It’s almost time for spring training. Pitchers and catchers will start reporting to Mesa Feb. 19, with everyone reporting on the 24th. Spring training games for the Cubs begin Sunday, March 4 against the Oakland Athletics in Mesa.
If you’ve never had the chance to see spring training in Arizona, it’s a “must-do” if you can afford it. Tickets are not expensive; most lawn tickets in Mesa cost $9 per game. In general, tickets in Mesa will cost from $9 for lawn tickets to $31 for field box seats. Other stadiums may charge more or less, depending on the game and the opponent. Because the Cubs are one of the biggest draws in the Phoenix area both at Mesa and other parks, those tickets may cost a little more, but it’s worth it. Your biggest expenses will be food, drink, hotel, rental car and airfare.
If this is your first time going to spring training in Arizona, there are a few things you need to know. First, the Cubs play their home games in Mesa at HoHoKam Park. Their practice fields are down the street at Fitch Park. There is no fee to watch the players at Fitch, when they’re there. You might be lucky enough to see an injured pitcher working on specific pitches, or just stretching out his arm.
But you can’t just stay in Mesa. One of the alluring features about spring training in the Phoenix area is that you can easily go on Cubs “road” games. All of the ballparks are within about 45 minutes to an hour driving time from one another.
Each stadium has its own charms. Go with the Cubs to Goodyear and take a look at the airplane graveyard behind right field. Go with the team to Phoenix Municipal Stadium (aka Phoenix Muni) where the A’s train. It is the only park without a berm, or lawn to sit on. Take a look at the newest facility in Scottsdale, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, where both the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks train. Compare them all to the aging HoHoKam, then come back in a few years when the Cubs’ new facility is finished and compare that to those that are new now.
You might be surprised, but Cubs fans do travel. You will find pockets of fans who sit together during the season, who also make the trek to Mesa every year. Out on the berm you’ll find a large group of Wrigley bleacher regulars mingling with friends who live in the Phoenix area. These are some of the Wrigley die-hards. Some will be keeping score, even though it’s not a regular season game. It’s spring training for them, as well.
If you make the trip, stop by and say hi and tell them who sent you. They congregate under the scoreboard in left field.
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