Spring Training Survival Guide on McWiki

by SituationalLefty on Jan 19, 2012 6:52 PM PST

in progress - I'm culling stuff from posts I've collected in the past, when the search function worked better.

Please post your additional ideas here and they will be incorporated eventually (and credited). Some topics:

Food/drink
Lodging: hotels, motels, condos, vacation rentals, your nephew's place?
Tickets
Transportation, parking, etc.

Stadiums - Scottsdale and others - your recs
Timing - when to attend (or not)
Extras - watching BP, training exercises, getting autographs, etc.
Minor League park/games
Secret Scottsdale - your tips on what nobody else knows
Wastes of time and money

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Tickets

I just bought tickets for the weekend of 3/16-3/18. On Friday 3/16 the Giants are at the Cubs in Mesa at Hohokam Park. Lawn tickets were $9.00. On Sunday 3/18 the Giants host the Padres and tickets on the law were $29.00. My advise would be to avoid Scottsdale Stadium at least on the weekends and try to see the Giants at another park.

by LawnWrangler on Jan 19, 2012 8:01 PM PST reply actions

March 7th the lawn is $5 on the Giants website so it makes a difference when you go.

Another one would be Camelback has tickets half prices for some dates, and Goodyear has the Terrace for $15 on the day of the game, food not included rather than the $30 they charge if purchased early.

McCoven: A Heinous CircleJerk
Proud Parent of Adopted Giant: Crazy Crab

by timmeh on Jan 21, 2012 1:44 AM PST up reply actions

Thanks for taking this on. I’ve never been to ST so I have nothing to contribute. Well, take sunscreen and wear a hat. Preferably a Panda hat, the Giants need the money.

I’d like to get one of these for AT&T on the mcwiki too. I started collecting stuff off of fanposts, I hope I kept the damn URLs!

Adopted Giant: Eddie I Have It Grant.

TSFGWTWS DESPITE Botchy, not BECAUSE of him.

by Merope on Jan 19, 2012 10:09 PM PST reply actions

I will be going down from Feb 27th-March 4th. I’m going to blogging about what I see at the three practices I attend and then subsequent games. This year I get to go down for awhile because I’ll be off school that week. Very excited.

Restaurant: If you want to see players, stars, legends go to Don & Charlie’s in Scottsdale. Literally every time I go I see a ballplayer or a hall of famer, even Muhammed Ali once!

I stay at the Aloft in Tempe- nice hotel not too expensive

get to the games 15 minutes before the gates open if you want a good spot for autographs once you are in.
would like to know about practices as this will be my first time in attendance at those.
how long, access to ballpark etc.

by lehmsbobby on Jan 19, 2012 10:33 PM PST reply actions

where can I read this said blog stuff that you will be blogging?

I has twitters https://twitter.com/#!/APR_studios

by Romosexual42 on Jan 20, 2012 11:00 PM PST up reply actions

good question, i gotta get stuff going ill make a fanpost about it once it is up and running. someone needs to replace Giantsjottings. the guy used to have great day-by-day recaps

by lehmsbobby on Jan 21, 2012 4:38 PM PST up reply actions

+1 to Don & Charlie’s. Last year, my friends got a tip that the Giants brass were dining there one night and we swarmed on the place like bunch of fanboys/fangirls. The staff was very nice to us and even let us loiter in the lobby area. We managed to get pics with Jon Miller (very gracious and patient) and Boch (he was a little reluctant at first, but ultimately stopped for a pic, damn is he tall). We also managed to nearly blind Neukom with our camera flashes (sorry!).

We would try to finagle a space by the player’s parking lot at Scottsdale Stadium around 7 or 8am and catch the players coming in for an autograph. Of course, it was mostly a zoo last year. Also, one can have luck with finding players on the practice field before the game; we met Brandon Belt that way.

If you have a choice between bleacher or lawn “seats”, I’d take the lawn area all the time. The bleachers are cramped and reflect all the heat back at you. The lawn is especially nice if you can find a tree to camp under.

Last year, the weather was around 70-80 during the day, which wasn’t too bad at all. We went to 4 games in a row and grabbed some food at the ballpark, which kinda got tired by day 4. Also, we checked out Goodyear ballpark, very comfortable and new, got to see Asdrubal Cabrera hit one out.

"We can... feel the trade winds blowing gently through our hair... here's the pitch... or Dave can." - Jon Miller

by doggz on Jan 24, 2012 9:34 AM PST up reply actions

Talking Stick

The new facility for the Rockies/DBacks is a must see. I believe about 10 minutes north of Scottsdale stadium. Awesome place, and always fun to check out the competition.

by giantdonkey on Jan 20, 2012 7:47 AM PST reply actions

I’ve been doing some research and found some tips for all the ballparks. Some entries are rather old but it does tell you about parking (who’s is free), where not to sit ( sun in the eyes the entire game and whatnot) and more importantly for me …where’s the shade at the ballparks. You can find it at About.com Phoenix, for example type in Salt River ballpark tips and there’s some helpful tidbits.

I’ll be there Mar 2 – 9th, and staying in Northern Scottsdale (Sheraton Desert Oasis), at a timeshare exchange. Its rather a economical way to go, I just pay an exchange fee and give them a week of my timeshare.

Restaurant tips would be greatly appreciated. I plan on hitting up the Trader Joe’s nearby for breakfast stuff but I not sure if I want to cook my dinners.

McCoven: A Heinous CircleJerk
Proud Parent of Adopted Giant: Crazy Crab

by timmeh on Jan 21, 2012 1:44 AM PST reply actions