The Arizona Cactus League Association has been made up of individuals with a direct stake in the success of the league since 1947. The Association has given a venue for discussing operational best practices, developing and maintaining business ties with individual Major League Baseball organizations, and facilitating and taking part in Cactus League promotion and fundraising events. The Cactus League sector is still expanding and is thought to have a $644 million annual economic impact on Arizona.
All of the following teams have spring training facilities in Arizona: the Texas Rangers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers. The Phoenix metropolitan region boasts the highest concentration of professional baseball facilities in the whole country, with 10 facilities housing 15 clubs. Some institutions provide volunteer opportunities and charitable collaborations that produce significant donations to numerous initiatives, causes, and scholarships around the state. The Arizona Cactus League Association is dedicated to carrying on its efforts to support communities, strengthen the industry, and improve Arizona’s outstanding quality of life for everybody.
An Economic Force
Games in the Cactus League do not count. They contribute financially to Arizona’s economy.
According to a research by the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, the 2018 Cactus League season generated an estimated economic impact of $644.2 million, an increase of 11% above the real-world production estimate from 2015 (output estimate). The study, which solely polled out-of-state tourists, also discovered that the Cactus League contributed $373 million to Arizona’s GDP. According to the survey, the typical spring training tourist stayed in Arizona for four days and spent $405 each day.
Spring training has captured the hearts of countless baseball fans throughout the nation, and that love doesn’t seem to be going away. The Cactus League attracted a record 1,941,347 spectators in 2017.
Desert spring is about more than simply baseball. Greater Phoenix’s adjacent communities offer the thrill of the old west within a vibrant metro area overflowing with cultural and outdoor treasures, and they are surrounded by the picturesque Sonoran Desert. Greater Phoenix has more than 300 days of sunshine annually and is renowned across the world for its extensive array of outdoor leisure possibilities, including golf, boating, and hiking. Discover your inner adventurer while playing golf on more than 200 beautiful courses in this idyllic setting. Guided tours, hot air balloon excursions, horseback riding, rock climbing, and many more activities are available.
Get out and enjoy some fun and relaxation by attending a performance, symphony, or ballet. Visit museums showcasing Native American history and art, and indulge in delectable cuisine. Additionally, Greater Phoenix is a sports Mecca since it is one of the few American metropolitan areas with teams competing in all four major professional sports. A shopper’s paradise may also be discovered thanks to amazing malls, distinctive boutiques, art galleries, antique stores, and outlet malls. Don’t forget that the Valley of the Sun is home to dozens of opulent resorts, many of which feature magnificent spas that specialize in unique Arizonan therapies.
With so many options for staying active, watching sports, or simply unwinding, it’s understandable why travelers treasure their time in Greater Phoenix.
The Cactus League has how many teams?
Of the 15 clubs who practice in Arizona, only the Cubs, Angels, Brewers, Giants, and Athletics have their own home stadiums, in contrast to the Grapefruit League, where teams sometimes share stadiums. The Phoenix metro region is home to all of the Cactus League teams (as of 2014 when the Diamondbacks and Rockies left Tucson for their new shared facility, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick[38]).
Sloan Park, the Chicago Cubs’ spring training facility in Mesa, Arizona, which opened in February 2014, is the most recent stadium constructed for MLB spring training. Tempe Diablo Stadium, which was constructed in 1969, is the Cactus League’s oldest spring training venue.
The Cactus League has an annual economic impact of baseball over $300 million on the greater Phoenix metropolitan region, according to the Arizona Republic. According to the Arizona Republic newspaper, “building eight new stadiums and remodeling two others for the 15 clubs in the Valley” cost more than $500 million. [39]
With 1.59 million fans in attendance for games at the various stadiums in the Phoenix metro area, attendance at Cactus League games in 2011 set a new record. The Salt River Fields at Talking Stick venue, which hosted 22% of the Cactus League games, is responsible for a large portion of the increase in attendance. [40]
The Cactus League in Arizona has the following list of spring training destinations broken down per team:
[37]
The number of fields in the Cactus League?
Secrets: Salt River Fields, the first sports complex of its kind in the country to be constructed on tribal property, is also the first LEED Gold-certified sports facility in the country. The park’s signature feature is a roof modeled after a traditional Native American ramada that is composed of two overlapping decks behind home plate and is positioned so that nearly all spectators in the grandstand sit in shade all afternoon. Tributes to its roots can be found throughout, including restroom signs in Maricopa, Pima, and English. Cactus and other indigenous desert plants are also included. The stadium with 11,000 seats debuted in 2011. The two teams share 13 fields in total.
