Spring Training 2007 - Cactus League: Where the Teams Train, Where to Stay, and What Else to Do

Those visions of baseball greatness are never going to come through... unless you somehow have been undiscovered with a 95 mph fastball or the ability to hit for power to the opposite field. That is not a reason to get discouraged, however, because you can do the next best thing. Head down to Arizona and check out the 12 Major League Baseball teams who train in the beautiful state during spring training.

That's right, while many of us are dealing with winter weather our favorite teams are either in Arizona or Florida enjoying sunny weather and baseball. If you're thinking of making your way down to Arizona then this guide will tell you where you need to go and other information you will need.

Before I begin, you'll notice that the spring training sites in Arizona are a lot less spread out than they are in Florida. This makes a trip down toe Arizona for a baseball immersion a lot more feasible. For you team specific fans, you will enjoy each city's amenities for the teams which stay there in the spring.

Training Locations

Surprise, Ariz.
Teams: Kansas City Royals; Texas Rangers
Stadiums
- Kansas City Royals & Texas Rangers: Surprise Stadium. 15850 North Bullard Avenue, Surprise, AZ 85374
Capacity: 10,500
Year Opened: 2003
Ticket Information: (both teams) www.ticketmaster.com / (480) 784-4444

Where to Stay
- While the close proximity of Phoenix, Scottsdale, and other major cities make it simple to stay outside of Surprise, there are viable options for you should you choose to be within the town. You can try places like the Quality Inn or the Best Western, both within a close distance from Surprise stadium. You still will most likely need a car because not very many people travel around the area without an automobile.

Peoria, Ariz.
Teams: San Diego Padres; Seattle Mariners
Stadiums
- San Diego Padres & Seattle Mariners: Peoria Sports Complex. 16101 North 83^rd Avenue, Peoria, AZ 85382
- Capacity: 12, 882
- Year Opened: 1994
- Ticket Information: (both teams) www.ticketmaster.com / (480) 784-4444

Where to Stay
- One of the first things I would recommend for most people who are fans of either the Mariners or the Padres to just go ahead and stay in Phoenix or anywhere in the surrounding area. The center of Peoria is a little more than 13 miles from the center of Phoenix. That means that any accommodations that you can come up with in the area should be sufficient. One thing you might want to keep in mind when it comes to the two teams in Peoria. San Diego is a relatively close drive, so there will be a good number of Padre Fans coming out for the weekend or even for more extended stays. Seattle fans, meanwhile, have a reputation for traveling well for spring training. This results in a lot of the rooms being taken and a lot of weekends falling under the "no vacancy" sign. Both the La Quinta Inn and the Holiday Inn Express in town reign as two of the better rated sites in town.

Phoenix, Ariz.
Teams: Oakland A's; Milwaukee Brewers
Stadiums
- Oakland A's: Phoenix Municipal Stadium. 5999 East Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ 85008
- Capacity: 8,500
- Year Opened: 1965
- Ticket Information: www.oaklandathletics.com / (877) 493-BALL (2255)

- Milwaukee Brewers: Maryvale Baseball Park. North 51^st Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85301
- Capacity: 8,000
- Year Opened: 1998
- Ticket Information: (800) 933-7890
Where to Stay
- It may be a bit of a fight for rooms here in Phoenix. Between the two teams and their staff, and the fact that a lot of fans of other teams that decide to stay in the big city will clutter up the city, it might be a bit difficult to secure a room. You can try to fight your way to a room, but your best bet might be to either book early or find a discount website online. A word of advice: do not show up in Phoenix without a plan, or you might be left wanting at night. If you want to be near the Phoenix Municipal Stadium and the A's, then you will want to check out the Comfort Suites or the Sheraton near the Phoenix Airport. Brewers fans have their choice of hotels within a couple of miles of Maryvale, so it might be less of an issue for them to find a place to stay.

Scottsdale, Ariz.
Team: San Francisco Giants
Stadium
- Scottsdale Stadium. 7408 East Osborn Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
- Capacity: 10,500
- Year Opened: 1992
- Ticket Information: www.tickets.com / (877) 4SFGTIX (473-4849)
Where to Stay
- For most people, you will want to stay around the downtown area to save a little cash. It keeps you fairly close to the ballpark and is modestly priced. Of course, for those of you who are looking to splurge a little and spend some money to get more comfort, then I have just the place for you. The Phoenician is a place where you can not only stay, but relax. Whether you want to play some leisure sports like golf or tennis, go relax in the spa facilities, or enjoy the dining options, this is the spot to feel a little lavish and pampered.

