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Spring Fever Starts Now—Batter Up!

TIME : 2016/2/16 15:52:56
So, you think it’s a little early for Spring Fever? Then clearly, you’re not a baseball fan. The almost ritual pilgrimage to Arizona and Florida in late-winter when Major League Baseball starts its Spring Training season is an annual rite as quintessential as peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Spring Training leagues (the Cactus League in Arizona and the Grapefruit League in Florida) typically run early-March through early-April—sometimes right up to the start of the regular season.

For hardcore fans, Spring Training is the first chance to see traded players on the field in uniform with their new teams and to scope out new talent coming up from the Minors.Home fields for many Major League teams are in some seriously cold winter locations, so it’s understandable that the teams move to areas with milder conditions for the pre-season warm-up. For hardcore fans, Spring Training is the first chance to see traded players on the field in uniform with their new teams and to scope out new talent coming up from the Minors.

For all fans, though, the opportunities to trade wintery weather for sunny days and get their baseball fix ahead of the regular season combine for an excellent excuse to plan a Spring Training Getaway.

Keep in mind that Spring Training camps in Arizona are grouped more closely together, typically around the Phoenix area, than are the camps in Florida. So if you’re hoping to see a wider variety of teams, Arizona may be the better option.

Whether you’re heading to Arizona or Florida for Spring Training, be sure to pack along our Moon Arizona or Moon Florida travel guide to find the best restaurants, shopping, nightlife, and other attractions in the area so you don’t experience baseball burnout (as if).


Arizona’s Cactus League

Here’s a quick rundown of the teams and where their Spring Training camps are located:

Team Training Camp Arizona Diamondbacks Scottsdale Chicago Cubs Mesa Chicago White Sox Glendale Cincinnati Reds Goodyear Cleveland Indians Goodyear Colorado Rockies Scottsdale Kansas City Royals Surprise Los Angeles Angels Tempe Los Angeles Dodgers Glendale Milwaukee Brewers Phoenix Oakland A’s Phoenix San Diego Padres Peoria San Francisco Giants Scottsdale Seattle Mariners Peoria Texas Rangers Surprise

Florida’s Grapefruit League

Here’s a quick rundown of the teams and where their Spring Training camps are located:

Team Training Camp Atlanta Braves Lake Buena Vista Baltimore Orioles Sarasota Boston Red Sox Fort Meyers Detroit Tigers Lakeland Florida Marlins Jupiter Houston Astros Kissimmee Minnesota Twins Fort Meyers New York Mets Port St. Lucie New York Yankees Tampa Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater Pittsburgh Pirates Bradenton St. Louis Cardinals Jupiter Tampa Bay Rays Port Charlotte Toronto Blue Jays Dunedin Washington Nationals Melbourne

If You Go

There is no physical central purchasing site for tickets; you can buy tickets online or at the stadium box office. Tickets range in price from $6 or $7 for lawn seating to $47 for a box seat behind home plate. Ordering online may add additional fees, and budget another $10 for parking.

Arrive early at the games to find decent parking; the hours before the game can be spent watching the teams practice. High SPF sun block is a must. Expect high concessions prices.