2024 Baseball Stadium Tour: Scottsdale Stadium

 Besides Sloan Park, we wanted to get to Scottsdale Stadium this year. We have been putting this one off because of the price of tickets. 

Scottsdale Stadium is the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants. It is located downtown Scottsdale, right off of Old Town Scottsdale. Being downtown, parking can be a problem. The City of Scottsdale and the Giants have found ways to alleviate the parking situation. They built several free parking garages through out the downtown area. The upper levels are free all day and the lower levels have a 3 hour restriction. There is one located near the ballpark but it is small and fills up quickly. To get to the Stadium from other parking garages, there is a free trolley that you can take or walk. We took the trolley which runs about every twenty minutes. We lucked out on the way there and only waited a few minutes. After the game, the wait was longer but we sat in the trolley and waited. 

When we first started going to spring training, we noticed the Giants had the most expensive tickets. I don't know if that was because of the year and teams they were playing. This year tickets for a game at Scottsdale Stadium were our cheapest tickets. We paid $30 a ticket -- still more than we pay for regular season brewer games but cheaper than any other park we went to. Our seats turned out were okay. They were bleacher seats in the sun. The overhang started a section over. We know for next time. The view of the stadium for our seats were great though.

Scottsdale Stadium is an older stadium but it has been upgraded. It has a small wall of fame. It actually was a very nice stadium to walk around. Since we had ice cream for lunch at the Sugar Bowl, we just picked up some beverages to get through the game. 

The game was a good game initially. The Giants were playing the Brewers. The Brewers started off with a 4-0 lead. Then Devin Williams came in the 4th inning and gave up 5 runs. It was a not a good afternoon after that. We left in the sixth inning, not knowing what the trolley situation was going to be.

I would go back to Scottsdale Stadium. I don't think the hubby was a huge fan of it because of the parking situation but that's what you get when you build in downtown. It has a nice atmosphere and is people come out to watch the Giants. 

2024 Baseball Stadium Tour: Sloan Park

 After Spring Training 2020, there were only 3 spring training parks we have not been to in Arizona -- Sloan, Hohokam, and Scottsdale. We wanted to hit all three this year but schedules it didn't work out. I gave the hubby the choice of Sloan or Hohokam as they both were home on Sunday. He picked Sloan. 

Sloan Park is the spring training home of the Chicago Cubs. It is located in Mesa almost on the corner of the 202 and Dobson. It is super easy to get to and the signs for parking make it even easier. We parked in the $10 lot which was part of a hotel parking lot. There was a shuttle that dropped us off right at the gate. It was great. The walk wouldn't have been too bad either though. 

Tickets for Sloan were our most expensive tickets of the trip. One ticket down the third base line was $55. Grass seats were like $40. The stadium was packed. I think attendance was like 12K. So they know fans will pay. We ended up getting the tickets at the end of December because there weren't many seats let.

The ballpark is similar to Wrigley Field with the iconic red sign in the outfield. There were no ivy on the walls in the outfield.. probably because it doesn't grow in the desert. 

Our seats even though down the line were very good even for middle seats. I didn't have anyone next to me for most of the game so I wasn't squished. We were in the shade so it helped. We could see all the action. The Cubs played the Indians, I mean the Guardians. It was a good game with the Cubs winning 5-3. It was just weird seeing Counsel in Cubs blue and not Brewer blue. 

Like most spring training parks, at least in Arizona, they try to have big league favorites. Being the home of the Cubs, there was Garrett's Popcorn, Chicago Italian Beef, and Chicago Dogs. I would have gotten Italian beef but we wanted to eat light knowing my cousin would have a feast for us. I went with a Chicago Dog. When I opened the box I was disappointed to find it was a hot dog on a poppy seed bun. Then I went to the condiment station and found the rest of the toppings -- Tomatoes, Onions, Neon Green Pickle Relish, Mustard, and pickle spears. Since no one would yell at me, I skipped the tomatoes and onions but added everything else. It was very good. 

I was not very excited to go to Sloan. I have seen Cubs fans in action and was dreading the experience at Sloan. It was actually way better than I could ever imagine. It must be Arizona or something. Everyone was pleasant and not your typical Cubs fans. I would definitely go back to Sloan even with the hefty price tag.