Food and beverage options include Mustache Pretzels’ funky-shaped snack or Home Plate Hot Dogs’ famous Sonoran Dog, a quarter-pound hot dog covered in hickory-smoked bacon that is grilled and served on a freshly baked bun with pico de gallo, pinto ranch beans, and a sprinkle of mayo. Find libations at Michelob Ultra Terrace and The Malibu Rum Bar, or look for a lawn drink cart.
There isn’t a terrible seat in the house, so choose wisely. Families may choose the grassy area because it is less expensive and provides open space. With just 12 rows, the 100 Level Baseline seats feature the greatest views of either baseline. You are in a foul ball zone, so pay attention.
Meet-and-greets: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, player signatures are never permitted. There won’t be any access to the Cold Stone Kids Fun Fields.
Parking costs $5 to $10 for each of the six lots’ 4,000 spaces. There will be shuttle service to the gates.
What distinguishes the Cactus League from the Grapefruit League?
Given that both leagues contain 15 teams, there is no clear winner in this division. Not to mention that you will probably want to see them if you support a particular team. An Angels fan would presumably choose the Cactus League, whereas a Yankees fan would generally lean toward the Grapefruit League.
However, based on how teams performed in 2012, fans who are simply seeking to enjoy some terrific baseball this year should head to the Cactus League.
The Yankees, Tigers, and Nationals compete in the Grapefruit League, while the Reds, Athletics, and World Series champion San Francisco Giants play in the Cactus League. Both leagues have three division winners.
The Red Sox, Astros, Marlins, and Twins are four of the six clubs from the Grapefruit League that placed dead last in their division. The Cactus League includes the other two clubs, but it also boasts more average teams, which typically means players with more talent.
In 2022, will there be spring training?
What will the Spring Training schedule be for 2022? The dates of the Spring Training games are March 18–29. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks will play each other in the opening Cactus League series on April 18.
Major League Baseball in ArizonaThe Cactus League
Since 1908, the springtime climate in Arizona has been ideal for Major League Baseball’s (MLB) spring training program. The Cactus League, the region’s spring training season, currently has a regional economic effect of more than $300 million. There are just two such “leagues” in the country. The Florida Grapefruit League is the other. Any baseball enthusiast must experience major league baseball in Arizona.
In Arizona, the Cactus League provides the ideal Major League Baseball viewing experience. Baseball fans can enjoy the National Pastime without visiting the cities where their favorite teams play or paying exorbitant prices for regular season tickets. Additionally, spectators enjoy the classic American sporting customs of the seventh-inning stretch, hotdogs, roasted peanuts, and rally hats. The region is home to fifteen MLB franchises. These teams are the Arizona Diamondbacks of Phoenix, the Chicago Cubs, the Colorado Rockies, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Texas Rangers, the Cleveland Indians, the Chicago White Sox, the Los Angeles Angels, and the Cincinnati Reds.
CACTUS LEAGUE IMPROVEMENTS
Phoenix’s Cactus League has benefited from $500 million in renovations and eight new stadiums. The teams’ venues are spread out over the Valley. At Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, HoHoKam Park, Camelback Ranch, Goodyear Park, Surprise Stadium, Tempe Diablo Stadium, Maryvale Baseball Park, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Peoria Sports Complex, and Scottsdale Stadium, fans love watching their favorite teams compete.
The Chicago Cubs’ brand-new $99 million spring training facility in Mesa is the newest addition to Cactus League locations. The building, which Mesa voters recently authorized, would act as the baseball team’s western headquarters and the main hub for player development, drafting, and other operations. Arizona’s Major League Baseball is here to stay!
In Arizona, how many MLB clubs train?
The Cactus League’s Spring Training is held in Arizona, where fifteen professional Major League Baseball teams are based in ten stadiums in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
Consider taking advantage of Arizona’s great weather while social distance is a top concern for meeting organizers and event participants throughout the next months. In Arizona, we come to life throughout the winter months, while many of our cold-weather states avoid being outside.
Additionally, several of the following establishments have put new policies into place as of 2020 to ensure the safety of all visitors, including:
- following the best sanitization practices in the industry
- increased hand-washing stations
- Observe social distancing guidelines
- Facility facility staff that has received cleaning techniques training
Please visit the websites or social media pages of each venue to learn more about the outside options and to benefit from holding the events you require.
Whose spring training facility is the best?
Players aren’t the only ones getting ready for the regular season during spring training. It also has to do with Florida and Arizona’s sunshine, whilst most of the rest of the country is still receiving snow.
Many clubs have outstanding spring training facilities, which could include batting cages, practice fields, and of course, the stadium itself.
Every club understands the value of providing a welcoming atmosphere for supporters to witness the young stars of each organization. The time and money the teams invested in these complexes is evidence of it.
Fans can see a friendly game during spring training while while witnessing intense positional battles. As soon as Opening Day arrives, business as usual takes over.