Where are you going? Particular teams or stadiums you're planning to see?Some buddies and I are going to Phoenix in March for some spring training games. Anybody been? Tips? Places to see? Places to stay? Places to avoid?Thanks.
I'm in the financial services industry, so I'm taking this year off and storing my acorns in case it's a long winter.I'll double the sentiment about the area around ASU. It's a college town, so there's plenty to do around campus. There's a great little Irish Pub around there (Rula Bula) that I highly recommend if you're into that kinda thing.My favorite stadium was the Giants stadium in Scottsdale (edit: on further review, Surprise was better), but parking is hard to come by. If you get there early enough there's a free muni parking lot, but otherwise you're parking in the church parking lot for a $5 donation. Surprise is awesome, and parking was free as far back as I remember. Really nice place.The Rockies stadium (Corbett in Tucson) is HORRIFIC. Wouldn't go back there with free tickets. Even a hot dog and a beer couldn't make me forget how bad it was.Getting into/out of parking at the A's stadium is a nightmare. Cubs parking is also pretty poor. You're parking on a grassy field, and it's pure chaos to get out of there if you try to leave right away. Makes it one of the VERY best places to tailgate after the game though. Good people just hanging out having a few cold ones.Really, any park except Hi Corbett is going to be a fun time.My friends and I go every year. We stay at a friend's place so I can't speak to lodging arrangements. The area around ASU is good for post game activities - the scenery can be pretty nice, some good bars.Surprise is the nicest stadium but the most difficult to get to.Peioria and Tempe Diablo are o.k. and easy to get to.The A's stadium sucks (Pheonix Municipal).
Thanks for the updatesNew stadium for Dodgers and White Sox - Camelback Ranch Stadium at Camelback Rd and 107th.....but seats (compared to other stadiums for spring training) are expensive AND they charge for parking.New stadium in Goodyear (just south of 10 off Estrella Parkway) for the Cleveland IndiansBest value is still Surprise (Rangers and Royals) with free parking
Sunscreen. No kidding. I have a ranch in West Texas, so I know alot about sunscreen. The guys I am traveling with all have been to spring training before in Florida, so hopefully they learned their lesson.I got the basketball tickets through the ASU ticket office. The only way they sold them was for both games on Thursday and the final on Saturday, all or nothing. I paid face value for the tickets, but have sold a couple of extra Thursday tickets and basically covered my cost. I'll take my chances on stubhub. If it gets down to crunch time, I'll dump them.Season ticket holder for the new Goodyear Stadium where the Tribe (and Reds in 2010) will be playing. Beautiful park. 16 feet below ground level. Smaller grass area than other Cactus stadiums if you're wanting to sit in the outfield, but the Stadium is top notch. Free parking. Haven't seen the Dodgers/White Sox stadium but I hear it's nice. Can't wait to check it out. Surprise stadium and the Peoria stadium (Padres & Mariners) are very good. Biggest mistake out-of-towners make is forgetting to apply some sunscreen... NCAA Regionals will be fun. Hopefully you didn't pay face for those Saturday tickets, the Thursday losers will dump their tickets for next to nothing most of the time.
i am writing this from inside the Xona right nowit is basically a golf resort.
Starting hiding young boys.i am writing this from inside the Xona right nowit is basically a golf resort.
they have re-done the lobby and bar area, it is top notch.
they have 3 pool areas that are all nice.
the room that i am in:
walk into the dinning room, with the kitchen and living room further in straight away.
on the right and lefts sides of both the dinning room and living rooms are bedrooms with a full bathroom and 2 double beds. washer/ dryer and full kitchen are standard in this. we usually buy cereal and stuff for the mornings because breakfast at the resort is expensive.
i have been staying here for the last 5-6 years and love it.
there is contruction on Scottsdale Road which can be a little annoying but its right next to the 101 freeway and close to some cool places for nightlife.
Barcelona and Devil's Martini are a 5-8 minute drive down Scottsdale. Devil's Martini has buy 1 get 1 drink specials all thursday and is a cougar hunting ground.
hope this helps
$200 -- R/T airfare from Houston$300 -- six nites hotel, shared room$175 -- game tickets (7X25)$300 -- meals$300 -- beer, cigars, hooch$175 -- basketball tickets$ 50 -- rental car$1,500 ought to do it. Of course you can cut that in half if you only stay three nights.What does the average Spring Training trip end up costing? I've never been, but it's something I feel that I should experience while I'm relatively young.
