Hotels for White Sox spring training
Many places to stay near stadium in Phoenix

WHERE TO STAY

The west side of Phoenix is a sprawling expanse of sunbaked and comparatively faceless little towns stuffed with housing tracts that extend for miles. But being here makes more sense than staying in downtown Phoenix because of the hassle of driving back and forth about 20 miles each way to the stadium. Instead, fans will be best off near the new stadium, Camelback Ranch in Glendale.

Some options:

Comfort Suites,  Closest to the grounds (1.1 miles), this year-old hotel is the most convenient option. The hotel also has a free stadium shuttle. The White Sox front office staff has latched on to most of the rooms, so availability is minimal. Rates start at $179, but most of the remaining available rooms are upgraded suites and will cost about $239 and up.

Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa. This upscale hotel, 3.2 miles from the stadium, is near the open-air Westgate City Center, which has more than 15 bars and restaurants, a 20-screen movie theater and a handful of shops. But it has limited availability in March, with rates from $149 to $349.

Hampton Inn & Suites Glendale-Westgate. The Hampton Inn is a five-minute walk across a huge parking lot to the Westgate City Center and is a little more than 3 miles from the stadium. The Hampton is about half-booked for March. Rooms run from $179 to $209.

Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa. This sprawling low-rise property, with most rooms in casitas, has three pools, three golf courses and a new spa. Wigwam, about 5 miles from the stadium, has good availability in March, with rates from $259.

Glendale Gaslight Inn. A comfortable B&B 8.2 miles from the stadium, in Glendale’s historic district. Each of the 10 rooms is themed. The ones we checked were nicely decorated and spacious. Rates run from $145 to $179, and there is availability in March.

Others: Nearby is a cluster of mid-priced Glendale hotels adjacent to Westgate and about 4 miles from the stadium. All show decent availability for March.

Holiday Inn Express, from $179

Staybridge Suites, $189

SpringHill Suites, $209,

Residence Inn by Marriott/Glendale, $209

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Opening day for Major League Baseball is April 6. But fans don’t have to wait that long to see their favorite teams. Spring training games are scheduled from Feb. 25 to April 5 in Florida and Arizona.

In Florida, attendance at so-called Grapefruit League games averages a total of 1.56 million each spring. In Arizona, the Cactus League set an attendance record of 1.31 million fans in 2008.

Kevin Reichard, author of The Complete Guide to Spring Training, Second Edition, says there are even more opportunities than usual this year for travelers interested in spring training. For one thing, “this is the longest spring training period in years,” he said. In addition, he said, ticket sales “are a little bit slower because of the economy.”

Premium seats usually sell out fast, and it can also be hard to get tickets for a few teams like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants. But for others, regular seats will be available right up until game day.

And prices for most games are reasonable. General attendance or lawn seating is $10 or less for many games, and the stadiums are smaller, minor league-size arenas where you’re never too far away from the action.

Highest-priced tickets for most teams do not exceed $20 or $22, though the Yankees have a $35 category and the Los Angeles Dodgers made news this year by charging $90 for the best 692 seats in their new Glendale, Ariz., facility. The $90 pricetag includes a $20 coupon for food, beverages and merchandise, free parking and other freebies – a hat, water, sunscreen and cool, scented towels. The top ticket in their old spring training stadium in Vero Beach, Fla., was a mere $20, but with no perks.

In both states, many spring-training facilities are geographically so close that you could see several different teams play over the course of a week without driving too far. In Arizona, two teams play in Tucson and the other 14 play in the Phoenix metro area. Although spring training facilities for the 16 teams that play in Florida are located around the state, many are within a half-hour drive of two or three others.

“You could schedule an entire vacation around spring training for baseball fans,” said Lauren Tjaden, a sports and adventure expert for VisitFlorida.com. “You’ve got three or more teams playing very close together, so you could go to a different team in a different city every day – the Blue Jays in Dunedin, the Phillies in Clearwater, the Yankees in Tampa, the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland.”

Tjaden added that “one of the really fun games” scheduled for this season is the March 12 faceoff in Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Fla., between the 2008 World Series rivals, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Spring training also offers opportunities for fans to see their favorite players up close. “It depends on the team, but for instance, the Detroit Tigers have an autograph area at the ballpark,” Reichard said. “The other way to get close to the players is to go to workouts in the mornings. Every team does it a little different, but if you go to a workout at say 9:30 a.m., you might see them running, fielding, bunting and doing other drills. Sometimes the players will come by the fence to greet the fans.”

