Goodyear Arizona is a destination location for many reasons, but especially so if you are a Major League Baseball fan! Lucky for you, Acero Estrella Commons is so close to the Goodyear Ballpark you could probably catch a foul ball from your apartment patio (okay, we’re not that close, but we are less than 10-minutes from the stunning fields). Locals know that the beginning of Spring here in Arizona means one thing: MLB Spring Training! The Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds spend a majority of March at the Goodyear Ballpark for their Spring Training games and player development, so here’s all you need to know about living right next door to all of the baseball action.
Spring Training and the Cactus League
If you’re not a baseball fan, you might be asking yourself, “what exactly is Spring Training?” To put it simply, it’s Major Leauge Baseball pre-season. It’s a time for the players to get back in the swing of things (no pun intended) with games, batting practices, and overall player development ahead of the regular season, in a location and climate that is more suitable than where their home ballpark is located. During Spring Training season (Mid-February and all of March), the Goodyear Ballpark hosts approximately 30 Cactus League games and is home to the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians. Why is it called the Cactus League, you ask? Well, this is Arizona. The league is made up of teams like the Seattle Mariners, Oakland Athletics, the Arizona Diamondbacks and roughly 12 other teams from around the nation looking for a warm place to play ball ahead of the season to come. You can find the full schedule of Spring Training games happening at the Goodyear Ballpark this month, here.
(Photo by @GoodyearBallpark)
The Goodyear Ballpark
There’s something truly special about the Goodyear Ballpark on a sunny Arizona day. The stadium can host nearly 10 thousand fans, with 8,000 stadium seats, six luxury suites, behind-the-plate seats, a right-field pavilion, and 1,500 lawn seats. Needless to say, this ballpark is a staple in the great town of Goodyear and brings together not only the community, but baseball fans (and players!) from all around the nation. The park is the practice field and Spring Training game day location for both Ohio teams during the months of February and March, and the remainder of the year serves as a complex for the City of Goodyear recreational leagues and special events.
Fan Experiences and Food
Not only do locals and visitors alike enjoy great baseball during the Spring Training season, but there’s also an abundance of fan experiences throughout the season as well. Whether you’re hoping to get a front-row view of the Indians batting practice in the Fan Zone or attending a postgame meet and greet Q&A session, you are in the right place to make it happen. And of course, there’s food at the ballpark. The concession stands offer your traditional ballpark favorites, with everything from hotdogs and pretzels to veggie burgers and even a Cleveland Polish Boy for you to enjoy as you sit back, relax and watch the game unfold.
(Photo by @GoodyearBallpark)
Now you have something to look forward to in the upcoming weeks here in Goodyear! Have you ever been to the Goodyear Ballpark for a Spring Training game? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram, and while you’re at it keep following the Acero Estrella Commons blog here for other Goodyear highlights.
