Spring Training in Surprise, AZ

by Austin Ranger on Dec 9, 2006 6:37 PM CST Comment 13 comments

Does anyone have any past Ranger spring training experiences they wish to share? Good...bad?

I have never been to spring training for the Rangers, but am seriously thinking about going this year. I'm just wondering what people's experiences have been in the past.

I'll be taking my son, if I go. Any helpful thoughts on going and what to do while there would be appreciated.

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I'm also going this year

but I haven't been since it was in Port Charlotte. So I would also like some tips/help. Especially when it comes to minor league camp.

by austintxhorn on Dec 9, 2006 6:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

My tips:

Stay in Surprise...don't venture outward. And then, get the hell out of Arizona as quickly as possible. It is hell on earth.

by theMenchcanMash on Dec 9, 2006 6:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I went last year for the first time and I'll be going back this year. It's a lot of fun. You get so close to the platers you can hear them joking around with each other. You get to see them take BP, infield/outfield, etc. Young signed my 6 month old son's jersey and he was really cool, I got to chat with him for a miute or two while they switched fields. Defintely, check out the practices, I liked it FAR more than the games. Alos, if you hang around long enough at practice you might get offered free tickets to the game later that evening. It happened to me 3-4x in about 2 hours. The stadium is amazing, small and intement, but a lot of fun.

There are a lot of chain restaurants popping up in Surprise so you'll have plenty of eating options.

by jgosline on Dec 9, 2006 6:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My tips:

Definitely stay in Surprise especially if you don't intend to to visit other spring training sites around as Surprise Stadium isn't anywhere near a freeway. Peoria Complex where the Pads & Mariners train is maybe 10-15 minutes away. All the other complexes are roughly 45 mins to an hour away. The cool part is Surprise is an up & coming community, so a good portion of it is new. There is plenty to do and despite what the previous poster said, Arizona is NOT hell on earth.

by HawaiianLion on Dec 9, 2006 7:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

See the Grand Canyon!

I went a few years ago and because of scheduling only got to see the Rangers in the Phoenix area against the A's and Angels. Even though I hear surprise is great, it was still a great time and the players were still very accessible.

My friends had trouble prying me away from the games, but I reluctantly agreed to go see the Grand Canyon. We took a full day and it was well worth it - it's only about 4 hours away and is amazing. If you haven't been before, you really can't go all the way to Arizona and not see it.

by Minnesota Texan on Dec 9, 2006 7:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Did this last year

it was awesome. Stayed in Suprise and while there is not much to do there I was with my son. Enjoyed the games and meeting the players and even got a round of golf in with son.

by Bigfan16 on Dec 9, 2006 7:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I live in Scottsdale

With all due respect to TheMenchCanMash, I certainly disagree that Arizona is "hell on earth." With that said, Surprise is actually one most boring towns in the phoenix area. However, I go to about 10 ranger games each season each so I can give you some information.

First, Suprise Stadium is the only spring training site that offers free parking. Tickets aren't too expensive. Last season, I think I paid 18 dollars each to sit one row up from the dugout. It is fairly easy to get tickets...unless they are playing the Diamondbacks or the Cubs. Also, the Rangers share the stadium with the Royals, so if they ever play each other, the Rangers dugout is always on the 1st base side. The worst part about the park is that they do not serve Dr. Pepper. Which, as a texan, really makes me sad. (They used to serve Shiner Bock, but that only lasted for the inaugural season)

In terms of minor league camp, there are about four or five fields all adjacent to the main stadium. These are used by both Royal and Ranger organizations. As far as I know, fans are able to go and watch any of the team practice.

If you wish seeing games against others in the AL west, I would also recommend attending games in Peoria (Mariners/Padres)because it is close to Suprise, or Phoenix Municipal (Athletics) which is one of my favorite parks. Tempe Diablo (Angels) is also a fun park to attend. I would not recommend going to a game in Scottsdale (Giants.) It is a nice park, but it is the most expensive; they even charge extra for games played on the weekend.

Maryville Stadium(Brewers) is in a run-down part of Phoenix, but because they are the Brewer's, it is super easy to get tickets there. Once I walked up during the second inning of a Saturday game and still got tickets on top of the dugout.

Hohokam (Cubs) is the hardest park to get tickets for. Also, Hohokam is in mesa which is far away from Suprise. Also far away from Surprise is Hi-Corbett (Rockies) and Tuscon Electric (Sox/D-backs.) I would not recommend driving to Tuscon, unless your trip itinerary mandates it.

