Spring Training in Phoenix, Arizona
March 2026
We have been to MLB Spring Training games in Phoenix, AZ three years in a row now. We’ve packed the days with watching both practices and games. Both offer different experiences especially for the kids where foul balls and autographs are an important part of the trip! We’ve had enough stadium experiences that I can now share some recommendations and lessons learned. I will give details of each location and then provide an overall summary at the bottom of the page.
First off, we’ve been to the following stadiums:
1) Diablo Stadium in Tempe (Angels)
2) Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (Diamondbacks/Rockies)
3) Hohokam Stadium in Mesa (A’s)
4) Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear (Guardians/Reds)
5) Surprise Stadium in Surprise (Royals/Rangers)
6) Camelback Ranch in Glendale (Dodgers/White Sox)
There are 10 stadiums overall in the Cactus League, so we are missing 4. The stadiums are spread across the greater Phoenix area. Keep that in mind as you plan as it can be a lengthy drive between the locations.
Our typical routine has been that we start out in the morning after breakfast and head to watch a practice. They typically start between 9-10am. We pack a cooler with sandwiches and snacks that we can have afterwards, before going into the game. We also pack unopened waters to take into the game. Then, we will buy one food/drink item at the game as a “treat” to keep the overall costs down.
Diablo Stadium
Diablo Stadium in Tempe, AZ is home to the Los Angeles Angels for Spring Training. It is a beautiful stadium with a view of the Temps Buttes in the outfield. Parking is $15, but we were able to park for the day and do both practice and the game without moving the car.
Practices: The practice fields are right next to the stadium. The visitor/fan section for watching the practices offers a good view of 2 of the fields, but the 3rd field is harder to see. It would depend which fields they are using if you have an opportunity for autographs. Unfortunately, the day we went they were practicing on the far fields by which they didn’t have to walk by the spectator section, so none of the players walked over for autographs. Also, there is no seating in the fan section, so prepare to stand or sit on the ground. If you can bring a chair in, that would be a good option.
We’d rate this as just okay for the fan experience since we didn’t get any autographs and it was hard to see their practice with them being on the far field. It was still neat to see the layout of everything. I do think our experience was a one off, because the fact that there is a fan section set up leads you to think that there is more interaction at some point.
Games: We’ve been to 2 games at Diablo Stadium, and both were great experiences. The stadium is a little smaller than some of the other stadiums. I tend to like the smaller stadiums as they’re less crowded. More like a minor league game feel for a major league team. The shade is on the first base side in the upper seats and gradually moves over behind home plate in the upper seats. It is hot in the sun. Go prepared. The seats can be hot, so bring a small towel, sunscreen, and water.
If you have kids, we enjoyed sitting almost right at first base, where the foul ball net ends. From there, you have opportunities to get foul balls, and it is a great view. The players walk off the field on the first base side to the parking lot and so there is another opportunity to get autographs. Also, for more autographs, before the game you can try at the visitor dugout. It is accessible to hand over a card or a baseball and there isn’t netting in the way. My kids got autographs at the visitor dugout, got foul balls at first base, and got more autographs after the game down the first baseline. It was an overall great experience.
The stadium personnel there were delightful and catered to the kids. (Because baseball should be fun for kids!) The beer selection was poor, in our opinion, at this stadium. There are only cans, no draft beer (as far as I could tell) and we didn’t think the selection was too good (at least vs other stadiums). The kids got an ice/gelato type treat which was a nice reprieve in the heat.
Salt River Fields
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies for Spring Training. This is one of our favorite stadiums. Parking is free during practices, and then $10 for the game. We have also moved parking spaces before, and you just have to show your receipt again if you move to another lot.
Practices: In our opinion the fan experience for practices is the best at this park. Both teams can be viewed easily at their separate practice fields and batting cages, and there are good opportunities for autographs. There is ample seating if you want to sit, and the players and staff are super friendly. We’ve visited here all 3 years and have had the same great experience.
