Spring Training 2009 Travel Thread

[TooLiveBrew]

Never been down there for any reason before, and looking forward to the warm weather as well.

Thirded, blancofan. Have a blast! And make sure to check out as many other ST parks as you can reasonably fit in. Just great atmospheres basically anywhere you go.

Another tip if you hadn't thought/heard of it... Desert Botanical Gardens. Amazing. And of course, they just happen to be featuring an exhibit by UW-Madison artist Dale Chihuly... many probably know him from the glass sculptures in the Kohl Center just through the main gate.

http://www.chihuly.com/installations/public/Art/Almost3_Img0075M.jpg


Chihuly: The Nature of Glass exhibit at Desert Botanical Gardens

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

I'm all booked and ready to go. I'll be there from March 18th to the 23rd.

[lodiness]

Can't wait to get down there. Last time I went, only saw the WBC. Had too many things and people planned to see that week. This time will be great!!! I've got the fever, and it's not for more cow bell!!! Heading down there with Blancofan, and I think I'm pumped just to see all of the young guys play. Safe travels to everyone.

[1992casey]

This thread has been added to the Designated Threads List.

[bobbledude25]

I'm there! March 10-13th!

[yoyo49]

i am headed down the last week in march. does anybody who has been there before have any tips about buying tickets, where to sit, etc.? i am just curious if i need to buy tickets in advance. how is the outfield lawn? thanks in advance to anybody who can provide any insight.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

The lawn seats are cheap, but you have to sit on grass on a hill, which doesn't seem that comfortable. Tickets are cheap so I usually go with behind the plate or by the dugout. It's easier to get autographs if you get seats by the Brewers dugout. I wouldn't worry about getting tickets in advance because the games rarely sell out and sometimes people just give them away by the door.

[Blancofan1]

I just noticed that the weekend of March 12, 13, and 14th is listed on the spring schedule as an investor/sponsor weekend. Anyone have any idea of what that means?

[Patrick425]

The lawn seats are cheap, but you have to sit on grass on a hill, which doesn't seem that comfortable. Tickets are cheap so I usually go with behind the plate or by the dugout. It's easier to get autographs if you get seats by the Brewers dugout. I wouldn't worry about getting tickets in advance because the games rarely sell out and sometimes people just give them away by the door.

Some of the lawn seating slopes more than others. Maryvale has a pretty steep slope. Oakland does not have lawn seating (not sure if this is true for any other park). While games don't usually sell out, it's not necessarily true that you would be able to get tickets where ever you want. Games at the Cubs stadium (Ho Ho Kam) do sell out from time to time and if you want good seating it may be hard to get. I've never been to a SF game out there, but I heard that they fill their stadium as well. Diamondback games are popular too and I'm imagining that Dodger games will be well attended.

 

Also, "cheap" is a relative term. Most lawn seating is around $8. However, if you want to sit in the stands you are generally going to pay anywhere between $10 to $30. I notice that tickets at the Dodger stadium in the stands start at $18 and go all the way up to $45.

[datrain711]

March 6th to the 11th! who wants to meet up for the brewers- cubs game http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[azcheesehead]

The lawn seats are cheap, but you have to sit on grass on a hill, which doesn't seem that comfortable. Tickets are cheap so I usually go with behind the plate or by the dugout. It's easier to get autographs if you get seats by the Brewers dugout. I wouldn't worry about getting tickets in advance because the games rarely sell out and sometimes people just give them away by the door.

Some of the lawn seating slopes more than others. Maryvale has a pretty steep slope. Oakland does not have lawn seating (not sure if this is true for any other park). While games don't usually sell out, it's not necessarily true that you would be able to get tickets where ever you want. Games at the Cubs stadium (Ho Ho Kam) do sell out from time to time and if you want good seating it may be hard to get. I've never been to a SF game out there, but I heard that they fill their stadium as well. Diamondback games are popular too and I'm imagining that Dodger games will be well attended.

 

Also, "cheap" is a relative term. Most lawn seating is around $8. However, if you want to sit in the stands you are generally going to pay anywhere between $10 to $30. I notice that tickets at the Dodger stadium in the stands start at $18 and go all the way up to $45.

I have been shut out of only two stadiums among the tons of games I have been to. I was shut out of Scottsdale when they played the Giants, and I was also shut out of Tempe Diablo when they played the Angels. I am guessing Dodger games will be a tough ticket because the LA fans out here are crazy. My recommendation is that you spend one day in Maryvale on the day of an away game. They keep a lot of players back and you can get some great autographs. Last year I witnessed a "home run derby" among the pitchers on the stadium field at Maryvale. I cleaned house on Yo, getting tons of stuff signed. Suppan was very accessible, but it's going to depend on who is pitching that day.

