1. Ticket prices are not as cheap as I thought they would be. I was expecting minor league ticket prices meaning nothing more than $18-$20. Depending on the team and where you sit, tickets could cost upwards to $80+ a ticket. The Giants and the Cubs are the most expensive. To sit in the grass at a Giants game was about $58/ticket.
Speaking of tickets, I would make sure to get tickets early for the games you want to go to. The hubby's buddy was down there around the same time we were and his group wanted to go to the Cubs game one day. The game was sold out but they could get grass seats for $100/ticket.
2. Get there early. I don't mean get to the stadium when the gates open 90 minutes before game time. I mean 2-3 hours before a day game. There is plenty to do and see. The minor league camps are in full swing.. you can watch intersquad games where the Major League pitchers are pitching on "off" days. You never know who you might walk by. If two teams share a complex, the team not that is not home might be taking BP and you can shag home runs. Getting there earlier allows you to talk to managers, players, coaches that you would normally never even interact with.
The hubby talking to Mike Jirschele during Royals BP
Shagging home runs during Royals BP
I got an email from the Seattle Mariners saying their game at Peoria was going to be a full house and their were opening the gates thirty minutes earlier than usual (2 hours before game time) to accommodate all the people. Also the Giants would be taking batting practice starting at 4:30. Basically it was saying get there early and you can see the Giants take BP.
3. Depending on the park, the food choices can be pretty amazing and regionalized. Peoria had food local to San Diego and Seattle. Surprise had BBQ for Kansas City and Texas. Like ticket prices, food prices can be more than I want to spend but there are great choices beyond a hot dog or brat.
4. Souvenirs will set you back a pretty penny. I joked that the most expensive thing we bought we 2 spring training shirts at Maryvale for nearly $80. Heck I got 3 bottles of wine and tasting for almost half of that. The hubby wanted pins from the different parks but at $9 or $10 a pin, he was happy with just one. Baseballs were going for $10 just to have something for the players to sign. Maybe I am just frugal but $80 for two shirts seems a bit steep.
5. Getting around is easy. Since Phoenix is newer than cities on the east coast, the city and surrounding area is set up in pretty much a grid. There several major thoroughfares that run from the West Suburbs through Phoenix clear through to the East Suburbs.. Camelback Road, Thunderbird Road just to name a few. There also loops that circle the city making easy to get to one side to the other. Yes there is traffic at certain times of the day but what metro area doesn't?
Spring Training is an experience. Any baseball fan needs to put it on their bucket list. It is something that you need to fully experience and not just go see a game. Watch Batting Practice, see the Minor League camp practice, talk to people, get autographs, and just soak in the whole experience.
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