Hi Everyone!
My best friend and I are 40, and making our first trip to Spring Training. Going the very first week in March and plan on hitting games in Peoria, Surprise and Goodyear.
I am not scared of the price tag for the best experience I can find at each location but don't want to waste money on too much $$ for too little (for example, for $350 you can pull the second base bag during the 3rd inning drag at Goodyear).
I am curious if having the best seats in such a small venue is worth the difference in price...or to just get cheaper seats or the berms and walk around during the game?
Any experiences or tips would be much appreciated.
0 recs | 33 comments
Get the cheap seats and walk around
Seriously, there’s no reason to spend a ton of money for ST tickets. Especially if you’re going early in the schedule. Don’t be overworried about “the best experience you can find” – it’s Spring Training. It’s an awesome experience no matter what. Just soak it all in and have fun – and don’t worry too much about the actual quality of the baseball.
pdb - January 2, 2012
Cheap seats.
The main draw for me is the amazing amount of interaction you can get with the players. My best advice would be to show up early and bring your own sealed water. There are also very good opportunities for autographs if that’s your thing. It’s a great fan experience and you will have a blast.
the other side - January 2, 2012
On the other hand, if you're only going to a few games, the price for awesome seats behind home plate are only slightly more expensive than normal MLB tickets
Fett42 - January 2, 2012
This
It’s been a couple years since I’ve been, but I was able to get front row behind home plate for something like $21.
Also minor league camp is free if you’re interested in seeing the team’s prospects. It’s a short walk from the main stadium at the sports complex, and usually a pretty good time (smaller crowds though). There’s usually 2 games going on any given day.
slamcactus - January 2, 2012
Mix it up a little.
Tickets are all relatively cheap. If the M’s are playing a team you really want to see, it may be worth it to pay more to sit up close and personal. Definitely do cheap seats for a day or two so you can walk around. There’s so much to see.
Also, frozen margaritas in Peoria stadium.
truemsfan - January 2, 2012
Spring training is just fun
The best part is the free part, in my opinion. Make sure you’re wandering around the complex at 9 AM when you can watch the players work out, and keep your ears open about interesting players in minor league games because you might get to see something cool.
Several years ago I got to watch Jamie Moyer and Dan Wilson play in a minor league game (a minor league spring training game is like high school- no tickets, just a couple of small bleachers), which is the coolest baseball experience of my existence.
Last year I got to see Ackley and Smoak in a minor league game, and that was fun too.
These games are usually in the morning, before the big game- so always swing by the training complex in the morning.
Corco - January 2, 2012
And the minor league games aren't advertised at all- there's really no way to know unless you're there and hear somebody talking about it. If something interesting is going to happen, you'll catch wind of it if you're there.
Corco - January 2, 2012
Yup, the minor league games/batting practices/workouts are fantastic. You never know who's gonna be wondering around.
I went a couple years ago, and not only was I sitting in the same bleachers as Jay Buhner(who was there watching Nick Franklin AB’s), but I saw Frank Robinson walking around at one point.
Pretty cool.
Goose - January 2, 2012
I didn't know those were open to the public - thank you!
Last year was my first year going and I plan to make it an annual trip here on out.
truemsfan - January 2, 2012
Get the cheap seats.
At the Rangers/Royals complex, the row attendants will let you move down or do whatever you want. The minor league games are e enthralling but very hectic and confusing. Have fun!
AckAttack - January 2, 2012
They took the last names off the minor league jerseys like three years ago which makes it a lot more confusing
Corco - January 3, 2012
Yeah, that's the only thing that was kinda annoying.
Luckily I found Jason Churchill walking around and he was able to get me a team list from one of the scouts that matched names and numbers. Of course, some of the guys had the same numbers, so it wasn’t perfect. IMO, that should be something that is made available to everybody.
Goose - January 3, 2012
Seager hit a pinch hit home run in a big league game while I was there last year
But he was wearing his minor league uni, and even the stadium announcer didn’t know who he was!
Kingdomer - January 3, 2012
Oh, by the way, for anybody going
You can pick up that list in the team office next to the entry to the practice facilities- just walk in and they have them in a pile
After a couple years of confusion, I discovered that last spring. Makes things way easier.
Corco - January 3, 2012
Excellent.
Goose - January 3, 2012
I know this isn't what you asked for
but for those going down to Spring Training looking for a few good breweries/brew pubs – here are my suggestions -
1)San Tan Brewery – Good food, their Hop Shock IPA is a great West Coast IPA.
2) Sun Up Brewery – closer to the stadium, good food decent beer.
3) Papago Brewing – located in Scottsdale. They have their own beer plus 30 other beers on tap. You can carry out wine and bottled beer.
4) Four Peaks Brewery – also in Scottsdale, the Kilt Lifter is pretty tasty, and their seasonals are pretty good.
5) Phoenix Ale Brewery – The guy that founded Pyramid started this one, so he is a local guy. Try Fretzy’s and the Watermelon Wheat.
There are others, and I either don’t recommend them or haven’t tried them. Last thing – BevMo is close to the stadium, and a great place to pick up a sixer or 22 of craft beer.
Ballard Erik - January 3, 2012
Nah, this is great info...
So you’re thinking Sun Up has the best food of the choices to go along with the beers?
RunDMD - January 3, 2012
Im a huge fan of San Tan, but it is all the way in Chandler.
when you factor in proximity, Sun Up would be the best place to go for lunch. The others are a little more of a drive.
Ballard Erik - January 3, 2012
When my buddies and I go, we always designate one game to get "good seats" for
Last year we picked out what day Pineda was starting (well, always a bit of a gamble of course since those things are fairly fungible during spring training but it worked out), and bought seats behind homeplate. It was a fantastic experience, and definitely a great perspective to watch our young arms work from. If you think Pineda’s slider looks nasty on TV, watching it come at you is a revelation.
