Welcome to the Cactus League: Your Complete Guide to MLB Spring Training in the Valley of the Sun

Every February, something remarkable happens across the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Parking lots fill up before noon, the smell of sunscreen and ballpark nachos hangs in the warm desert air, and the unmistakable crack of a bat signals that baseball is back. This is the Cactus League — and if you haven't experienced spring training in Arizona, you're missing one of the best rituals in all of American sports.

A Brief History: How It All Started

Spring training itself is nearly as old as professional baseball. Teams have been heading south to warm climates since the 1880s to shake off the winter rust, but Arizona's story begins in earnest after World War II.

The Cactus League was officially born in 1947, when the Cleveland Indians and New York Giants became the first major league clubs to hold spring training in Arizona. Bill Veeck, the flamboyant owner of the Indians, brought his team to Tucson, while the Giants set up camp in Phoenix. The warm, dry climate was ideal — nearly 300 days of sunshine a year, low humidity, and temperatures that sit comfortably in the 70s and 80s during February and March.

For years, Arizona competed with Florida's Grapefruit League for teams. Progress was slow but steady. By the 1950s and 60s, a handful of clubs had committed to the desert, charmed by the predictable weather and the enthusiastic local support. The Cubs arrived at Mesa's HoHoKam Park in 1952 — beginning one of the longest-running relationships in Cactus League history. The Giants moved into Scottsdale Stadium in 1956, a facility they still use today, making it the oldest active spring training park in baseball.

The real explosion came in the 1990s and 2000s, when a combination of franchise relocations, league expansion, and aggressive investment by Arizona municipalities brought a flood of new teams to the Valley. Today, 15 of the 30 major league teams call the Cactus League home each spring, making it the largest concentration of MLB spring training activity anywhere in the country.

Why Phoenix? The Case for the Desert

The choice of Phoenix wasn't accidental, and its dominance over the past 75 years isn't luck. A few factors have made the Valley of the Sun essentially irreplaceable as a spring training home.

The weather is simply unmatched. Phoenix averages about 299 sunny days per year, and during February and March, temperatures hover in the low-to-mid 70s during the day — warm enough for baseball, cool enough to be comfortable in the stands for three hours. Rain delays are rare, and snow is virtually unheard of. Compare that to Florida, where afternoon thunderstorms are a near-daily occurrence in spring, and you begin to understand why players and fans alike prefer the desert.

Proximity and geographic concentration are a massive advantage. Unlike Florida, where Grapefruit League parks are scattered across hundreds of miles from Tampa to Miami, every Cactus League stadium sits within roughly 50 miles of downtown Phoenix. You can watch a morning game in Goodyear and catch the second half of an afternoon game in Tempe. That kind of flexibility is impossible anywhere else in spring training baseball.

Arizona invested heavily in its facilities. The state and its cities understood what the Cactus League meant economically and culturally. Modern, purpose-built complexes replaced aging fields, and teams were given the infrastructure they needed to run full-scale operations — major league stadiums, minor league practice fields, clubhouses, and rehab facilities all on the same campus. The investment worked. The Cactus League generates over $700 million in annual economic impact for the Arizona economy.

Finally, the lifestyle appealed to players and coaches. Golf courses, resort amenities, and a dry climate that's easy on aging arms and knees made Arizona a place where veterans wanted to spend six weeks. That preference filters down through organizations and helps keep teams committed to the Valley year after year.

The Ballparks: Where to Find Your Team

One of the great pleasures of the Cactus League is the variety and intimacy of its venues. These aren't minor league afterthoughts — they're purpose-built, fan-friendly facilities with sight lines that put you closer to the action than almost any regular season park. Here's a rundown of every current Cactus League stadium and the teams that call them home.

American Family Fields of Phoenix — Phoenix

Teams: Milwaukee Brewers Located on the west side of Phoenix near the 101 freeway, this is a comfortable mid-sized park that the Brewers have called home since 1998. The berm seating down the lines fills with families spreading out blankets, and the views of the surrounding desert hills are a quintessential Arizona backdrop.

Camelback Ranch — Glendale

Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers & Chicago White Sox Opened in 2009, Camelback Ranch is one of the most stunning facilities in all of spring training. The design is inspired by the American Southwest, with natural rock formations, native plantings, and a main lake that anchors the whole complex. With the Dodgers now a perennial contender, getting tickets here can require planning well in advance.

American Family Fields of Phoenix — see above

Goodyear Ballpark — Goodyear

Teams: Cleveland Guardians & Cincinnati Reds Out in the far west Valley, Goodyear is a clean, modern stadium that opened in 2009. It's a bit of a drive from Scottsdale but the payoff is a relaxed atmosphere, shorter lines, and a great view of the White Tank Mountains beyond the outfield. Parking is plentiful and free.

Hohokam Stadium — Mesa

Teams: Oakland Athletics For decades this was home to the Cubs, one of the most beloved Cactus League relationships in history. The A's moved in after the Cubs shifted to Sloan Park. Hohokam is a classic, no-frills ballpark — intimate, loud, and packed with real baseball fans.