Reichard’s “Complete Guide to Spring Training” book also includes listings for “places where the true fans hang out before the game,” such as Lenny’s in Clearwater, where Phillies’ fans can eat that Pennsylvania favorite, scrapple. In Bradenton, Popi’s is where Pirates players can be found at breakfast time.

Reichard said most of the spring training games are “run in a low-key fashion. There’s no entertainment between the innings, for example.” But some of the ballparks are kid-friendly. “In Kissimmee, the Astros have a huge play area, and where the Braves play, they have an outdoor barn where kids can run around,” he said.

The big news this year in spring training was moves by four teams. In addition to the Dodgers’ relocation to Glendale, the White Sox also moved to Glendale, from Tucson; the Cleveland Indians moved from Winter Haven, Fla., to Goodyear, Ariz.; and the Rays shifted from St. Petersburg down the west coast of Florida to Port Charlotte.

On top of the Dodgers, White Sox and Indians, Arizona’s spring training season also features the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies in Tucson, the Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland Athletics in Phoenix, the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers in Surprise, the Los Angeles Angels in Tempe, the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners in Peoria, the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, and the Chicago Cubs in Mesa.

In Florida, in addition to the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, the Phillies in Clearwater, the Yankees in Tampa, and the Pirates in Bradenton, fans can also catch the Cincinnati Reds in Sarasota, the Red Sox and Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers, the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves in Kissimmee, the Washington Nationals in Viera, the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, the St. Louis Cardinals and Florida Marlins in Jupiter, and the Baltimore Orioles in Fort Lauderdale.

Next year, the Reds join the Indians in Goodyear, leaving each state with 15 teams.

Resort Deals for Spring Training Arizona

Arizona Spring Training Sites Give Baseball Fans Plenty of Options

Fans who have been coming out for Arizona spring training baseball have been able to see twelve major league teams play at nine diverse stadiums in seven different Arizona cities.

Six teams have played in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, also known as the Valley of the Sun, and the other three teams have played in Tucson, 2½ hours south of Phoenix.

However, beginning in 2009, two more teams will join the Cactus League for Arizona spring training baseball, and one team will leave Tucson and move north to Glendale…

Arizona Spring Baseball 2009 Update

New for Arizona spring training baseball 2009, the Los Angeles Dodgers will leave Florida and begin spring training games in Arizona at a brand new stadium in Glendale, a growing suburb west of Phoenix.

The Cleveland Indians will also leave Florida in 2009 for Arizona spring training at the new $56 million Goodyear Stadium, on Phoenix’s southwestern border.

The Chicago White Sox will depart their current spring training site at Tucson Electric Park and join the LA Dodgers at the new Glendale Stadium in 2009.

2009 spring training tickets are now available for most teams. A few, such as the Dodgers and White Sox, are due to go on sale the week of January 13 – 17.

Looking for Arizona spring training 2009 tickets?

You can search for and purchase tickets at Ticketmaster.com by choosing Phoenix or Tucson, AZ on the baseball page.

Ticketmaster currently carries tickets for all ball games at Glendale Stadium, Surprise Stadium, Goodyear Stadium and Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Below is a guide to all of the Arizona spring training baseball sites and the teams that play at each…

Greater Phoenix Spring Training Sites

Glendale Stadium

The new Glendale Stadium opens in February 2009 as the new home of Dodgers spring training and White Sox spring training. This state-of-the-art ballpark will be the biggest Arizona spring training site with 13,000 seats, 14 practice fields and even a 2-acre lake…

Goodyear Ballpark

In 2009, the Cleveland Indians return to Arizona spring training baseball when they play at the new Goodyear Ballpark. This will be a two team park when Cincinnati Reds spring training moves to Goodyear in 2010. The $108 million stadium will have 10,000 seats, ample parking and even public art.

Hohokam Stadium

Home to Chicago Cubs spring training, this is the place to catch spring training fever. Loyal Cubs fans make every game a fun experience along with the Cactus League’s only organist. Get your tickets early because these games sell out fast.

Maryvale Baseball Park

This large, award-winning park is the spring home of the Milwaukee Brewers. It’s not the fanciest Arizona spring training site but the 56-acre complex holds 8,000 fans and generally is not crowded. Special Brewers touches include sausage-costumed mascots, Milwaukee beer and their “secret sauce”.

Peoria Sports Complex

The Peoria Complex, home to the Seattle Mariners spring training and San Diego Padres spring training, is the first Arizona spring training baseball stadium to host two teams. It’s a fan favorite for its spacious, family-friendly stadium and diversity of restaurants, shops and entertainment next door.