Wow, didn't realize it held that many. Going there 2morrow for the Cubs/Sox and excited to see it.If you ever get a chance to go to the Camelback Ranch facility, I'd strongly advise doing so. What a great park for Spring Training baseball. There are a total of 17 baseball fields.......they are evenly divided up among the White Sox/Dodgers with the odd field being the MAIN ball field they share together. One of the fields for the Dodgers is a replica Dodger Stadium - minus the OF stands. There's also a replica US Cellular Field for the White Sox. These 2 parks are divided by a good sized man-made lake. These fields are for both the major leaguers/minor leaguers. They have many, many hitting cages. Many pitching mounds..........ponds everywhere that run thru the entire complex.I don't know what the $$$ ramifications are for the Phoenix, Glendale taxpayers..........but they'll get their $$$ back with all the tourists that will be going to Camelback Ranch. Lemme put it this way...........yesterday we went to the Dodgers/Cubs at Camelback. There are 13,000 available seating. They SOLD 17,400 with standing room only. That's alot of folks for a ST game.Today we head back to CBR for the Chisox/Angels game.
In Peoria, virtually across 83rd Ave from the Sports Complex is a local mexican restaurant named Abuelo'sExcellent food, average margaritas but a great concoction called a Sangria Swirl - think slushy sangria/margaritaIt's getting near that time again.I'm heading down in March and will likely hit every park except Hi Corbett.Any tips on good Southwest/Mexican/SpicyFood restaurants near the parks?
One of the best baseball trips I have ever been on, and that is saying something. The weather was fantastic, couldn't ask for better.Camelback (Dodgers and WSox) was pretty cool. I have a picture of Manny's first homer in a Dodger uniform. Definitely not a ST feel at all to the park.Diablo (Angels) was very cool. Great setting. Access to the Angels players was phenomenal before the game. Got lots of autographs and photos.Scottsdale (Giants) was a bit disappointing. Parking sucks, nowhere to tailgate, and you can't leave and reenter. Concessions were ridiculous. Buncha pretentious old people there. Won't go back.Maryvale (Brewers) was a very cool place to catch a game. Pregame BP was a blast. The Brewers players were hitting BOMBS. I think I ended up with a dozen balls. I started throwing them back. I spent half the game sitting under a tree in right field. Beautiful day, nice people. Surprise (Rangers and Royals) Wind was blowing out. 15 homers in the game. Unreal. Nice people. Accessible players.Peoria (Padres and Mariners) Nice facility. Well laid out. Will go back.It's getting near that time again.I'm heading down in March and will likely hit every park except Hi Corbett.Any tips on good Southwest/Mexican/SpicyFood restaurants near the parks?
There are lots of chain hotels in the Glendale area. We stayed in North Scottsdale, which was very nice. Not the greatest location in proximity to where you are going, but we were all over Phoenix that week. It's really not bad getting around town if you stay away from downtown.Going to Goodyear to see the Reds (and probably 1 Indians game since they're there). Is Glendale the right place to book a hotel?
As Polecat suggested, it really depends on whether that is your only baseball destination......if you do book in Goodyear, make sure the place is relatively close to the stadium.....Goodyear like many AZ communities is spread out all over the place.One alternative would be Avondale or Tolleson (basically the area right off the 10 freeway on the North side between Goodyear Stadium and the W 101 Loop North which would take you past Camelback, the Cardinals Stadium to then to Peoria (Mariners/Padres) and to Scottsdale)Hotel questions are often based more on who you are with (wifey/family is different than being alone or with guy(s)......or price....or "extras" you want.....if you spell it out here or via PM, I can get you better answers.Going to Goodyear to see the Reds (and probably 1 Indians game since they're there). Is Glendale the right place to book a hotel?
Hadn't heard that about Tucson. I'll have to check our schedule and see if we're checking out a game there in March. I know we're hitting Maryvale, Surprise, Mesa and Scottsdale.prosopis said:Got my opening day ticket for the Dbacks today. This will be a bitter/sweet ST. This is the last year for Tucson to have Spring Training. I am mad enough about it that I doubt I will ever drive up north for spring training. Probably my last spring training *Having said that, I look at all the teams that play up north and that would be a fun trip. Other folks fly/drive in from around the country and I am less then 2 hrs away. I guess what I am saying is I may cave on my protest.
