There is nothing like spring training in Arizona. The most exciting words to a baseball fan during a long cold winter in the Midwest and the East and, yes, even here in Arizona are PLAY BALL!
Postponed to Start 2022
Though the start of Spring Training 2022 was postponed due to a lockout and whatever side you were on, the players or the owners, or neither, we will have a spring training in Arizona. Fans can make their plans to come to Arizona to soak up the sun and watch baseball.
Deal is Done Time to Spring into Action
Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement this past Thursday (03/11/2022). Without going into the details behind the agreement, the regular season is set to start on April 7. Before those games get underway, however, teams will rev up with spring training.
Players were able to voluntarily report to spring training as early as March 11, with Sunday, March 13, marked the first day that all players must report. The only exceptions will be given to players with visa issues. Their report times will be extended.
Cactus League Celebrates 75 Years
The Cactus league celebrates 75 years of spring training in 2022. For those who may not know, the Cactus League has been around since 1947. The Cleveland Indians and the New York Giants were the first to train here in Arizona. Over the years since, many teams have been added, left, and returned to Arizona for spring training.
Currently, the league comprises 15 teams—Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, and the Texas Rangers.
Past 25 years
There is nothing like spring training in Arizona. Although it’s been in existence for over 75 years, the past 25 years has seen Cactus League attendance grow tremendously. Fans spend their winters and/or vacation time in the Valley of the Sun, and the popularity of the Cactus League shows no signs of slowing down. Looking back to the pre-pandemic season of 2019, the Cactus League saw its per-game attendance climb that season, despite a dip in overall attendance. The League reports that the games drew an average of 7,900 fans in 2019. That number is the highest per-game attendance the league had seen in five years.
In 2018 Four Teams set Single Game Attendance
The 2018 Cactus League season saw four teams set single-game attendance records, including the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cubs, saw the five largest crowds in Cactus League history at Sloan Park that season.
In 2019 there were 223 Cactus League games played. The total amount of fans from those games was 1.8 million, slightly down from the record-setting 1.9 million seen in 2017.
Even with that, Spring Training 2019 crowned the Cubs with the largest crowd ever for a Cactus League game (16,100). The Diamondbacks weren’t too far behind, setting a single-game attendance record at Salt River Fields when they drew 14,035.
Escape the Frigid Weather
Every year, many baseball fans escape the frigid weather (polar vortex, cyclone bombs anyone!), and travel to Arizona for spring training. Here they not only enjoy the gorgeous spring temperatures, tourist amenities, and more, but also get to be up close and personal with their favorite teams and players—which is the best reason they come to spring training.
Shorter Spring Training Still has a lot to offer
There is nothing like spring training in Arizona and though it is a shortened season there is still a lot to see. First, where else can you go and see half the major leagues’ 30 teams play all within 50 miles of one another—and often-times much shorter distances? How about seeing Chicago’s Cubs and White Sox playing against each other? Enjoy the Dodgers and Giants rivalry, which is just as intense during spring training? Even Ohio rivals the Reds and the Indians share the same stadium in Goodyear. All that would be here in the Cactus League.
Comfort for Spring Training
How about comfort? Most of the stadiums offer lawn seating, which is a great option for families. Bring your blankets and stretch out in the outfield. Your children can run around and play and even chase home run balls. Kids may even play catch with a baseball player! We have even seen fans take naps. You can even see two games in a day when they offer a night game.
Players are Friendlier
MLB will have an image issue because of the lockout so you can expect access to players to be readily available. Players will be more outgoing and hopefully laid back. Oftentimes they are easily accessible for pictures with fans, for chatting, and for autographing items during spring training. Many fans say some of their best memories are talking with their favorite players and getting to post pictures. We should see that again in Spring Training 2022.
Arizona Weather
And finally, there is nothing like spring training in Arizona as mentioned, one big reason why spring training in Arizona is the best is because of the weather. If you want perfect baseball weather, then spring training in Arizona is where you come to get it. The spring weather is fantastic. The sun is almost always shining; there is rarely a chance of a rainout. Average temperatures range from the low 70s to mid-80s and how great is that?