Phoenix Municipal Stadium

Home to the Oakland A’s, this family-friendly Arizona spring training baseball stadium has a nice grassy picnic area, shaded seating, and a good selection of microbrewed beers. Pre- or post-game, explore nearby Papago Park, which has hiking trails, picnic areas, a firefighting museum and the Phoenix Zoo.

Scottsdale Stadium

See San Francisco Giants spring training at Scottsdale Stadium and you’ll get the most upscale Arizona spring training experience in all of the Cactus League. A “see and be seen” crowd, happy hour atmosphere and diverse food and drink make for party time at this popular baseball camp.

Surprise Stadium

The family-friendly stadium is a two team park, hosting both the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers. It’s spacious and has great amenities including grassy lawn seating, a merry-go-round in the right field concourse and plenty of free parking.

Tempe Diablo Stadium

Diablo Stadium is the home of Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It’s a great spot to catch an Arizona spring training baseball game because its centrally located, easily reached, comfortable and spacious, has great hot dogs and scenic views of the Tempe Buttes.

Click here to see an Arizona Spring Training Map of the Greater Phoenix Spring Training Locations

Tucson Spring Training Sites

Hi Corbett Field

Get an old fashioned baseball experience at Hi Corbett Field, the Colorado Rockies spring training home. Vintage architecture and a setting in a tree-filled city park will take you back to the days of Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Satchell Paige, all of whom played here.

Tucson Electric Park

TEP, as its known, is the newer of the two Tucson spring training sites and is the home of Arizona Diamondbacks spring training. This spacious ballpark has good seating, varied foods, easy parking and great mountain views. Fans will even see fighter jets from the nearby air base flying overhead.

Tucson Spring Training Note: The Phoenix area teams each play three games in Tucson.

Click here to see an Arizona Spring Training Map of the Tucson Spring Training Locations

The U.S. Department of Transportation and consumer groups are warning Arizona Cardinals fans to read the fine print and be careful when booking Super Bowl travel packages.

The Cards won the National Football Conference Championship Game Sunday and will play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Tampa Feb. 1.

The USDOT said fans should be aware of what is covered in Super Bowl travel packages they purchase, such as air fare, hotel accommodations and game tickets. If game tickets are not specifically advertised or noted in the package details, they probably are not included, officials said. The agency also said that if travel and tourism brokers say a ticket is included in a package and it is not, consumers can get a full refund.

This will be the Cardinals first Super Bowl appearance and their first in an NFL championship game since 1948. The Cards last NFL title came in 1947 and the win Sunday was the franchise’s first NFC title.

Shin-Soo Choo walked into the Cleveland Indians’ clubhouse at Progressive Field on Monday and had a message for teammates and fans curious about the team’s new spring training home in Arizona.

“Forget Florida,” Choo said, sweat dripping off his smiling face after a brisk workout. “Everybody who comes to the new ballpark says just one word: ‘Wow.”‘

Choo has been working out most of the winter for several hours a day, four times a week at the new facility in Goodyear, Ariz., just west of Phoenix.

“It’s got everything we need to get ready and have a big season,” he said. “Most of all, the weather is perfect sunshine, no humidity, and everybody is happy with that.”

Outside, the playing field was covered with 15 inches of snow. Inside, a few veteran players were joined by about 15 minor-leaguers for drills as part of the Indians’ winter development program.

“This is the second time I’ve seen snow,” said Carlos Santana, a catching prospect from the Dominican Republic, who shuddered at the thought. “I think Arizona will be much better.”

After coming within one win of going to the 2007 World Series, expectations were high at Cleveland’s final training camp in Winter Haven, Fla., a year ago. But an ineffective bullpen led to several early losses. Then key hitters Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner along with starting pitchers Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook all sustained injuries.

“I think we’re all excited about the new place in Arizona, but more excited to get back on the right track and be a winning team,” first baseman Ryan Garko said.

Starting the second half of the season, the Indians had the best record in baseball. The team finished with a mediocre .500 record at 81-81.

Garko said two key offseason additions have brought hope for a quick resurgence.

“Getting Kerry Wood and Mark DeRosa is huge,” Garko said. “I love the addition of Kerry to the back end of the bullpen. It will change the way a lot of guys wake up in the morning. It’s a nice feeling to know you’ve got a guy who can drop the hammer down like he can.”

Garko expressed surprise that he may be asked to play the outfield.

“One of my friends sent me a text message saying that he read in the paper I was going out there,” Garko explained. “That’s fine with me, though nobody has said anything to me. If Eric Wedge thinks it helps the team, then I’ll do everything I can to help.”

Jensen Lewis, who closed games in the second half last year, said he likes the additions and feels comfortable returning to a setup role.

