2014 SPRING TRAINING PREVIEW (PART II)
With 22 days before pitchers and catcher report to spring training I was able to visit three more stadiums making the total 6 of 10 MLB spring training complexes completed. The weather in Arizona is in the mid to high 70's and some days even in the 80's I can taste the start of the baseball season. I have had the chance to preview three stadiums in the last few weeks of the San Francisco Giants, Arizona D-Backs & Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs. Hope you enjoy.
Giants
Scottsdale Stadium
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/stadium
Located at 7408 E Osborn RD, Scottsdale, AZ 85251. With the stadium in the heart of downtown Scottsdale it is by far one the most unfriendly complexes. There is no parking lot except of player only. Fans have to use the city parking garages or street parking. Second, the practice complex is about 7 blocks away and there parking is very limited as the parking lot is shared with a fitness center. I was not able to get into the stadium as city workers where power washing the seats and maintenance to the facilities. However, I was able to get on the practice fields. There are four fields, but you can't see all four at once. They are beside each other a run about four city blocks long. As I arrived there was some players leaving, but I did not recognize any of them. The only way I knew they were players is because when I as for permission to walk into the complex I saw them signing for their food money. When I walked into the complex there was still some players on the field taking ground ball infield drills. Again, I did not recognize any of the players. If you don't want to spend most of your day finding a parking space and walking blocks to either the stadium or practice filed arrive early. Oh, I more thing to add to the list of unfriendly aspects is there is no discounts of any kind and there is no prices set for game tickets. I was told by the box office that one day is could be $8 for lawn seat and the next day it could be $30 for the same lawn seat. With this stadium being the farthest away and most unfriendly (in my opinion) I will wait until the team visit Goodyear to hunt autographs of the Giants.
D-Backs and Rockies
Salt River Field
http://www.saltriverfields.com/
Located at 7555 N Pima RD, Scottsdale, AZ 85258. I have to say it's one of the nieces complex shared by two NL West teams. Salt River Field is placed in the center of the complex with each team having six practice fields (2 Major League and 4 Minor League) , two infield fields, bunting field, covered pitching mounds and more (that's all that I could see). The D-Backs had the fantasy camp in full motion as games where being played on two of the minor league fields. Parking for games are $5 and ticket range from $9 -$28 per game. Down side no discounts of any kind are offered. Stadium is closed and open only on Tuesdays at 3:30 pm for tours at $5 per person until February 25th. From the words of the box office worker (take it for it what is worth) both teams will start practice at 9 am everyday. The D-Backs have two Kent State Alumni in the minor leagues so I will have to make a stab at getting their autographs.
Less than 10 miles away on the 101 is the new Cubs Park. I should be able to knock out three teams in one after noon (if I can get the practice times to line up perfectly).
Cubs
Cubs Park
new park no website ... yet
Located at 2330 W Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa, AZ 85201. Cubs first year in their new ball park and still being worked on. The stadium and practice field is surrounded by fences to not let no one in. I sure hope the fences come down by January 25th as this is the open house day where fan can enter a view inside Cubs Park for free from 2-6 pm. I hope to be there to get a look from the other side of the fence. I have been reading articles and hearing stories that tickets will be hard to come by and some games are already sold out. Parking for game days are $7 and ticket range from $8-$38 per game and sadly again no discounts of any kind are offered. All pocket schedules where gone, but the box office is ordering more. I hope they come in on time for the open house. The practice field is located right next to Cubs Park and easy access to fields (after the fences come down). I will have more to review after the open house.
Four complexes remains, however their box office don't open until late January or a few days before pitcher and catcher report in February. I'm still hoping to preview them before the start of spring training along with the Cubs open house. Stay tune to next months part III preview and the start of MLB Spring Training.
Giants
Scottsdale Stadium
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/stadium
Located at 7408 E Osborn RD, Scottsdale, AZ 85251. With the stadium in the heart of downtown Scottsdale it is by far one the most unfriendly complexes. There is no parking lot except of player only. Fans have to use the city parking garages or street parking. Second, the practice complex is about 7 blocks away and there parking is very limited as the parking lot is shared with a fitness center. I was not able to get into the stadium as city workers where power washing the seats and maintenance to the facilities. However, I was able to get on the practice fields. There are four fields, but you can't see all four at once. They are beside each other a run about four city blocks long. As I arrived there was some players leaving, but I did not recognize any of them. The only way I knew they were players is because when I as for permission to walk into the complex I saw them signing for their food money. When I walked into the complex there was still some players on the field taking ground ball infield drills. Again, I did not recognize any of the players. If you don't want to spend most of your day finding a parking space and walking blocks to either the stadium or practice filed arrive early. Oh, I more thing to add to the list of unfriendly aspects is there is no discounts of any kind and there is no prices set for game tickets. I was told by the box office that one day is could be $8 for lawn seat and the next day it could be $30 for the same lawn seat. With this stadium being the farthest away and most unfriendly (in my opinion) I will wait until the team visit Goodyear to hunt autographs of the Giants.
D-Backs and Rockies
Salt River Field
http://www.saltriverfields.com/
Located at 7555 N Pima RD, Scottsdale, AZ 85258. I have to say it's one of the nieces complex shared by two NL West teams. Salt River Field is placed in the center of the complex with each team having six practice fields (2 Major League and 4 Minor League) , two infield fields, bunting field, covered pitching mounds and more (that's all that I could see). The D-Backs had the fantasy camp in full motion as games where being played on two of the minor league fields. Parking for games are $5 and ticket range from $9 -$28 per game. Down side no discounts of any kind are offered. Stadium is closed and open only on Tuesdays at 3:30 pm for tours at $5 per person until February 25th. From the words of the box office worker (take it for it what is worth) both teams will start practice at 9 am everyday. The D-Backs have two Kent State Alumni in the minor leagues so I will have to make a stab at getting their autographs.
Less than 10 miles away on the 101 is the new Cubs Park. I should be able to knock out three teams in one after noon (if I can get the practice times to line up perfectly).
Cubs
Cubs Park
new park no website ... yet
Located at 2330 W Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa, AZ 85201. Cubs first year in their new ball park and still being worked on. The stadium and practice field is surrounded by fences to not let no one in. I sure hope the fences come down by January 25th as this is the open house day where fan can enter a view inside Cubs Park for free from 2-6 pm. I hope to be there to get a look from the other side of the fence. I have been reading articles and hearing stories that tickets will be hard to come by and some games are already sold out. Parking for game days are $7 and ticket range from $8-$38 per game and sadly again no discounts of any kind are offered. All pocket schedules where gone, but the box office is ordering more. I hope they come in on time for the open house. The practice field is located right next to Cubs Park and easy access to fields (after the fences come down). I will have more to review after the open house.
Four complexes remains, however their box office don't open until late January or a few days before pitcher and catcher report in February. I'm still hoping to preview them before the start of spring training along with the Cubs open house. Stay tune to next months part III preview and the start of MLB Spring Training.
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