FIELD
The oldest operating ballpark anywhere in spring training, this was the longtime home
of the Cleveland Indians before the Tribe moved to Florida and the Rockies took their
place. The spring training scenes from that great movie "Major League" were filmed
here, and longtime baseball types from these parts will regale you with a million
stories of the antics of local icon "Tucson Lenny". Somewhere Willie Mays Hayes and
Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn are smiling.
#8 TEMPE DIABLO STADIUM
Yes Anaheim celebrates their history with their 2002 World Championship banner
hanging on the building, and a bust of legendary owner Gene Autry graces the entrance
lobby at the first base side. A spectacular rock formation beyond the left field wall gives
this venue a decidedly Arizona feel.
#9 TUCSON ELECTRIC PARK
Shared by the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox, this is also the
regular season home of the PCL Tucson Sidewinders, and for a triple-A venue, this
place is pretty ordinary. Misting cones above the lattice canopy help to cool fans in the
hot summers, and the white capped mountains off in the distance make for a nice view.
LOCATOR GUIDE
1 - Surprise Stadium
2 - Peoria Stadium
3 - Maryvale Baseball
Park
4 - Scottsdale Stadium
5 - Phoenix Municipal
Stadium
6 - Tempe Diablo
Stadium
7 - Ho Ho Kam Park
8 - Tuscon Electric Park
9 - Hi Corbett Field
1 - Surprise Stadium
2 - Peoria Stadium
3 - Maryvale Baseball
Park
4 - Scottsdale Stadium
5 - Phoenix Municipal
Stadium
6 - Tempe Diablo
Stadium
7 - Ho Ho Kam Park
8 - Tuscon Electric Park
9 - Hi Corbett Field
#2
Peoria
Stadium
Peoria
Stadium
#1
Surprise
Stadium
Surprise
Stadium
#3
Ho Ho Kam
Park
Ho Ho Kam
Park
#4
Scottsdale
Stadium
Scottsdale
Stadium
#5
Maryvale
Baseball
Park
Maryvale
Baseball
Park
#6
Phoenix
Municipal
Stadium
Phoenix
Municipal
Stadium
#7
Hi Corbett
Field
Hi Corbett
Field
#8
Tempe
Diablo
Stadium
Tempe
Diablo
Stadium
#9
Tucson
Electric
Park
Tucson
Electric
Park
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