Games: Salt River Fields Stadium is one of the nicest and best stadiums. Lots of shade in the 2nd level, home plate and first base side. Shade creeps into the 1st level and 3rd base side later in the day. The foul ball netting goes all the way down the lines, so it is not good opportunity to get foul balls. The beer selection was good and the “Cookie Sundae Ice Cream Bowl” from Cathy’s Cookies was a crowd pleaser for my boys.
Hohokam Stadium
Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, AZ is home to the Oakland Athletics (soon to be Las Vegas) for Spring Training. We enjoyed this stadium! It was a little smaller, which I like. However, be prepared with your hot gear like towels, sunscreen, and water, because the seats we were in were HOT! I don’t recall the temperature being too crazy hot, but the seats were in the direct sun and that just makes it hotter than you think it should be.
Practices: Unfortunately, I cannot report on this. We didn’t see a practice at this stadium.
Games: The fan experience was great at the game, but we didn’t pursue getting autographs at this game. The foul ball netting looks to be down both baselines. Parking was $5 and is cash only.
Goodyear Ballpark
Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, AZ is home to the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds for Spring Training. This stadium is nice! My boys got handed baseball cards when we walked in from an usher and that made for a great first experience.
Practices: Their practice fields are also nice, but they are down the road in different locations than the game stadium. (Some teams have practice fields on the same site where you don’t have to move your car, so this was slightly different). Parking is free. The viewing for fans is great, and they have bleachers for seating, however the opportunity for autographs is slim. The reason being is because the fence for the practice field extends all the way up and the players really don’t have to walk by you to go from one place to another. We watched both the Guardians and the Reds and didn’t get anything signed. However, players from the Reds did throw a ball over the fence to my boys when they were practicing in the outfield. That made going to the practice worth it for my little guys!
Games: The game experience was good! This is a larger stadium. The netting has coverage down the baselines. We didn’t pursue autographs at the game at this stadium. Parking was free.
Surprise Stadium
Surprise Stadium in Surprise, AZ is home to the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers in Spring Training. The stadium is beautiful and seemed “medium size”. The parking was free. We sat on the 3rd base side, and it was in the sun with foul ball netting.
Practices: Unfortunately, I cannot report. We didn’t watch practices for these teams.
Games: The game was a great experience. The staff was nice and took a family picture of us just as we walked in. There was good draft beer from Kansas City (Boulevard), and the kids got a hot dog.
Camelback Ranch Stadium
Camelback Ranch Stadium in Glendale, AZ is home to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox in Spring Training. This stadium is nice! I had heard it was a little older, but in my opinion it was nice with larger walkways where it didn’t feel too crowded. We didn’t visit on a Dodger day, so I think our experience was a little more low key than the usual Dodger game day experience.
Practices: We did not see practices for the teams at this site.
Games: We had a good experience at this stadium. We sat in between home plate and first base in the upper first section. Seating on the first base side, row 15 and up are in the shade. The beer selection looked to be good, and they had a margarita stand. My kids enjoyed dippin’ dots as their treat. The parking was free.
In summary: (and which stadiums to visit in the Cactus League)
Best stadium for autographs at practice: Salt River at Talking Stick. Both teams have a great set up for autographs and the fan experience in watching their practice.
Best stadium for autographs at the games: Tempe Diablo Stadium. The opportunities are at the dugouts before and after the game and down the first base side when the players are entering or leaving the stadium.
Best overall experience for general spectating: They are all good. Our favorite is Salt River, but then I’d rank them in order as: Surprise, Temple Diablo, Camelback Ranch, and then Hohokam Stadium.
Best for old school feel: Hohokam Stadium. I think it is the smaller stadium feel and the grass parking lot, but this stadium feels quaint, casual, and old school for some reason!
We still have 4 more stadiums to check out, but I hope that by reviewing the 6 that we’ve been to helps you in your planning! My overall recommendation is to be sure you have a 12x12x6 plastic tote bag to store a small sunscreen, small towels for the seats, and unopened bottles of water. I had ordered one of these tote bags but didn’t have it in time for our trip. I regretted it every single day! It would have been so helpful not to have had to carry everything around. Also, take snacks and a small activity for the kids to do at the practices. There is some downtime and it will help pass the time.
Happy Trails!