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Swing into The Cactus League: Arizona's Baseball Destination

Batters up! The Cactus League, one of two MLB spring training leagues, plays in the Phoenix metropolitan area. A couple of their stadiums, Sloan Park and Hohokam Stadium, are within a baseball's throw of our property. Sloan Park, home to the Chicago Cubs' spring training, is located three and a half miles outside of our boundaries, with Hohokam Stadium a little under two miles.

Let's take a swing into what makes the Cactus League spring training a premier baseball destination for you and your party. Additionally, we will discuss what makes Mesa, AZ a top vacation point for groups of all ages!

The Cactus League

Formed in 1947, the Cactus League is a spring training program for Major League Baseball, or MLB for short. Referred to as the "preseason", it acts as a series of warm-up games to prepare the players for the regular season. It typically runs from February through the weekend before Opening Day in April.

Two leagues, the Grapefruit League and Cactus League, play throughout this time. Unlike the Grapefruit League, the Cactus League is in a centralized location in Arizona. This means that you and your party are within driving distance from all of the major stadiums played at during this time.

Fifteen teams participate in the Arizona spring training league, which are as follows:

Arizona Diamondbacks
Chicago Cubs
Chicago White Socks
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
Texas Rangers

The two stadiums closest to our property, Sloan Park and Hohokam Stadium, host the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics, respectively. Let's dive into those stadiums further!

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Sloan Park

Sloan Park is the newest baseball park and was created in 2014. It's the spring training home for the Chicago Cubs and has a capacity of 15,000 fans. It hosts spring training games, but also serves as a youth tournament destination as well.

Your group is sure to have its thrills met! During these preseason performances, fan favorites and up-and-comers try to make the final roster, ensuring a good game.

Food, Drinks and Family Fun

Not only does Sloan Park excel in baseball, but it also delivers on its food. Fans can eat a variety of options, from hot dogs to nachos, gourmet burgers, and tacos. The ballpark offers family-friendly scenery with a kids' zone. Here, kids can enjoy interactive games and activities, ensuring a great time for fans of all ages.

Hohokam Stadium

Founded in 1997, Hohokam Stadium replaced the now since-demolished original Hohokam Stadium. Both the old and new stadiums served as the home for the Chicago Cubs until 2013. Since 2015, the park has been the home training grounds for the Oakland Athletics.

With a capacity of 10,500, it has the largest scoreboard in the Cactus League. Standing at an impressive 12 by 16 feet, it is sure to enhance your experience.

A Community Hub

Outside of the preseason games, Hohokam Stadium also offers community activities, hosting a variety of events. The welcoming atmosphere and historical significance present a great place for baseball lovers. Pitch your group on attending a game; it's a premier experience like no other.

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Other Stadiums

Within the Cactus League, there are 10 total stadiums, two of which we have covered briefly. The other stadiums throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area are:

American Family Fields of Phoenix: The home for the Milwaukee Brewers, this stadium recently underwent major renovations.
Camelback Ranch: This stadium not only hosts the Chicago White Sox but also the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Goodyear Ballpark: Hosted by the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians, the main entrance mimics dark stained wood. It is a ca n't-miss sight.
Peoria Sports Complex: The San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners split this ballpark. Fans will come from all over to watch both of these teams play.
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick: For the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies, this serves as their field. It was also the first MLB park built on Native American Indian land.
Scottsdale Stadium: Home for the San Francisco Giants, it was the host of the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Surprise Stadium: The Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers enjoy this stadium for all their preseason training needs.
Tempe Diablo Stadium: The Los Angeles Angels play in the oldest stadium for the Cactus League, dating back to 1968.

Mesa, AZ

After you have had your thrills at the baseball stadiums, take a look at the city of Mesa, AZ for your vacation activities. Mesa offers a wealth of experiences that make any visit memorable for groups of all backgrounds.

Outdoor Activities

The natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert, groups will enjoy the Desert Arroyo Park. It offers beautiful botanical walks, as well as several other walking trails. Free Wi-Fi is available, ensuring a safe and easy walking experience.

Dining and More

Mesa has a strong culinary scene, so your party will for sure have a diverse and delicious selection. Whether you are craving a casual sit-down meal or a high-end fancy restaurant, our city offers a plethora of selections. Have all your food needs met in our beloved area!

For other items to do in the area, we recommend looking into our article on the top 10 things to do in Mesa, AZ!

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Book Your Stay at W2ND Historic Inn

After your baseball thrills are met, come stay at our boutique inn! You will experience luxury amenities and immerse yourself in a historical home. Dating back to 1906, our beautiful property offers something for everyone. Each of our four suites offers a unique and personalized approach to vacationing.

Regardless of suite, you will have the opportunity to indulge in delicious scones and fresh fruit along with coffee, tea, or juice. Delivered outside your door, we offer premier guest experiences. Check out our menu for further breakfast items to choose from!

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Reviews

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Not only was this place first class, it was clean, modern, well designed, and easy to negotiate even for folks with disabilities. As an added plus I was admiring a particular print in the reception area and saying how much I liked it. Little did I know, but I was speaking with the actual artist who did the original painting. I think this happens often at the Mesa Arts Center. What a treat!!!!

Conrad L - Tripadvisor

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The Mesa Arts Center is amazing! The architecture is unique and open, the events are world class, and there is something to appeal to everyone - concerts of all types, theater, exhibits, classes, and more.

luvracing2018 - Tripadvisor

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Wonderful! So well choreographed! The expert of the dancers was awesome! Looking forward to going next year!

Coyleen - Tripadvisor

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Carol Eckert's coiled birds and Carol Shinn's embroideries It was very inspiring. I went to see the work of the two artists but had the added bonus of seeing a wonderful photography exhibit and also of exotic bird piniatas.

Anneke H - Tripadvisor