10 Tips for attending Cactus League Spring Training in Arizona

Arizona is home to the Cactus League, so Spring Training is a big deal around here. Baseball is the number one sport in our household. We love to watch Major League Baseball games, especially during spring training – the weather is perfect, and it’s a much more intimate experience with the game.

We wrote this post originally in 2016 (look how small my son is) and have continued to attend Spring Training every year (except for 2020 when it was canceled) and we love it! This post has most recently been updated for the 2023 season. Always check the stadium websites for updated information.

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Arizona Cactus League

The Cactus league includes 15 teams that play at 10 stadiums across Arizona. The rest of the MLB teams practice in Florida as part of the Grapefruit League.

• Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale – Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies
• Camelback Ranch, Glendale – Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox
• Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear – Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians
• Hohokam Stadium, Mesa – Oakland Athletics
• Sloan Park, Mesa – Chicago Cubs
• Peoria Sports Complex, Phoenix – San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners
• American Family Fields of Phoenix, Phoenix – Milwaukee Brewers
• City of Scottsdale Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale – San Francisco Giants
• Surprise Stadium, Surprise – Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers
• Diablo Stadium, Tempe – Los Angeles Angels

Tip #1 – Sun protection – Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen (don’t forget lip balm with sunscreen). This is Arizona and hot sunny weather arrives right around Spring Training time. Especially if you’re not used to our intense sun, these items are so important. Some stadiums allow small umbrellas – check websites for updated information.

Tip #2 – Baseball glove Hoping to catch a fly ball or home run ball? bring a baseball glove

Tip #3 – Lawn Seats I love lawn seats. Sometimes called general admission this area is open seating on the grass areas behind the outfield. They’re a bargain at $10-$30 depending on the stadium and game. Great for kids who can’t sit still through the whole game. And I love it because I can lounge on my blanket and take in some sun.

Tip #4 – Player Autographs  Hoping to get signatures? Be ready with a black Sharpie and a baseball. Best way to get signatures – arrive early to the game and hang out near the bull pen or where the players walk from the locker room to the dugout. Some stadiums/teams have designated times and locations where some players will meet fans before or after the game – check the stadium websites for this information. Once the game has started, no signatures are allowed.

At a recent Padres game at the Peoria Sports Complex, my son waited at the fence by the Autograph Bridge (designated on the map between the field seats and 1st base side seats). Before the game, he got 20 signatures and after the game 9 more.

• Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale – Player autographs will be allowed at any time before or after games at Salt River Fields.
• Camelback Ranch, Glendale – no info on the website
• Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear – no info on the website
• Hohokam Stadium, Mesa – no info
• Sloan Park, Mesa – no info
• Peoria Sports Complex, Phoenix – go to Autograph Alley (its notes on the map) before and after the game.
• American Family Fields of Phoenix, Phoenix 
• City of Scottsdale Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale 
• Surprise Stadium, Surprise 
• Diablo Stadium, Tempe 

*so much has changed post 2020 so we are relying on ballpark websites for info and not past experiences.

Tip #5 – Blanket or Stadium Seats If you have lawn seats, you want to bring a blanket so you’re not sitting directly on the grass. If you have reserved seats, stadium seats add to the comfort level for stadiums with bench seating – check stadium websites to see rules about what is permitted. Stadiums do not allow lawn umbrellas or chairs. The stadium seats that are allowed are usually the foam variety and not those with hard frames.

With lawn seats, we love the foldup blankets that are soft on one side with a waterproof layer on the bottom.

Tip #6 – Food and Drinks Many of the stadiums allow you to bring in snacks and water (or a refillable water bottle). Bringing in your own food and drinks saves money and gives you a healthy eating option. Check stadium websites for rules because each stadium is different with regard to what food can be brought in and the size of the coolers allowed.

• Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale – Only non-flavored/non-carbonated water in sealed, plastic bottles or Empty, plastic water bottles. Also allowed – sealed, single-serving juice boxes. No outside food allowed
• Camelback Ranch, Glendale – One unopened bottle of water per person, sized one liter or smaller
• Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear – One factory-sealed plastic water bottle (non-carbonated and colorless water only) not exceeding 1 liter in size per fan. One empty water bottle, including a sports bottle, is permitted. Children’s single-serving juice drinks in factory-sealed boxes or pouch package
• Hohokam Stadium, Mesa – One factory-sealed water bottle per guest
• Sloan Park, Mesa – Factory-sealed plastic bottles as well as a personal amount of food (in a small, disposable bag) is allowed.
• Peoria Sports Complex, Phoenix – Factory-sealed, plastic water bottles with non-carbonated, colorless water. Empty plastic water or sport bottles to fill at onsite drinking fountains. Hydroflasks. The website is unclear about outside food (in the past it was allowed)
• American Family Fields of Phoenix, Phoenix 
• City of Scottsdale Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale 
• Surprise Stadium, Surprise 
• Diablo Stadium, Tempe 

When no outside is not allowed, often there are exceptions for baby food or dietary needs.

• Sloan Ballpark – Kids run the bases is available after Sunday home games