For us Arizonans, 'tis the season for cracker jacks, hot dogs, beer and baseball because where better to have Spring Training than in our beautiful, clear skies state? And our prized Cactus League just keeps on getting better with three additional teams, two new and amazing ballparks, an extended season and added amenities for fans. Let’s play ball!

New Teams
Camelback Ranch Glendale, the brand-new $80 million ballpark in Phoenix will be packed with Chi-Towners and Cali fans as it is now home to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox — the new teams on the block. The White Sox previously trained in Tucson before the Valley relocation. The Cleveland Indians have come even further to play in their new upscale venue at Goodyear Park after 16 years of training in Winter Haven, Florida. The Indians will share Goodyear Park with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010.

New Stadiums
Camelback Ranch Glendale takes pride in now boasting the largest seating capacity in the Cactus League with more than 10,000 seats for fans, 3,000 bermed grass seating, eight full suites, four mini-suites, one press box, one suite-level party deck and a series of outfield terraces creating perfect party areas. For your visual enjoyment, the ballpark features a fish-stocked lake that separates the Dodgers and White Sox training facilities, upgraded architecture and over 5,000 beautiful plants and trees.
Goodyear Park is not just a new ballpark. The brand new state-of-the-art year-round facility will integrate a 57-acre mixed-use "ballpark village" that will include office, retail, hotel and possible residential development. Next year the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds will play ball in a 10,000-seat major league ballpark with 8,000 stadium seats, 1,500 berm seats, six suites and a 500-seat party deck. The 185-acre south site is for Spring Training practice fields and clubhouses for the Indians.

Schedule
Great news! Cactus League Spring Training 09 is kicking off a week earlier than usual and includes 245 games — 67 more than last year’s season. No excuse to not attend at least one Spring Training game. All the fun is taking place from now until April 2.

Visit www.cactusleague.com for a full schedule of Cactus League games this season.