Statorama - let me know when you will be in Maryvale or Surprise for games - I live just over a mile from Surprise Stadium/complexes and am there most days, but will be working at Maryvale for most Brewer home games.Hadn't heard that about Tucson. I'll have to check our schedule and see if we're checking out a game there in March. I know we're hitting Maryvale, Surprise, Mesa and Scottsdale.prosopis said:Got my opening day ticket for the Dbacks today. This will be a bitter/sweet ST. This is the last year for Tucson to have Spring Training. I am mad enough about it that I doubt I will ever drive up north for spring training. Probably my last spring training *Having said that, I look at all the teams that play up north and that would be a fun trip. Other folks fly/drive in from around the country and I am less then 2 hrs away. I guess what I am saying is I may cave on my protest.
Just checked our schedule...we're hitting all kinds of places (what the hell is Camelback Ranch?) but no Tucson. We're hitting Maryvale on March 15th and 21st, and Surprise on the 17th. I'll PM my cell.Statorama - let me know when you will be in Maryvale or Surprise for games - I live just over a mile from Surprise Stadium/complexes and am there most days, but will be working at Maryvale for most Brewer home games.Hadn't heard that about Tucson. I'll have to check our schedule and see if we're checking out a game there in March. I know we're hitting Maryvale, Surprise, Mesa and Scottsdale.Got my opening day ticket for the Dbacks today. This will be a bitter/sweet ST. This is the last year for Tucson to have Spring Training. I am mad enough about it that I doubt I will ever drive up north for spring training. Probably my last spring training *Having said that, I look at all the teams that play up north and that would be a fun trip. Other folks fly/drive in from around the country and I am less then 2 hrs away. I guess what I am saying is I may cave on my protest.
Are you a Dbacks fan? I come up for 8-10 games a year.Statorama - let me know when you will be in Maryvale or Surprise for games - I live just over a mile from Surprise Stadium/complexes and am there most days, but will be working at Maryvale for most Brewer home games.Hadn't heard that about Tucson. I'll have to check our schedule and see if we're checking out a game there in March. I know we're hitting Maryvale, Surprise, Mesa and Scottsdale.Got my opening day ticket for the Dbacks today. This will be a bitter/sweet ST. This is the last year for Tucson to have Spring Training. I am mad enough about it that I doubt I will ever drive up north for spring training. Probably my last spring training *Having said that, I look at all the teams that play up north and that would be a fun trip. Other folks fly/drive in from around the country and I am less then 2 hrs away. I guess what I am saying is I may cave on my protest.
A Diamondback fan in the respect that they are the only local ML team........I see about 150 pro games a year in person......only 6-10 of those at Chase field. The AFL is the best deal going for serious baseball fans and I see one or two games every day for that six weeks.prosopis said:Are you a Dbacks fan? I come up for 8-10 games a year.Statorama - let me know when you will be in Maryvale or Surprise for games - I live just over a mile from Surprise Stadium/complexes and am there most days, but will be working at Maryvale for most Brewer home games.Hadn't heard that about Tucson. I'll have to check our schedule and see if we're checking out a game there in March. I know we're hitting Maryvale, Surprise, Mesa and Scottsdale.Got my opening day ticket for the Dbacks today. This will be a bitter/sweet ST. This is the last year for Tucson to have Spring Training. I am mad enough about it that I doubt I will ever drive up north for spring training. Probably my last spring training *Having said that, I look at all the teams that play up north and that would be a fun trip. Other folks fly/drive in from around the country and I am less then 2 hrs away. I guess what I am saying is I may cave on my protest.
WOW Jealous. AFL=Arizona Fall League? I have never driven up for that but if we had that down here I would certainly take advantage of it. There is some talk of Tucson getting a Japanese team here. I did not go to any Toros games last year but the folks who did said they were good. I may check that out this year.A Diamondback fan in the respect that they are the only local ML team........I see about 150 pro games a year in person......only 6-10 of those at Chase field. The AFL is the best deal going for serious baseball fans and I see one or two games every day for that six weeks.prosopis said:Are you a Dbacks fan? I come up for 8-10 games a year.Statorama - let me know when you will be in Maryvale or Surprise for games - I live just over a mile from Surprise Stadium/complexes and am there most days, but will be working at Maryvale for most Brewer home games.Hadn't heard that about Tucson. I'll have to check our schedule and see if we're checking out a game there in March. I know we're hitting Maryvale, Surprise, Mesa and Scottsdale.Got my opening day ticket for the Dbacks today. This will be a bitter/sweet ST. This is the last year for Tucson to have Spring Training. I am mad enough about it that I doubt I will ever drive up north for spring training. Probably my last spring training
*Having said that, I look at all the teams that play up north and that would be a fun trip. Other folks fly/drive in from around the country and I am less then 2 hrs away. I guess what I am saying is I may cave on my protest.