[azcheesehead]

For what it's worth for travel, I come back to WI every summer to escape the heat. My advice would be as follows for the quickest route. Get yourself to Des Moines however you can through IA. Take I35 to KC. Hop on 435 South around KC and get back on I35 and head to Wichita. In Wichita exit on US 54 and take it through KS, OK, TX, and through NM until you hit I40. Take it west across NM and then through into AZ. Hit up with I17 and take it south straight to Indian School Rd. in Phoenix. It takes me about 25 hours.

[Pedro]

I just noticed that the weekend of March 12, 13, and 14th is listed on the spring schedule as an investor/sponsor weekend. Anyone have any idea of what that means?

The teams flies out some of their largest sponsors for a weekend. Thursday night reception at the Ritz and a tailgate party before the Saturday game, where sponsors get to mingle with the owner/front office people, coaches and players.

 

BTW, I'll be there March 16-21.

[pitchleague]

I will second the route that azcheesehead takes to get to AZ. I use that route every time and it is phenominally easy and free of hassles. Plus, it is cool as heck (in a macabre way, I suppose) to drive through Greensburg, Kansas (big tornadoes completely destroyed the town a few years back). And it is quite a fast route, despite a third of it being at 55 mph speeds.

[bobbledude25]

Is there a seprate thread for discussing getting autographs at spring training?

[Patrick425]

I have been shut out of only two stadiums among the tons of games I have been to. I was shut out of Scottsdale when they played the Giants, and I was also shut out of Tempe Diablo when they played the Angels. I am guessing Dodger games will be a tough ticket because the LA fans out here are crazy. My recommendation is that you spend one day in Maryvale on the day of an away game. They keep a lot of players back and you can get some great autographs. Last year I witnessed a "home run derby" among the pitchers on the stadium field at Maryvale. I cleaned house on Yo, getting tons of stuff signed. Suppan was very accessible, but it's going to depend on who is pitching that day.

Last year, during one of the games at Maryvale, Suppan was walking around the park in his street clothes letting people take pictures with him and signing tons of autographs. Another game, Turnbow was throwing to people in the berm area during batting pracitce. Every ball that came to him, he threw to someone. By the time the game started, I don't think there was a person in the grass area that didn't have a ball.

 

We're leaving in two weeks. I can't wait.

[bobbledude25]

Anyone go check out the other stadiums in the area? If you head down to see the Brewers you have to check out the other places. The stadium in Surprise is awesome I know. Also go check out the Angels pad its pretty sweet to

[phxMILWfan]

I guess I don't see what is so special about some of the stadiums. In my opinion Maryvale is the best. It's easy to get around, it's not over crowded. It feels like spring training should feel. The other stadiums that sell out and are tougher to get good seats don't appeal to me as much. I know it's a great thing for the team that more people are going to see the Brewers in the spring but I miss how it was a few years back when I could sit wherever I want. There was something special about watching games like that. It was like Kevin Costner's family watching games in a Field of Dreams at Maryvale.

[soloist57]

Want to start out by thanking EVERYONE on this board for being here. I've been lurking for years and come here daily. Anyway, I was thinking of going to Maryvale this weekend before the games start. Has anyone here done that? If so, what was it like? Can you view practice and workouts,etc.? I live in San Francisco and will be at opening day so I don't feel the need to see exhibition games. Any thoughts would really appreciated. Again, THANKS!!

[azcheesehead]

I was there today. They workout from about 9:30 to 11:30 to 12 on the typical day. Everything is open and you can get pretty up close to the players. Today for example I watched Sedar, Sveum, and Nichols give bunting lessons to the pitchers. If you go out next weekend the practices will be scheduled different because, obviously, everyone will be there. All four fields will be in full swing. Today was a good time, everyone was in good spirits. I recommend it, solist!!!

[jason21nl]

All my tickets are purchased and hotels are booked.....getting closer and closer every day now!!!

[hawing]

It's not practical for us to go this year, so although I'm happy for those of you who can go, I'm also a wee bit jealous.

 

The first game is on my birthday and everything.

[Brew City Baseball Fan]

9 work days left until its time to leave!!!!

[bobbledude25]

I was there today. They workout from about 9:30 to 11:30 to 12 on the typical day. Everything is open and you can get pretty up close to the players. Today for example I watched Sedar, Sveum, and Nichols give bunting lessons to the pitchers. If you go out next weekend the practices will be scheduled different because, obviously, everyone will be there. All four fields will be in full swing. Today was a good time, everyone was in good spirits. I recommend it, solist!!!

Are the minor league guys practicing at the same time on different fields?

[azcheesehead]

There weren't any there over the weekend that I saw. I know that a lot of the top prospects are in town though, so I assume if they aren't already there, they will be shortly.