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13 Tips for Spring Training in Arizona with a Baby or Toddler

Catherine Brady
Sloan Park, Mesa, Arizona-home of the Chicago Cubs

Introduction

Let me preface this with I love baseball.  This post is meant to provide you with information for going to spring training, in Arizona,  with a baby or a toddler.  My husband and I are Chicago White Sox fans and we lived down the street from the White Sox stadium for nine years.  So when we had our son we knew that he was going to be a baseball fan too!  We took our son to his first baseball game when he was 3 months old and I was overwhelmed by the prospect of going.  Once we got there he did great and everything went well!

Fast forward a year and a half and we were on our way to Phoenix, Arizona to attend spring training!  Cactus League (Arizona) spring training is great for babies and toddlers for two reasons.  First, unlike regular season stadiums, the Cactus League stadiums are smaller and thus easier to navigate; second, the stadiums typically have lawn seating where little kids can stretch their legs and run around.

I am going to give a rundown of my experience at two different Cactus League stadiums, give you my top 13 tips for attending a Cactus League game, provide links to the FAQ pages for all 10 stadiums and also give you the best resource I found for EVERYTHING Spring Training related. I hope that this article encourages you to attend spring training and also helps you plan your visit!

 

Our Trip to Spring Training in Arizona with a Baby

  1. Dates: We arrived on a Sunday evening and we flew home on midday that Wednesday.
  2. Airlines: We flew Spirit (non-stop) from Chicago to Phoenix. From Phoenix to Chicago we flew Southwest and had 1:21 min layover in Dallas. Both directions our son flew as a lap infant.
  3. Accommodations: We rented a two bedroom townhouse in the Eastwood Townhouses, on HomeAway.com. This area is in the northeast part of Phoenix. We chose this location as it was near the expressway and between the two stadiums that we were going to visit.
  4. Games we Attended:
    • The first game we attended was the Chicago White Sox vs. Oakland Athletics at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. (This is the White Sox home field). We attended this game on a Monday.
      • Observations: The game was not very packed. The stadium had a good concourse for children to roam around. There are grassy areas for kids to run around, however, the area we settled on was a little steep to get a stroller down (but we did).
    • Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox- Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona (Cubs home field).
      • Observations: Game was very packed. Arrive early or on time to get a good lawn seat. We did not bring a stroller into this game (and I am glad we did not) as it was very congested.  Great lawn and concourse area for kids to roam around.
  5. Tickets Purchased: We purchased tickets to the first game through mlb.com. We purchased the tickets to the second game on stubhub.com.

Top 13 Tips for Attending Spring Training in Arizona with a Baby or Toddler

#1 Rent a car

I grew up in Chicagoland where you could get anywhere and everywhere on public transportation.  That is NOT the case in Phoenix.  I’ve been to Phoenix three times and you need a car to get around the city proper. If you want to get to these stadiums in a timely fashion (and be able to leave when you want) the easiest way is by car.  Some of the towns have a trolley that runs to the ballparks (Scottsdale), so check out each individual town if you’d like to explore the public transportation options.

#2 Note your game start time

At the time of writing the games generally start at 12:05 pm, 1:05 pm, or 7:05 pm, Mountain Standard Time.  Spring Training also falls during Daylight Savings Time but note that Phoenix does not observe Daylight Savings Time so their time does not change.

For the days that we were in town for Spring Training all of the games were afternoon games; however, we probably wouldn’t have gone to an evening games anyway.

The two games that we attended were afternoon games which meant that they fell during naptime.  At the time our son was on one nap and he typically took that nap around 11:30/12pm.  So we simply left the house around 11:45 and drove to the stadium and ‘napped’ him in the car.  Then I just sat in the car with him until he woke up.

The gates typically open ~90 minutes before the start of the game so you could arrive early and attempt to nap your kid in the park if that works better than the car.

#3 Consider a Mid-week game

There are fewer people at a midweek game and it will be less congested.  You’ll also be able to score autographs more easily if you’d like.

#4 Get there early

Next piece of advice would be to arrive early so that you can stake out a lawn seat and/or nap your child (in case you can’t tell, nap is king in these parts).  If you get there early enough you can watch the players warming up on the practice fields (where you can also try to score autographs).

