Looking to bring two young teenagers for our first Cactus League experience. Any good hotels better than others if primary focus is Spring Training Games at multiple stadiums?

Used to love Pink Pony (the classic) and Don and Charlie's, any reasonable replacements for baseball heavy decor/atmosphere these days?

Taking the family to Spring Training, seeing one game in Surprise but the other day is up for grabs. Based on where we are staying, we could go to Goodyear or Peoria. Any opinions on those two complexes? Which one has a better stadium experience? Any foods that we have to try? Either one more friendly for young kids, like a play area? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Just finished up short few day trip of spring training. It was amazing and worth every cent. I highly recommend going to the practices in the morning especially in Goodyear for some autographs. I came out with 12 autographs in total including Bellinger and Betts. I’m a dodgers fan and I received field pass at camelback ranch which was perfect! Got to meet players get autographs and pictures all with a limited amount of people. This experience was incredible and something I’ll never forget plz go out there and gain one for yourself.

Hi everyone I’m going to spring training for the first time in a couple weeks. I’m going to games at Goodyear (Indians& Reds), American family fields (Brewers) , and hohokam park (A’s). Any tips on how to get autographs would really like to get some and meet players if possible. Thanks for any tips and help

I really want to go but wasn’t sure if they will be working out. Does anybody know? I’m mostly interested in seeing the Rockies in Scottsdale

Meeting some old college buddies in Scottsdale to catch up and watch some baseball. Any suggestions on specific stadiums or purchasing tickets in advance? Thanks in advance.

First post in a year plus!

My friend (29) and I (34) will be roaming the Cactus league Sun-Tues. Come join us for some drinks and baseball. Go A's !

My brother (25) and I (29) will be watching the Indians play over the weekend. Tribe fans since birth. PM if you want to meet up!

JM

TICKETS HAVE BEEN SOLD

^^I ^^originally ^^posted ^^this ^^during ^^the ^^/r/angelsbaseball ^^takeover ^^in ^^2015

#Introduction and Stadium Info

You may or may not have heard but Spring Training is rapidly approaching. As an Arizona resident and baseball fan, it is my favorite time of the year. Half of the baseball world is contained in the 45 mile stretch between Hohokam Stadium in Mesa and Surprise Stadium in The Most Inconveniently Located And Accessible Town Ever. Half of the Cactus League's 10 parks are within 15 minutes of each other. Of course, I don't have enough time or space to write up each ballpark here so I will focus on providing you all the information I know about my Angels' complex, Tempe Diablo Stadium.

A Brief History

The stadium is situated on the south side of Twin Butte and first saw Spring Training action in 1969 when it was home to the Seattle Pilots/Milwaukee Brewers for four seasons. In 1993, after 31 seasons in Palm Springs, the California Angels packed up and moved into Tempe Diablo Stadium. In the mid-2000's, the stadium underwent a wide $20M renovation and it was rededicated in 2006. The renovation was included in a new lease that will keep the Angels in Tempe through 2025.

Practice Field and Stadium

One of the main beauties of Spring Training - the ability to be up-close with the minor leaguers - is certainly seen in the backfields by Tempe Diablo Stadium. Like most Cactus League ballparks - the exceptions being Scottsdale Stadium (Giants) and Goodyear Ballpark (Reds/Indians) - the Angels minor league complex is also directly on-site. The 75 acre complex includes six full practice fields as well as a practice infield. During workouts in the weeks before Spring Training and into the exhibition season, the major leaguers will practice on the two fields closest to the stadium while the minor leaguers stay around the four adjacent fields and the minor league games are usually held on the north-east practice field of the four adjacent ones. As for the stadium itself, the dimensions of the park are: 340LF - 420CF - 360RF. The Angels list the capacity to be 9,315 but I have commonly seen posted attendance numbers over that.

TL;DR: Four fields with MiLB players, two with MLB players, and an old but very functional ballpark with a lot of nostalgic Spring Training charm.

#Game Day Info

Tickets

The Angels use dynamic pricing to sell their tickets, so the prices will vary with demand. There are five regular ticket sections: Home Plate MVP, Field MVP, Field Box, Grandstand, and Lawn (G/A). The base prices for these sections with the dynamic pricing model - so assume regular demand - are $50, $40, $25, $20, $15. There are also All-You-Can-Eat Seats that run about $50. As for my advice, I would bullet point it as this:

• Demand increases as the month goes on: if you don't mind ticket scalpers outside the stadium or secondary markets, prices will usually be much cheaper through them than at the box office for weekday games or games early in the month. If it's a weekend game or a popular opponent (Giants, Dodgers, Cubs), you're probably better off buying in advance from the team.

• Don't buy seats in the Grandstand section: the seats are pretty far out and don't have a great sight-line. You're better off buying a lawn seat for less and sitting where you want which leads into my next point.

• Don't buy All-You-Can-Eat Seats: $50 will buy you a ticket and a good meal after the game at a real restaurant.