Peoria Sports Complex — Peoria

Teams: San Diego Padres & Seattle Mariners One of the original dual-team spring training complexes, Peoria opened in 1994 and helped set the template for what modern Cactus League facilities could be. Sixteen practice fields, two stadiums sharing a main grandstand, and a big, welcoming concourse make this one of the best places to spend a full day of baseball.

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick — Scottsdale

Teams: Colorado Rockies & Arizona Diamondbacks Opened in 2011 on land leased from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Salt River Fields is widely considered the crown jewel of Cactus League facilities. The main stadium seats about 11,000, but the real draw is the hillside berm that wraps around left field — bring a blanket, grab a local craft beer, and watch the sunset over the McDowell Mountains while a game unfolds below. It's one of the best seats in spring training.

Scottsdale Stadium — Scottsdale

Teams: San Francisco Giants The oldest active spring training venue in baseball, Scottsdale Stadium has been home to the Giants since 1956. Sitting right in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, it's compact, charming, and surrounded by restaurants and bars. The cozy 12,000-seat capacity means there's not a bad seat in the house. This is spring training the way it used to feel.

Sloan Park — Mesa

Teams: Chicago Cubs When the Cubs built Sloan Park in 2014, they built it to last a century. The design is a miniature homage to Wrigley Field, complete with an outfield berm where fans lounge on the grass. It's by far the largest Cactus League facility, seating over 15,000. Cubs fans travel from all over the country to descend on Mesa each spring — buy tickets early or you will not get in.

Surprise Stadium — Surprise

Teams: Kansas City Royals & Texas Rangers The northwesternmost of the Cactus League parks, Surprise Stadium sits about 40 minutes from Scottsdale but is worth the drive for the smaller crowds and relaxed vibe. The Royals and Rangers share a well-run complex with excellent sightlines and a reputation for friendly staff.

Tempe Diablo Stadium — Tempe

Teams: Los Angeles Angels One of the older facilities in the league, Tempe Diablo sits against the dramatic backdrop of the Tempe Buttes — rocky desert hills that rise just beyond the outfield wall. The natural setting gives it a raw, rugged character unlike any other park in the league. It's small, it's warm, and it gets loud.

Tips for Following Your Favorite Team Across the Valley

Spring training is a different animal than the regular season, and getting the most out of it takes a little planning. Here's how to do it right.

Buy tickets early, especially for marquee teams. The Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, and Angels consistently sell out. Tickets go on sale in December or early January, and the best seats are gone fast. If you're coming from out of town, book your entire trip — flights, hotel, and tickets — at the same time.

Go to practice, not just games. Most Cactus League complexes open their practice fields to the public, usually from around 9 to 11 a.m. before game days. You can stand ten feet from your favorite players during batting practice, fielding drills, and bullpen sessions. This is where the real spring training magic happens — an intimacy with the game that's completely unavailable during the regular season.

Arrive early for autographs. Players walk from the clubhouse to the practice fields, and many will stop to sign along the route. Bring a ball, a program, or a card. Be patient, be respectful, and don't be surprised when someone you've watched on TV for years signs a baseball and shakes your kid's hand.

Build a split-squad day. When teams play split-squad games, they divide their roster between two simultaneous games at different parks. This means the entire Cactus League effectively doubles for one day, and ticket prices are often lower. Check the schedule for split-squad dates — usually in mid-March — and plan to hop between two parks.

Rent a car. Public transportation between parks is limited. The distances are manageable by Phoenix standards, but you'll want the freedom to move when and where you want. Most ballparks have ample free or low-cost parking.

Stay in Scottsdale for central access. If you're trying to see multiple teams, Scottsdale puts you within 20-30 minutes of most parks. Old Town Scottsdale has excellent restaurants, walkable neighborhoods, and a baseball-season energy in February and March that you won't find anywhere else.

Dress in layers for night games. Days are gorgeous, but once the sun goes down in the desert, temperatures can drop into the 50s even in late March. A light jacket makes the difference between a great evening and an uncomfortable one.

Don't overlook the minor leaguers. Extended spring training continues after the major leaguers break camp, but even during the Cactus League schedule, watch the players wearing unfamiliar numbers. This is where you might catch the next star before anyone else knows who he is. In 2012, a kid named Mike Trout was just starting to look like something special. In 2019, fans in Scottsdale watched a young Juan Soto take his first big-league swings in a spring game. The discovery is part of the joy.

Check the Cactus League website regularly. At cactusleague.com, you can find the full schedule, ticketing links, and a park-by-park guide. Game schedules and roster assignments can shift quickly in spring training, so refresh your plans as you go.

The Big Picture

The Cactus League is more than baseball. It's a ritual of renewal — a six-week stretch when the game belongs to everyone again, when standing ovations go to 40-year-old veterans taking one last shot at a roster spot, and when a teenager from the Dominican Republic can walk onto a major league field for the first time and make everyone forget they were ever watching anyone else.

The weather is perfect, the pace is easy, and the Valley of the Sun has spent 75 years building the best spring training destination in the world.

Come see what you've been missing.

Spring training typically runs from late February through late March. Visit cactusleague.com for the current season's full schedule and ticketing information.