Play ball! Spring training season to kick off in Arizona next month
Jan 4, 2018, 4:34 AM
Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta signs autographs for fans before a spring training baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Tuesday, March 7, 2017, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
PHOENIX — It’s almost that time of year again: The spring training season will soon begin in Arizona in February, kicking off two months of baseball in the Valley.
For any newbies out there, the Phoenix-area is home to the Cactus League during spring training, which starts on Feb. 23 and ends on March 27.
Related: Your guide to all the Cactus League spring training stadiums
The Cactus League consists of 15 Major League Baseball teams: Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland A’s, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers.
Single-game tickets for some of the Cactus League teams are already on sale online — save for the Dodgers and White Sox, which start selling Jan. 5, and the Cubs, Diamondbacks and Rockies, which go on sale Jan. 6.
Related: Cold beers and baseball: A beer lover’s guide to Spring Training
Spring training typically draws millions of people to the Valley. Last season, a record 1,941,347 fans passed through turnstiles during the three-month period of games.
But with a new season brings some new changes: Camelback Ranch in Glendale, home to the Dodgers and White Sox, will debut two major stadium improvements in honor of its 10th anniversary: A new videoboard in the right-center field and two new shade structures along the first-base concourse.
NEW YEAR, NEW UPGRADES: 10th season at The Ranch will feature debut of 30' x 50' videoboard and two new 100' shade canopies. Details: https://t.co/yd7wJRKGi6 pic.twitter.com/MqjWwGXEMD
— Camelback Ranch (@camelbackranch) January 3, 2018
Glendale isn’t the only Phoenix suburb where Cactus League teams find their temporary home: Spring training stadiums range as far west as Surprise Stadium and Goodyear Ballpark and as far east as Sloan Park in Mesa.
