Baseball: Spring Training Getaways

Hall of Fame slugger Rogers Hornsby said it best: “People ask me what I do in the winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.”

Play ball! Spring has sprung for baseball fans and Florida (think grapefruits) and Arizona (think cacti) are where the bats are swinging. The weather’s great, the ticket prices (starting at just $4) will make you smile, and the stadiums are intimate enough for a shout out to your favorite players for autographs and photos. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your spring training baseball vacation today.

There’s a lot more to spring training than ball games. And, with the economy being what it is, a day at the ballpark during major league spring training is affordable and action-packed. Doug MacKenzie, director of communications with the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau suggest fans “arrive early so you can see practice, enjoy the stadium and have lunch.”

For families, the beauty of watching spring training baseball is in the children-friendly stadiums and destinations. The spanking new Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz. (just west of Phoenix), home to the Cleveland Indians (and Cincinnati Reds next year), has a family-fun zone, complete with a Wiffle Ball field, batting and pitching cages, and picnic tables. The Atlanta Braves’ Champion Stadium makes its home in Disney’s Wide World of Sports, home-run distance from the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. Each game features live music and Disney characters, and this year an On-Field Spectator Experience debuts and kids can run the bases after every game. Most of the stadiums have lawns and picnic areas where families can watch the games and kids can run around.

Spring Training Tickets

Getting tickets, while inexpensive, isn’t always easy. Anytime you have the usual powerhouses play, like the Red Sox and Yankees, the stadiums will sell out, says David Downing, assistant director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Convention and Visitors Bureau. However, he adds, “The Tampa Rays and Philadelphia Phillies rematch (the teams faced off in last year’s World Series) in Clearwater has already sold out, so there are some new dynasties in the making.”

 

• Spring Training is fun for the whole family.

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One of the toughest tickets to snag is for the Chicago Cubs at Hohokam Park in Mesa, Ariz., says MLB.com columnist Doug Miller. Tony Morreale, sports public relations manager for Disney’s Wide World of Sports, suggests visitors buy tickets online so they don‘t strike out.

The spring training schedule starts Feb. 25 and runs through April 5, with the regular season starting April 6. Game schedules vary considerably depending on the team; check your favorite team’s Web site for the schedule. Here’s a roundup of where to see all the action.

Next: Home Base Hotels—Spring Training Package Deals