The reason Suprise is so boring it because it used to be only a retirement community. But as one of the other posters mentioned, it has grown a lot in the past few years. There is now a TGI Friday's, Olive Garden, Red Robin, etc.

Lastly, I would recommend staying in Surprise, Peoria, or Glendale. With the new AZ cardinal stadium in Glendale, I am sure there are some new hotels opening up. It may be a little pricey, but when Jon Hart was the GM, I think he used to stay here:

www.wigwamresort.com

by elliott on Dec 9, 2006 10:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

$18 for a spring training game?

What a rip off. I guess they figure if you're going to go all the way out to the desert, you'll pay just about anything.

It wasn't all that long ago that $18 dollars would buy you a really nice ticket at a real game in a real stadium with major league ballplayers.

by Dustin on Dec 9, 2006 11:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Minor League Camp

Gates for the public open at 10:00 am on the back fields. They spend a couple of hours taking BP and doing drills with pitchers on the mounds throwing side sessions until lunch. Break for an hour and then games in the afternoon.

If they are playing San Diego, for example, the two A rosters will be in Surprise while the AAA and AA rosters will be just up the road in Peoria (or vice versa), so there are minor league games at the Surprise campus every day.

If you hope to see a particular pitcher in afternoon action, ask around during the morning session for who is pitching where that afternoon.

Rosters are usually tough to come by unless you know somebody.

by mjh on Dec 10, 2006 7:56 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

spring training

i have been to Surprise the last 2 out of 3 years,(went to the Hall of Fame this year) and its a must for any baseball fan! we found out that not only can you watch the Rangers, but you have the Royals, then down the road you have Seattle and San Deigo in peoria. All teams who train in the Pheonix area are just a close drive. I can say you will not be disappointed. the best time to go is the week before camps break, because you can watch games in the afternoon and at night. tickets are easy to get and are pretty inexpensive(average about $15)and at all parks you can watch all practices up close and personel, i was able to talk to Buck Showalter for about 10 mins, and Orel Hershiser and a number of players. its a great experiance GO GO GO its alot of fun!

by jimy777 on Dec 10, 2006 12:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the Comments

I appreciate everyone's comments. It helped seal the deal -- I'll be going.

And thanks for all of the tips.

by Austin Ranger on Dec 10, 2006 12:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If you like good live music

Some recommendations: The Rythmn Room is an excellent little blues bar in central Phoenix. Good atmosphere, good people, great music. They even have a BBQ/Soul food shack out back.

Char's Has the Blues is another excellent club along the same lines.

Alice Cooper has a pretty cool club downtown, also. Its really close to the Bob. The last time I was there, there was some sort of bikers' convention going on, with literally thousands of Harleys lining the streets.

They have a couple of nice casinos there, if you are in to that sort of thing, but only 1 has a poker room, so if that's your game, call ahead.

As for the suggestion to stay in Surprise, I disagree. Surprise is in the far NW corner of the county, so unless you are SOLELY interested in seeing the Rangers, and prefer to be situated amongst an endless string of chain restaurants, I'd recommend staying in central Phoenix. Don't get a room too close to the airport, though, unless you plan on trolling for free-lance adult companionship.

Finally, Scottsdale has an old town section that's worth checking out, although its not that much different from other "old towns" I've been to in Santa Fe, Albuquerque (sp), or Flagstaff. If your wife goes she'd probably enjoy shopping there...

"The Indians deserved it." LSB's resident humanitarian and motivational speaker, Sharky

by Brian Thomas on Dec 10, 2006 3:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Spring Training

I've gone to ST twice, before the 2004 and 2005 seasons. It has probably been my favorite vaction spot that I have been too. I got to speak to Diamond and Danks for a good amount of time and to Randy Galloway for about 20 minutes, which was interesting to say the least.

The practices are by far the best part of the whole experience. Being up close to the players, close enough to hear their conversations and jokes, is a lot of fun. Most of the players sign when they have time going from field to field.

I stayed in Scottsdale both years I went to Spring Training and it wasn't too bad of a choice. It was quite a long drive but the Scottsdale area is nice. I think I am going to try to make it out again this year but try to stay closer to Surprise.

I highly recommend going out to ST if you can get the chance to go.

by JMcGee on Dec 10, 2006 3:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs