Each spring, 15 Major League Baseball squads – and their fans – descend on the Valley to tune up for the long season ahead.
Dates: Thursday, February 20-Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Info: cactusleague.com
Pro Tips
- Staying Downtown but seeing a ballgame in Mesa? Take Valley Metro Rail, which stops about a mile from Sloan Park (valleymetro.org).
- Autograph-chasing is a cinch at Hohokam Stadium. Unlike most teams, the A’s take batting practice on the game field. Simply loiter near the dugout with a pen to pick them off.
- Rookie to Watch: Jordan Lawlar, SS (D-backs). Having batted .362 in AAA over his last two (injury-shortened) seasons, the 22-year-old infielder has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues.
- Biggest Drama: Fresh off his historic 50/50 season, will two-way legend Shohei Ohtani return to the mound in the spring after resting his surgically repaired elbow in 2024?
Scottsdale Stadium
7408 E. Osborn Rd., Scottsdale, 480-312-2586, scottsdaleaz.gov
Local carnivores speak in reverential tones of Bourbon & Bones (4200 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-629-4922, bourbonandbonesaz.com), heir apparent to the old Pink Pony as the ballplayer-sighting capital of Scottsdale. Tired of ballpark beer? Hit Old Town’s wine trail, featuring LDV Winery (7134 E. Stetson Dr., Scottsdale, 480-664-4822,
ldvwinery.com) and more
Tempe Diablo Stadium
2200 W. Alameda Dr., Tempe, 480-350-5265, tempe.gov/diablo
South Mountain Park (10211 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602-262-7393, phoenix.gov/parks) is the perfect place for a pre-breakfast hike. And Taste of Tops (403 W. University Dr., Tempe, 480-967-2520, topsliquors.com) – Tempe’s best taproom, located near Mill Avenue and ASU – is the perfect place for a post-game tipple.
HoHoKam Stadium
1235 N. Center St., Mesa, 480-644-4451, hohokamstadium.com
Following renovations, this historical ballpark features the league’s biggest scoreboard. Before the game, fuel up at Mesa’s award-winning “brunchery” T.C. Eggington’s (1660 S. Alma School Rd., Mesa, 480-345- 9288, tcegg.com), then burn off the calories by walking through downtown’s Mesa Arts Center (1 E. Main St., 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com).
Sloan Park
2330 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Mesa, 480-668-0500, sloanpark.com
Modeled after Wrigley Field, it’s the league’s biggest stadium (15,000 seats). Grab post-game sustenance at Los Dos Molinos (260 S. Alma School Rd., Mesa, 480-969-7475, losdosmolinosmesa.com), beloved for its incomparable garlic pork roast.
American Family Fields of Phoenix
3805 N. 53rd Ave., Phoenix. 623-245-5500, phoenix.gov
Located in hardscrabble Maryvale, this cozy, 7,000-seat park boasts the league’s most fan-friendly atmosphere – gotta love those sixth-inning sausage races – and best beer selection. Before the game, load up on the Valley’s best Chinese pork ribs at Great Wall Cuisine (3446 W. Camelback Rd.,Phoenix, 602-973-1112), a dim sum institution.
Camelback Ranch
10710 W. Camelback Rd., Glendale, 623-302-5000, mlb.com/camelback-ranch
With its sunken field and natural stone veneers, this 13,000-seat ballpark is an architectural home run. Start your day with breakfast at Colados Coffee & Crêpes (10685 W. Indian School Rd., Avondale, 623-215-3826, colados.com) and end it with a 30-minute tour of Cerreta Candy Co. (5345 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale, 623-930-9000, cerreta.com).
Goodyear Ballpark
1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear, 623-882-3120, goodyearbp.com
For $175, you can have the privilege of working a half-day with the 10,000-seat stadium’s grounds crew. More affordable: Grab a pre-game beverage at Sugar ’N Spice Coffee & Tea (14970 W. Indian School Rd., Goodyear, 623-535-1877), or get your post-game gumbo fix at Flavors of Louisiana (13025 W. Rancho Santa Fe Blvd., Avondale, 623-935-2357, flavorsoflouisianacajun.com), far and away the Valley’s best Cajun restaurant.
Peoria Sports Complex
16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria, 623-773-8700, peoriasportscomplex.com
This 360-degree-concourse ballpark boasts the cheapest lawn seats ($8) and best food options in the league. After the game, take the heat down a notch at public ice skating rink AZ Ice (15829 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria, 623-334-1200, azice.com). Hungry? Dive into the famous lasagna at West Valley family fave Fabio on Fire (8275 W. Lake Pleasant Pkwy., Peoria, 623-412-2670, fabioonfire.com).
Surprise Stadium
15930 N. Bullard Ave., Surprise, 623-222-2222, surprisestadium.com
After the game, work off those beer-and-brat calories with a brisk hike at nearby White Tank Regional Park (20304 W. White Tank Mountain Rd., Waddell, 602-506-2930, maricopa.gov). For craft fans, Tap House Sports Grill (13699 N. Litchfield Rd., Surprise, 623-584-0255, taphousesportsgrill.com) offers 35 beer taps, primo cocktails and upscale grub like the Avocado Blitz burger with guac and pickled jalapeños.
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
7555 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale, 480-270-5000, saltriverfields.com
The league’s most party-oriented ballpark offers the Pepsi Patio atop the press box. Take a pregame tour of the one-of-a-kind Musical Instrument Museum (4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, 480-478-6000, mim.org). After the game, hit up Sweet Republic for Arizona’s best artisanal ice cream (9160 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, 480-248-6979,
sweetrepublic.com).