The berm is really the second best seat in the house at the Peoria sports complex in my opinion. It’s right above the bullpens, and position players hang out with the pitchers sometimes if they have the day off, so you have a chance to chat with a bunch of the guys.
One thing to be aware of is that if you’re planning to go to games that are away games for teams that have fan bases relatively close to Arizona (ie Diamondbacks, Athletics, Angels, Dodgers) you should probably plan to buy tickets ahead of time as I’ve gotten to games and had them sold out with nary a ticket to be scalped a few times in the three years I’ve been going.
Hope you have a great time, and I’ll second Ballard Erik’s mention of Kilt Lifter as being very tasty!
Kingdomer - January 3, 2012
And also Cubs games
Most of the city of Chicago decamps to Phoenix for Spring Training, and Cubs tickets are notoriously hard to come by.
pdb - January 3, 2012
Right! Thanks!
That was another one I got locked out last year, I was trying to remember if it was Cubs or White Sox (knew it was a Chicago team) and just left it out because I wasn’t sure and didn’t want to give bad info.
Kingdomer - January 3, 2012
Also, there's usually one (or two) night games each day.
There’ll be more demand for those games because it’s cooler and there’s a bunch of diehard baseball fans in town and that’s the only game going at that time.
But I generally buy all my ST tickets a few months in advance.
Eyebrows - January 3, 2012 via mobile
Agreed, spring for one game with 'good seats'
Tickets go on Sale Saturday for people who haven’t gone before. There was an earlybird day in December when a lot of good seats were snatched up (we got home plate for TX) so don’t be shocked if you can’t get the best good seats. If you’re looking for autographs sit on the rail on the first base line in the outfield. It’s right on the path to the showers.
Better than the game, though, is hanging out at the complex in the morning. And don’t be cavalier, go watch Ichiro do batting practice. It’s freakin’ awesome.
Filson - January 6, 2012
I've been going to spring training for about four years now
A few recommendations off the top of my head:
Once you’ve got commitments from your group and know what days everyone can go, plan out what games you want to attend. The atmosphere of Spring Training is so relaxed and fun, that you’ll enjoy yourself at non-Ms games as well.
I usually go with my brother (Angels fan) and some of his friends, so we’ll go for like 4 or 5 games and do 1 or 2 Ms games, 1 or 2 Angels games and a random night game somewhere.
Driving in and around Phoenix sucks. I hate that sprawled out area and all of its traffic. If you can pick games and a hotel that will minimize how much you have to drive, then it will be all the more relaxing. But don’t let my crabbishness discourage you if you want to check out some other stadiums that are a bit farther out.
If you’re like me (ghostly white), make sure you’re marinating in sunscreen at all times. It can get pretty intense.
Buy your tickets online ahead of time. That way there’s no worrying about them selling out. As mentioned elsewhere, my group usually goes cheap or semi-cheap most games, and then splurges a bit for one. And you’re talking $25 at most for seats behind home plate. Moving around to better seats is also pretty easy in later innings when it’s hot (surprise!) and all the AA players are in and some people have left.
There’s an In-n-out right next door to the Ms/Padres stadium, and a Five Guys in Tempe not too far from the Angels’ stadium.
Eyebrows - January 3, 2012 via mobile
I love Phoenix for traveling between stadia
Most of them are easily accessible off the freeway, and if you’re not going during rushhour it moves pretty quickly- everything is sprawled, but you can get across the metro in 45 minutes
Corco - January 3, 2012
"if you’re not going during rushhour"
That’s the problem. Most of the games end around 4pm or so.
Eyebrows - January 4, 2012 via mobile
Eh, I don't know
As much as I despise it, I find Phoenix to be one of the easiest cities in the country to get around in- I’d rather drive across the valley during rushhour than from Tacoma to Everett
Corco - January 4, 2012
It's much easier to play Count The Walgreens when you drive in Phoenix!
Unless you can’t count past eleventy billion!
pdb - January 4, 2012
Speaking of food, if you wanna spend a little bit more money, but want a place to relax and get out of the heat,
I recommend Firebirds bar and grill. Just down the road from the park and has some excellent food.
Goose - January 3, 2012
Budget for a week trip?
It’s always been on my list, but having my boss on my ass to actually take my vacation days this year, and the fact that I should have a nice little tax return coming after buying a house have me thinking this could be my year…
That said, it seems from all the comments so far that the more expensive parts of the trip would be hotel stay and beer/food… A quick glance at Kayak.com shows hotels in the hundred buck a night range. It seems fairly reasonable to think I could have a helluva time for less than $1500 including my drive from CA. Does that seem reasonable to those that have been before? Thanks!
mrjoshpotter - January 3, 2012
I spent $3000 when I went down for a week.
But I also flew roundtrip from Seattle, had a rental car, and kinda splurged to get a room real close to the park. Since you’re driving, you don’t have to worry about the first two expenses and if you don’t care about being that close(in hindsight, I shouldn’t have either) you can probably get away with spending that much for a week.
Goose - January 3, 2012
You can do it on the cheap if you go with friends and you drive.
I plan the trip each year for a group of 3 or 4. We usually pick a Red Roof Inn type of place and look for deals on Hotels.com or whatever. A three and a half day, 4 game trip from San Diego to Phoenix can easily come in under $300 per person.
Eyebrows - January 4, 2012 via mobile
When looking for accomm, try sites like those or Wotif to look for a good rate
But then call the hotel direct and ask for a better one. They’ll be paying commission to the website for a non-direct booking (Wotif is 10% in Aus). So you might only save another 5% or you might be able to get a free night or breakfast or something out of it.
Aussie Mariner - January 4, 2012
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