Spring Training Baseball Games

“Spring training means flowers, people coming out doors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again” – Ernie Banks.

Sunny Days at Sloan Park

Come every February and March in the Valley, Spring Training season takes over. With baseball fans from all over the country coming into Arizona to relax in the 70-degree weather and enjoy a pre-season baseball game, it is a perfect time to get together with your friends and family. I always look forward to meeting up with my parents, getting together with my sorority sisters, or having a Saturday date with my boyfriend to soak up the sun, eat hot dogs, and watch the America’s favorite pastime in the spring!

Teams

There are 15 different teams that come together for the Cactus League Spring Training group (1). They include:

• Arizona Diamondbacks

• Colorado Rockies

• Oakland A’s

• Chicago Cubs

• Kansas City Royals

• San Diego Padres

• Chicago White Sox

• Los Angeles Angels

• San Francisco Giants

• Cincinnati Reds

• Los Angeles Dodgers

• Seattle Mariners

• Cleveland Indians

• Milwaukee Brewers

• Texas Rangers

• (1)

These 15 teams play all throughout the greater Phoenix area, with a widespread variety of stadiums. The closest stadiums to ASU Tempe Campus are:

• Tempe Diablo Stadium – home of the Los Angeles Angels, nine-minute drive from campus

• Sloan Park – home of the Chicago Cubs, six-minute drive from campus

• Hohokam Stadium – home of the Oakland A’s, 12-minute drive from campus

• Scottsdale Stadium – home of the San Francisco Giants, 15-minute drive from campus

• Salt River Fields – home of the Arizona Diamondbacks & Colorado Rockies, 17-minute drive from campus

• (2) (Google Maps)

To see the full stadium map, click here.

My dad and I at Diablo Stadium

Parking

If you decide to drive yourself, parking can be tricky at some of these stadiums. When I went to Diablo Stadium, we found street parking and did not have to pay. When I visited Sloan Park, instead of driving around for a parking spot, I adopted to pay $10 to park at the hotel directly next door for the convenience. In general, Sloan Park has parking that opens four hours before the game on a first come, first serve basis (4). Reserved parking is $10 and general parking is $5 per vehicle (4). For Hohokam Stadium, there is $5 parking on the soccer fields next to the ballpark (4). Parking at Scottsdale Stadium can be tricky. Since it is in Old Town, there is free parking throughout the downtown area, but some of these have a 3-hour time limit (4). The lots adjacent to the park can fill up fast, but there are several public parking structures nearby as well (4). To park at Diablo Stadium is $5 per vehicle or you have the option to park at City Hall Garage or Hayden Square Garage and get your ticket validated with a valid baseball game ticket (4). Salt River Fields has no shortage in parking and charges $5 per vehicle as well (4).

Tickets

Ticket prices vary per stadium, per day, and per game. They can range from an $8 lawn seat on a weekday to an $80 or more prime seat on a weekend (3). Tickets can be purchased online via the individual team’s sites or through third-party sellers (3). Be sure to plan accordingly if you want to attend a weekend game because they tend to sell out for the Cubs, Giants, and Diamondbacks (3). To access tickets, click here and then select Teams and Tickets. For the 2020 Spring Training schedule, click here.

Delta Gamma's take on Spring Training at Sloan Park

I love spring training. I love the atmosphere; how excited people are and how many folks come together for the love of the sport. I have fond memories of attending an Angel’s game with my dad, a Cubs game with my sorority, and a Giants game with my boyfriend. Every year I look forward to dawning my baseball cap, laying a blanket on the lawn and enjoying a hot dog that’s taste can only be savored so memorably at a ballpark. America’s favorite pastime is one of mine as well.

“It’s the fans that need spring training. You gotta get them interested. Wake them up and let them know that their season is coming, the good times are gonna roll” – Harry Caray.