“Kerry just makes the whole bullpen deeper,” he said. “And DeRosa is like Casey almost. He can play several spots, and is a dependable teammate.”

Choo, 26, hit a team-leading .309 with 14 homers and 66 RBI in 94 games a year ago after rehabbing from elbow surgery.

As much as the native of South Korea likes the new facility in Arizona, he won’t be spending as much time there this spring as his teammates. He’ll be playing for his country in the World Baseball Classic.

“The Indians left it up to me and I want to play,” Choo said. “I look at it as that is my country, but the Indians are my career. If the Indians said no, that was OK, too.

Choo doesn’t think Garko is needed at his spot in right field, however.

“I want to play every day,” he said.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – When Bill Cowher walked away from the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 2006 season, there was a scramble among his assistants to replace him.

The Steelers interviewed offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm for the vacancy. The Steelers wound up offering the position to Grimm, then retracted it and, in the span of 24 hours, named an outsider, Mike Tomlin, as their head coach.

Having been passed over by the Steelers, Whisenhunt and Grimm knew they couldn’t – and wouldn’t – stay in Pittsburgh. Whisenhunt became the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals that off-season and took Grimm with him.

Imagine the culture shock: Whisenhunt and Grimm were leaving a franchise that annually played in January for a franchise that was annually out of contention by Thanksgiving.

The Steelers share the NFL record with five Lombardi Trophies. The Cardinals are at the other end of the spectrum with a 61-year championship drought, the longest in the league.

But in two years, Whisenhunt has done what few thought possible, capturing an NFC championship with the Cardinals. Standing in the way of Arizona’s first NFL championship since 1947 – his former team, the Steelers.

The Cardinals toppled the Philadelphia Eagles, 32-25, in the NFC title game Sunday, and the Steelers upended the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14, in the AFC title game.
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin  and Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt will meet in Super Bowl XLIII. Even before the AFC game began Sunday, Whisenhunt expressed a desire to play the Steelers in the Super Bowl.

“The reason I’m here is because of my time with Pittsburgh,” Whisenhunt said. “I’m very grateful for that.”

The Steelers won four Super Bowls in the 1970s to capture team of the decade acclaim, then played in a Super Bowl in the 1990s and another this decade. They lost to the Cowboys in 1996 and beat the Seattle Seahawks in 2006. Whisenhunt and Grimm both have rings in their safe-deposit boxes commemorating that championship season.

Arizona, on the other hand, has won more playoff games this month (three) than in it had in the franchise’s first 87 years (two). The Cardinals are the most unlikely Super Bowl team since the 1979 Los Angeles Rams, who were the last nine-win team to advance to the NFL title game.

Like the Cardinals, the 1979 Rams won the NFC West with a 9-7 record. Like the Cardinals, the Rams rode a string of upsets to the Super Bowl, winning on the road at Dallas and Tampa Bay.

The Cardinals were underdogs in playoff victories this month over Atlanta, Carolina and Philadelphia. And like those Rams, the Cardinals will face the Steelers in the Super Bowl.

Since moving to Arizona from St. Louis in 1988, the Cardinals have managed two winning seasons, finishing 9-7 in 1998 and 2008. The Cardinals have nine last-place finishes in Arizona.

“I just want to say the words ‘Arizona Cardinals’ and ‘Super Bowl’ in the same sentence,” said Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner after his four-touchdown pass performance against the Eagles. “I like the way that sounds.”

During that 21-year stretch, the Steelers have won nine division titles and qualified for the playoffs 11 times. Now these two teams square off for NFL supremacy. The Cardinals will attempt to become the first nine-victory team to capture a Super Bowl since the 1967 Green Bay Packers (9-4-1).

The two conference champions bring contrasting styles to the Super Bowl.

The Cardinals finished fourth in the NFL in offense and second in passing. Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald all were selected to start in the Pro Bowl.

The Steelers led the NFL in defense for the third time in five seasons. Pittsburgh allowed the fewest yards and points this season and also led the NFL in pass defense. James Harrison was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and he’ll join fellow linebacker James Farrior and safety Troy Polamalu at the Pro Bowl.

But keep an eye on the sidelines in the Super Bowl. Whisenhunt and Grimm have something to prove to their former employer.

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It appears some Eagles fans are already scouring the internet for hotel rooms in the Tampa area for the first weekend in February. Hey, I can’t tell people what to do, but I can suggest that these fans delay their travel plans until after Sunday’s NFC Championship. You see, the Eagles still have to beat the Arizona Cardinals before the Super Bowl train can leave the station.

Here’s five guys who wear red and white that the Birds must be aware of come 3pm Sunday. Ignore any of these players and they could be staring down a 1-4 record in NFC title games.

