Spring training things to know

[do4CY]

My son is going down to watch some spring training over spring break with some other family members. He's a Royals fan. They are going to surprise and Goodyear stadiums. Does anybody have any tips or tricks or things they should look to do while down there?

 

[2020cy]

Unfortunately, most of the good Royals are playing in the World thingy. Still expect high prices for games, eats, drinks than what you would expect.

 

[KnappShack]

Spring Training was always my favorite baseball.

Unless things have changed that ballpark didn't have a lot of shade. Lube up for day games. Be cool. Have fun.

(And Giants fans are kind of nuts)

Edit Side note: You can meet cool people. I met Meadowlark Lemon at the Cubs game. Dude was just sitting there. Totally cool guy. Bill Buckner was cool.

Was in line for food, turned around, and saw Ferguson Jenkins right behind me in line. Grab chow and talk to a hall of famer.

Met the Angels owner and watched NCAA ball with Bobby Grich at the bar. After some time we talked Angels baseball

"Yeah I played shortstop for the Angels"
"We're you on that '86 team"
"Sigh. Yeah"
"Oh. Sorry. That was tough. I didn't recognize you without the mustache"

Talked to some old guy who was a locker room attendant for the Bears back in the 60s. Awesome guy with fun stories.

Miss spring ball!

 

[do4CY]

Unfortunately, most of the good Royals are playing in the World thingy. Still expect high prices for games, eats, drinks than what you would expect.

I joked with him the other day after the US lost that Bobby might be back.

 

[gypsyroad]

Still expect high prices for games, eats, drinks than what you would expect.

Spring training used to be cheap and fun. Now it costs as much as a season game.

 

[MJ29]

The Rangers/Royals spring training facility is very open. You can wander around the practice fields and see some of the prospects -- and occasionally the major leaguers -- getting work in. This is usually in the mornings before the games.

I loved spring training the two times I've gone. Going after St. Patrick's Day seems to be the best time as that's when rosters are starting to whittle down and the big league roster guys play a little deeper in the games.

My favorite eateries down there were Matt's Big Breakfast and Culinary Dropout.

 

[VeloClone]

Spring Training thing to know: The games don't count.

You're welcome.

 

[CyGuy5]

Was just in Surprise for a couple days last week. The Royals have to be one of the worst facilities in terms of accessibility to the major league team. You can get up close on the four minor league fields, but the two MLB fields you’ll have to watch from afar. Minor league players will walk from the locker room to their field and you can get autographs when they are done with practice, if that’s your thing. Also likely you’ll run into Rusty Kuntz riding his bike around camp

With that being said, the MLB team does take BP every morning (assuming it’s a day game/not a day off) and there is ample opportunity to get home run balls. If it’s a night game, there will be no action on the MLB fields until later in the afternoon

I would highly recommend going to the Rangers facility. You can get up close with the MLB team. Worth stopping even if you aren’t a fan.

In terms of the actual game, the Royals/Surprise Stadium also has to be one of the worst for player access. The Royals side of the stadium is down the 3B line. On extremely rare occasions, players will sign autos down the LF line pregame or once they’ve come out of the game. There are nets running down both baselines so it’s limited to like half a section that can actually do this, however. They’ve also fully tarped off the batting cages in the stadium so you can’t even see who is getting reps pregame/midgame.

 

[Marcelason78]

Find out which bar the players frequent after games. Don’t ask for autographs but you can sit at the bar next to one of your favorite players and have a good conversation. The coolest guy I met doing so was Paul Molitor.

 

[azhuth09]

bring a towel to sit on, because the stands will be approximately the temperature of the sun.

 

[Cyched]

Haven't been to the Goodyear ballpark, but been to Surprise. Echo the towel/blanket comment as you'll either be sitting on hot bleachers or the grass outfield. Hat and sunscreen are a must (duh).

Other west metro parks are Peoria (Mariners/Padres), Camelback in Glendale (Dodgers/White Sox) and Maryvale (Brewers). All worth checking out if he has some extra time and depending where staying.

Love spring training baseball. Super low key to watch baseball and get some sun and concessions.