Taking On Spring Training: A Guide to Arizona's Baseball Extravaganza

Angeleah Parey

Jul 20, 2023

3 min read

Updated: Aug 17, 2023

If you're a Phoenix, Arizona local, I envy you during the months of February and March. Spring Training is one of my favorite parts about being a baseball fan which is why I've made it a tradition to visit almost every year. I describe it as watching major league baseball in a minor league setting. Fans are able to see players at practice and games in a much more intimate setting than during the regular season. Keep reading for a guide to all things Cactus League Spring Training!

View from behind home plate at Goodyear Ballpark — Goodyear Ballpark

There are ballgames nearly every day during spring training. This gives fans the opportunity to see their team often and also visit multiple different ballparks! My hometown team is the Cleveland Guardians and they play at Goodyear Ballpark. Most mornings before the game, we go watch batting practice at the teams practice facility which is right down the road from the field. That's the case with all teams in Arizona. I love this part of the day because fans have the opportunity to catch home run balls that fly over the fence, have a super close view of practice and occasionally get photos and autographs with players! **That last part did change a bit since 2020 so it depends on the teams' protocols.

This is also a great time to meet fellow fans of your team and make some new friends! I've been able to meet a ton of Guardians fans while watching practice and games in Arizona. We bond over our love of Cleveland and the team and often see each other when we're back in Ohio! I've made some really good friends over the years.

A map of all Arizona Spring Training ballparks.

Most games are in the early afternoon so the sun is out and it's hot. Make sure to put on sunscreen and drink lots of water! Many, if not all, of the ballparks have been providing sunscreen stations over the past few years. And if you get to the game early, you can stand on the baseline for another chance at photos and autographs with players as the team arrives.

At many of the ballparks, there are some of the same popular food items from back in that teams home city. At Goodyear, they serve Bertman Ball Park Mustard for hot dogs, a Cleveland favorite, and a Skyline Chili Dog for the Cincinnati fans! I love that small personal touch to pay homage to the respective home town.

Tips for booking your Spring Training trip:

If you're flying, I've had the best luck booking flights between October & December.
Stay in an AirBnB! This is my preference because of having more flexibility in our stay and being able to cook meals, do laundry, and have more room to relax as opposed to a hotel room.
Pack some baseball cards and other small memorabilia to try to get autographed!

If you're at Spring Training when there's a night game on the schedule, I definitely recommend attending! They are usually towards the end of the season since the days get so hot but they're a fun, different vibe and sometimes end with fireworks. It's a great way to end a day.

I could go on and on about my love for this time of year. If you're a baseball fan, I hope you can experience Spring Training one day if you haven't already. Those mountain views are hard to beat and even if you don't attend games every day of your trip, there's a ton more to do! Check out a list of my favorite activities below.

Things to do other than attend baseball games:

Visit Old Town Scottsdale
Hiking - Camelback Mountain - White Tank Waterfall Trail - Estrella Mountain Regional Park
Casinos
Go to In-N-Out Burger
Activities like Topgolf, Escape Rooms, Shopping
Airbnb experiences - Sunset yoga - Hot air balloon ride - Wine tasting and more!