Tempe, Ariz.
Team: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Stadium
- Tempe Diablo Stadium. 2200 West Alameda Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282
- Capacity: 9,785
- Year Opened: 1969 (last renovated: 2006)
- Ticket Information: www.ticketmaster.com / (480) 784-4444
Where to Stay
- There are two main hotels which are within walking distance from the stadium. First, there is the Hampton Inn for those of you who are just looking for a place to crash at night. It's simple and not too fancy. There is also the Wyndham Buttes Hotel, which could be considered the polar opposite to the Hampton. It looks like a natural butte off the freeway and is the closest to the park. After that, since the stadium is close to the airport, any of the hotels around that area would be sufficient for you to stay at.

Mesa, Ariz.
Team: Chicago Cubs
Stadium
- HoHoKam Park. 1235 North Center Street, Mesa, AZ 85201
- Capacity: 12,623
- Year Opened: 1997
- Ticket Information: www.tickets.com / (800) 905-3315
Where to Stay
- If you want to find the Cubs, you will find them at the Best Western Dobson Ranch Inn, if that is what you want to do. You will not go wrong staying in Phoenix, but there are a few hotels that will service your needs that are close enough to the stadium if you are a Cubbie fanatic. Sheraton has a hotel out there, and so does Holiday Inn. Those two are considered two of the better ones close to the stadium that have more than just the dirt basic amenities.

Tucson, Ariz.
Teams: Chicago White Sox; Arizona Diamondbacks; Colorado Rockies
Stadiums
- Arizona Diamondbacks / Chicago White Sox: Tucson Electric Park. 2500 East Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ 85713
- Capacity: 11,500
- Year Opened: 1998
- Ticket Information: (Arizona) www.dbacks.com / (866) 672-1343; (Chicago AL) www.chicago.whitesox.mlb.com / (312) 674-5330

- Colorado Rockies: Hi Corbett Field. 3500 East Camino Campestre, Tucson, AZ 85716
- Capacity: 9,500
- Year Opened: 1937 (last renovated in 1999)
- Ticket Information: www.colorado.rockies.mlb.com / Stadium Box Office
Where to Stay
- The two ballparks are within a mile of each other, so if you want any to be near either stadium than the same hotel options apply. Check out the Hacienda Del Sol, which is highly rated across the board on most hotel sites, or the Oakwood at Williams Center. If you do not need to be so close, there are a number of hotels within a bigger radius, including close to the University.

What To Do in Arizona (When You Are Not Watching Baseball)

Golf
Just like in Florida, you can find some of the best courses in the world. The state, especially the Phoenix area, is renowned for their luxury and public courses. The Raven at South Mountain Golf Club is one of the best in the nation and there is something there for every skill level. Sun Ridge in Scottsdale is also a favorite of many people. There are some elevations changes and some beautiful desert scenery, but they only try to conceal a course which is fairly difficult for the novice player. Other courses include We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, which is about 30 miles outside of Phoenix, and the Gold Canyon Golf Resort just outside of Phoenix.

Landmarks
Site to check out include:
- The Grand Canyon. The national park is full of exciting activities to do, whether it's rafting in the river or just taking pictures of the vast space, the Grand Canyon is one of those places you just have to go check out for yourself. Some more adventurous people can hike down to the Colorado River at the bottom on various trails or just take some tours of the gorgeous rock and canyon formations.
- Las Vegas. Yes, I realize that it is not technically in Arizona, but Vegas is closer than you think and could be a little detour at night. If you have the family then this trip might not work, but if you have a spare night and no games to go to, then a trip to Sin City could be feasible.
- Other spots include: Pima Air and Space Museum; Meteor Crater; Titan Missile Museum; The Phoenix Suns. Get more information at www.go-arizona.com.

Last Thoughts

If you decide that a trip to spring training is in your future, remember that there is a lot of baseball, but to not allow yourself to get caught up without trying other activities and sites that Arizona has to offer.