• If the possibility of not having an actual seat doesn't bother you, buy a lawn ticket: just buy something to get you into the door. The ushers are carefree and if you don't cause issues, they don't check tickets so scout for an open seat for a few innings and if no one comes, enjoy the game from there. This is usually a very solid bet for a weekday game.

• Check StubHub: if you're planning on buying your tickets on game day through a scalper or at the gate, check StubHub the night before or the day of - sometimes people will be dumping a ticket at a low cost.

Seats

I'll be referencing this seat map for this section. Here are a few things that should help you find where you want to sit:

• All seats have cupholders.
• Sections 5-17 have stadium seats.
• Sections 1-4 and 18-24 have bleachers.
• Lawn/berm: Extends from mid-way down the LF line to the hitters’ backdrop in left-center field. Of note, the visiting bullpen can be observed/heckled against the LF railing.
• There is standing room available on the concourse and it can sometimes clog if it's hot out.
• The home dugout is on the first base side.
• The best backdrop view is on the first base side.
• Mediocre park for shade: the last third rows from sections 10-22 (first base side) are in the shade for most or all of the game.

Autographs

This is definitely the best park in the Cactus League for getting autographs. It's easiest if I post this diagram and then explain. The Angels players take BP on the practice field closest to the stadium and walk back along a pathway that is lined by a fence only about three feet (as seen in orange) in height and the majority of players will stop to sign for fans gathered there. Inside the stadium, the players will sometimes sign after their warm-ups along the LF and RF lines. If you are there when the visiting bus arrives, you can camp along this four foot wall (red circle) by the east parking lot where you can try your luck.

Food

Outside food isn't allowed in the stadium but water is. I feel like I've brought in my own food before and nothing was said, but do it at your own risk. This isn't the greatest ballpark for food options either - that would be Salt River Fields - however there are a few decent options. Aside from your standard hot dogs/nachos/peanuts/pretzels fare - hey, that may be all you want - there some food tents out by the berm in left field. There you can get street tacos, barbecued beef/chicken/pork, and hamburgers. There is also a covered pavilion at the end of concourse on the right field side with a grill and picnic tables. And, yes, like every other Cactus League park, there are some Angelo's Italian Ice stands. I'd say just eat something before you go and maybe get a sorbet from the Angelo's stand around the 6th inning. That always hits the spot.

Parking

The soon-to-be formerly best kept secret about Tempe Diablo Stadium is the free street parking. You can pay $5 to park in one of the lots next to the stadium or if you arrive I'd say about an hour before game-time, you can pretty easily find free street parking just to the south of the stadium. I would suggest to try and not arrive at game-time anyway because the area around the stadium can get a little congested and parking is limited. Definitely arrive early if it's a weekend game or premier matchup. There is also a trolley that runs for free from Mill Ave to Tempe Diablo Stadium and Cubs Park.

Other Notes

• The video board meets the minimum requirements for it to still be legally called a video board.
• The Angels bullpen is out of the sight of fans and behind the RF wall.
• Gates open at 11:30am for a 1:05pm game.

TL;DR: Arrive moderately early to avoid traffic (it's like still being in LA/OC), eat before you go, and bum a seat on the first base side with a lawn ticket.

#Around the Park

Things to Do

The ballpark has a great location. Though it's not located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale like Scottsdale Stadium, there is still a lot to do around the park. There are three malls within seven miles of the stadium and the famous Mill Avenue District. It is very closely located to the airport and the Phoenix Zoo is also close by. There is a casino on the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community within 15 minutes. Old Town Scottsdale and Scottsdale Fashion Square (where ESPN broadcasted their recent Super Bowl coverage from) is also about a 15 minute drive. If you wish to channel your inner April Ludgate, there is also a historic cemetery on the north-west side of the butte that the stadium is built on.

Places to Eat

There are also several great restaurants around the stadium. I would simply recommend this guide, the best I've seen, if you're planning on visiting Arizona at all for Spring Training. As for specifically Tempe Diablo, most anywhere listed under the "Scottsdale/Old Town," "Tempe," or "Mesa" headings would be within 15 minutes of the stadium. I would also add Little Miss BBQ to that list if I were writing it.

I hope this guide has been helpful and informative and if you have any questions about this park that I somehow didn't address, let me know! I'm also happy to answer questions anytime in regards to Spring Training in Arizona so feel free to tag me or send a PM.

• Camelback Ranch Glendale (Dodgers/White Sox)
• Goodyear Ballpark (Indians/Reds)
• Hohokam Stadium (Athletics)
• Maryvale Stadium (Brewers)
• Peoria Sports Complex (Mariners/Padres)
• Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (Diamondbacks/Rockies)
• Scottsdale Stadium (Giants)
• Sloan Park (Cubs)
• Surprise Stadium (Rangers/Royals)
• Tempe Diablo Stadium (Angels)