There should be more references to the San Francisco Giants throughout the park, as this is a high score in “ballpark personality” given that the park fails on that accord. Most of all, the park just sticks out because of its location. Memorable features include the palm tree court, the practice field literally integrated onto the concoursein the right field corner, and the especially festive Charro Lodge. ![]() _It’s hard to put your finger on, but Scottsdale Stadium is quite distinctive, often exuding personality at every corner. The concourse aesthetics can be attractive here by virtue of the palm tree court behind home plate. Interior aesthetic highlights include picturesque views of the Camelback and McDowell Mountains and the greenery beyond the left field berm. That southwestern sensibility is further incorporated on the inside through the awning above the press box. The outside scene sometimes lacks presence, often defying efforts to get a signature shot, but it gets an extra boost for fitting in with its surroundings and being ahead of its time. Fitted with sand brick, dark green panels, and hues of rustic red infused with local accents, the exterior façade is vaguely southwestern but unmistakably attractive and intimate. _While it doesn’t reach the high standards of today, Scottsdale Stadium was the first in the Cactus League to have any architectural and aesthetic impulses. Plenty of great resorts and golfing in the area. While parking is the only negative, Scottsdale Stadium’s superb location and local scene are its enduring assets. The larger setting rivals that of MLB parks. Other surrounding destinations include the high-end Scottsdale Fashion Square, one of the best shopping complexes in America. The revitalized Old Scottsdale is replete with old fashion shops, festive bars, high-quality restaurants, nightclubs, a world-class art scene, and other attractions. _Scottsdale Stadium’s location in a prime tourist destination with an active local scene is somewhat of an outlier in spring training, the only park to score a perfect “10.” I actually even downgraded Scottsdale Stadium a bit this year, but with its respectable aesthetics, vibrant atmosphere, and charming setting, Scottsdale Stadium remains a prime spring training destination. Often considered the best ballpark in the Cactus League during the late 2000s after its 2006 renovation, the park is probably a bit overrated today, as its functionality and amenities have fallen behind the times. Like the classic ballparks, Scottsdale Stadium is interwoven with the area, in contrast to the sprawling complexes across spring training. You often hear the words “charm” and “old school” associated with Scottsdale, partially because the site dates back to 1955, but mostly because of its relationship to the Old Scottsdale neighborhood. Built to be the best in the entire state at the time, Scottsdale set the new standard as the first Cactus League park with a capacity above 10,000 and attractive aesthetics. With only 8 clubs all training in woefully inadequate facilities prior to 1992, Scottsdale Stadium was the first modern venue in Arizona spring training. _While I called Peoria Sports Complex the “Camden Yards of the Cactus League” for, among other reasons, spawning a new generation of mega-parks shared by two teams, being the first to possess fan-friendly amenities like 360-degree concourses, and having a much higher price tag than ever seen before, perhaps that designation would be better bestowed on Scottsdale Stadium. _ 16) (6/10 in AZ) Scottsdale Stadium (1992 2006 renovation), San Francisco Giants, Scottsdale, AZ: 84 ![]() The next four are a grab bag of ballparks that are pretty clearly a step above the parks that are merely good, but don’t quite meet my standards for the great spring training facilities that were either built to state-of-the-art standards or received tens of millions more in renovation dollars. Our team-by-team menu has links for National League Spring Training Sites (chart is posted above) and American League Spring Training Sites, and posted below are the sites for Federal League teams: Baltimore Terrapinsĭo you attend Spring Training games? What is your favorite site? What are your secrets on how to obtain an autograph, or meet your favorite player, or simply watch & enjoy the teams? Share your knowledge with other fans on Baseball Fever. Did you know that Major League clubs once played their Spring Training games against local Minor League teams? A practice that was discontinued in the mid-1920s, but made for some exciting games nonetheless.
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