Spring Training Online

If You Go ...

Tempe is a suburb of Phoenix, and as such you'll probably be spending a good chunk of your time in Phoenix. Architecture fans will want to check out Taliesin West, conveniently located on Frank Lloyd Wright Drive in nearly Scottsdale. Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Fellowship wintered at Taliesin West, and today that unique set of buildings set amongst 600 acres of desert is open for tours.

Otherwise, the pickins are slim in terms of must-see attractions in Phoenix. You may want to do what the natives seem to enjoy: relax and commune with nature. Of course, most of that communing takes place on a golf course.

There are eight other teams with spring-training venues in the Phoenix area: Chicago Cubs (Mesa), Seattle Mariners (Peoria), San Diego Padres (Peoria), Milwaukee Brewers (Maryvale), Oakland Athletics (Phoenix), Texas Rangers (Surprise), San Francisco Giants (Scottsdale), and Kansas City Royals (Surprise). Tucson -- spring-training home of the Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies -- is 115 miles southwest of Phoenix. It's not really a bad drive -- it's mostly freeway, along I-10. 

Where to Stay: Because there are so many spring-training venues in Phoenix and you're more than likely visiting more than one ballpark, chances are pretty good that you don't necessarily need to be staying close to the ballpark. Phoenix is a relatively easy area to make your way around, so don't feel like it's essential you stay close to the park.

Since Tempe Diablo Stadium is so close to the airport, there are a host of hotels between the two that are reasonable close to the stadium. Mainstay Suites, Comfort Suites, and Sheraton Phoenix Airport are all within a mile of the stadium. In addition, these hotels are close to Phoenix Municipal Stadium, spring-training home of the Oakland Athletics.

Flying In: The closest airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It's served by all the major airlines, including United, America West, Delta, Northwest, Air Canada, American, Continental, US Airways, and Southwest. It's a pleasant enough airport.

You may also want to consider flying into Tucson and then driving to Phoenix if the fare to Tucson is significantly cheaper. The drive is 117 miles and takes a couple of hours on I-10, but it's a pretty drive if you like desert scenery.