Kurt Warner – Two-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl XXXIV MVP. I remember watching him with the Giants pre-Eli and thinking he was finished. Guess again. If not for the Cardinals late-season slide he would have won another MVP award. Kurt can still sling it with the best of them, especially when he’s surrounded by skilled playmakers like he has in Arizona.

Larry Fitzgerald – Can’t blame Larry for the Thanksgiving night 48-20 loss. He caught five for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Fitzy is an absolute monster to cover. He’s big, fast, and super-athletic. I wonder if Jim Johnson will shadow him with Asante Samuel? I would, especially if Anquan Boldin is less than 100%.

Neil Rackers – Normally, I could give a crap about kickers but Rackers is a good one. He hit 25-28 field goals in the regular season with a long of 54. In two playoff games he’s hit on 4 of 6 with a long of 49. If the game is low-scoring, Rackers could prove huge.

Karlos Dansby – One of the NFL’s top linebackers, Dansby is a tackling machine who can sack the quarterback and disrupt an offensive scheme. Dansby, not Lance Briggs, should have been a Pro Bowler. The Eagles will have their hands full with Karlos on Sunday.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – Rookie cornerback Cromartie took a little while to crack the starting lineup for the Cards, but when he did their defense immediately improved. Like Asante Samuel, Cromartie is a ballhawk in the secondary who thrives on the big play interception. He’s picked-off a pass in each of Arizona’s two playoff wins.

Don’t take the Cards lightly. This team is riding a wave of confidence and they’ll have their home crowd to help steer the ship. Forget about the Thanksgiving night massacre. That Cardinals team flew east on a short week and got hit by a post-benching buzzsaw. Both teams are better now. The only question left to be answered is which team is the best. In three days we’ll have our answer.

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That is giving a boost to hotels, restaurants and transportation services as out-of-towners book accommodations for Sunday’s playoff game. Those businesses welcome the increased traffic as consumers and corporations pull back on spending and travel amid the recession.

US Airways Group Inc. (NYSE:LCC) is seeing an upswing in bookings on flights from Philadelphia, said Valerie Wunder, a spokeswoman for the Tempe-based airline.

“We’re seeing a significant uptick in bookings that actually started during the fourth quarter of the Eagles-Giants game on Sunday,” Wunder said.

US Airways also is seeing more passengers heading to Phoenix from Newark, N.J., and Baltimore, Md., which are close to the Eagles fan base, she said. “We’re monitoring the flights to see if we need to add more but so far we haven’t had the need,” said Wunder.

Philadelphia travel agents say they are booking a fair number of Eagles fans for packages to Glendale as well Las Vegas for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.

“We are booking a lot of fans out to Phoenix for this weekend’s NFC championship game. The phones starting ringing off the hook right after the Eagles victory on Sunday over the Giants. Even though it’s short notice, we have about 175 to 200 people booked through our agency. Most are staying in Glendale, but we do have some doing the weekend in Vegas and flying into Phoenix on game day. It’s been a crazy couple of days,” said Mike Concannon, a travel agent with Westminster Travel in the Philadelphia suburbs.

Some Eagles fans also are putting deposits down on Super Bowl packages in case their team wins on Sunday, he said.

Glendale hotels near game host University of Phoenix Stadium report an uptick in reservations for this weekend.

Kristin Allore, a guest services representative a the Hampton Inn & Suites at Westgate City Center next to the Cardinals stadium, said Sunday is oversold and Saturday is almost totally booked. The hotel has gotten some reservations from Philadelphia, but is getting more from within Arizona including areas outside of Phoenix, she said.

Tickets for the game sold out quickly Jan. 11 and ticket scalpers say demand is high.

Mike Garvie, a broker for Ticketnetwork.com, said because the Cardinals limited sales to Arizona residents, the bulk of the demand online is coming from outside the state.

The Cardinals fan base is pretty much limited to Arizona, while the Eagles have fans in the Mid-Atlantic area as well as among Southwest and California transplants.

Sports bars and restaurants catering to NFL fans also have gotten a needed boost from the Cardinals unlikely playoff run. A number of bars and restaurants are running ads and promotions in hopes of luring fans not attending the big game.

Half Moon Sports Grill, which has two locations in Phoenix, is running radio ads touting drink and food specials during the game.

Skye Restaurant in Peoria is marketing a special brunch and large screen televisions it is bringing in for the playoff, which will send the winner to the Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla. Other bars and restaurants — including those at Westgate City Center next to the University of Phoenix Stadium, are banking on another brisk weekend of business due to the game.