#5 Get lawn seats where possible!

Lawn seats are generally cheaper and then your child can roam free!  A piece of advice on lawn seating is to watch the sun and know your weather for the day.

#6 If the Lawn Is Not For You get Shaded Stadium Seats

If you are not into the lawn (or the sun) then all parks have some seats that are shaded.  Check out each individual stadium website for a list of which sections/seats are in the shade. Alternatively, check out the link/resource at the bottom of the post- he lists out in detail which seats are in the shade at each stadium.  The lawn/shade issue leads me to the next tip.

#7 Know Your Weather!

Phoenix is HOT.  As previously mentioned I am from the Midwest where we have cold, cold winters.  Phoenix is in the middle of the desert and February/March can be A LOT hotter than you’d expect.

Here is a rundown of what to bring to protect your child from the desert sun (this list is primarily for folks sitting in the lawn area):

#8 Know Your Stadium’s Stroller Policy

Even if your stadium permits strollers you may want to ditch it anyway. We brought a stroller to the first game at Camelback Ranch and it wasn’t a big deal as there weren’t that many people at the game.  But at Sloan Park, it was MOBBED and I ended up wearing baby into the park and it was a good decision.

#9 Check the stadium FAQ’s (see below with a link to all of the stadium FAQ pages).

Here are the policies to double check:

#10 Where to buy tickets

You can buy tickets through MLB.com (through each individual team page) or at the stadium itself. Also, check sites like Stubhub.com as prices may be less than face value. (We purchased tickets for $10 for the Cubs/Sox game and face value was $20).

#11 Get up and walk around

I know you are at a ball game and want to watch some baseball, but my son just loves to walk around and soak up the atmosphere of new places.  My husband and I would take turns (we call it tagging in and out) walking him around the stadium while the other got to watch baseball and have a beer.

#12 Designated Driver Program

Many ballparks have a ‘Designated Driver’ program in which you can show your driver’s license, sign a form saying that you will not drink, and they will give you a voucher for a free fountain drink.

#13 Eat at Pizzeria Bianco

Not exactly spring training related, but I must give a shout out to Pizzeria Bianco.  We ate here right before the Cubs/Sox game and the pizza was absolutely divine- maybe the best pizza we’ve ever had.  It’s a small establishment and it gets packed, so get there early to get a table.  Another tip is to get a table outside; the Pizzeria is located in Heritage Square, which is like a promenade/mall of sorts, so kids can play a bit before (or after) pizza!  (You will also find the Arizona Science Center in Heritage Square and the Children’s Museum of Pheonix across the street).

Toddler Chasing Pigeons Around Heritage Square, Outside Pizzeria Bianco

Attending Spring Training in Arizona with a Baby or Toddler: Visiting the Individual Stadiums

There are 10 stadiums in the Cactus league (home to 15 teams). I have been to two; however, I will provide you with links to all 10 and also some quick handy facts.

#1 Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale, Arizona: 

#2 Sloan Park, Mesa, Arizona: 

 

Expansive lawn seating at Sloan Park, Mesa, Arizona. The lawn is a great option for families attending spring training.

#3 Camelback Ranch, Phoenix, Arizona: 

Third-base lawn seating at Camelback Ranch, in Phoenix, Arizona.

#4 Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, Arizona: 

#5 Surprise Stadium, Surprise, Arizona: 

#6 Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe, Arizona: 

#7 Maryville Baseball Park, Phoenix, Arizona: 

#8 Hohokam Stadium, Mesa, Arizona: 

#9 Peoria Sports Complex, Peoria, Arizona: 

#10 Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale, Arizona: 

Best Overall Resource on Spring Training: 

This post is meant to be a round-up of all things baby and toddler related to Spring Training in Arizona. If you need more information on Spring Training in general check this website out: https://www.springtrainingconnection.com/glendale.html.  These guys even give tips on traffic flows surrounding the stadium!

I hope that this post encourages you to visit Arizona’s spring training with your baby or toddler as it truly is a fun and enjoyable experience.  I also hope that this post has provided you with some resources to make your trip planning as stress-free and seamless as possible!

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