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SURPRISE STADIUM Capacity 10,500 Year Opened 2003 Dimensions 350L, 379LC, 400C, 379RC, 350R Surface Grass Local Airport Phoenix Ticket Prices Lower Dugout, $22; Upper Dugout, $19;  Infield Seats, $16; Plaza Seats, $12; Lawn Seats, $7. Tickets on Sale Now. Ticket Web Site www.ticketmaster.com Ticket Order Line 480/784-4444 or 520/321-1000 Address 15850 N. Bullard Av., Surprise. Directions Surprise Stadium is located just south of Bell Road on Bullard Avenue, 1 1/2 miles west of the intersection of Bell and Grand Avenue (U.S. Route 60). To get there from the center of Phoenix, take I-10 west to Hwy. 101 north; from there either take the Grand Avenue or Bell Road exits and head west. You'll pass through Sun City before you reach Surprise; follow the signs to the ballpark.

Quite honestly, there is not a lot to Surprise. It's on the far edge of the Phoenix metropolitan area, and it's still an area in transition: it's currently a mix of housing developments (the original Sun City development is due east, while new Sun City developments are within the city limits) and big-box retailers. You're likely to find a field of cauliflower across the road from a brand-new set of houses. There's no downtown Surprise, and the big draw in Surprise is the ballpark.

As Surprise is still a smaller suburb of Phoenix (with only 58,000 residents), so 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), Anaheim Angels (Tempe), San Francisco Giants (Scottsdale), and Texas Rangers (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.

If you do feel compelled to stay close to the ballpark, there are several hotels within five miles of Surprise Stadium, including the Quality Inn, Best Western Inn and the Best Inn. But remember: no one in Phoenix walks anywhere. They drive. 

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.

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