Peoria Stadium
Peoria, AZ
Review by Gary
Nothing invites a new baseball season like the first game of Spring Training, whether it be in Florida or Arizona. The start of the 2024 rounders campaign brought us to the Cactus League’s Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. This attractive venue was opened in 1994 and has been home to both the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres since then.
The Complex features an amazing 15 separate practice fields and 2 huge clubhouses that are shared by both MLB clubs. When the M’s and Friars aren’t using the facilities during February and March, both clubs’ Arizona Fall League teams play here come autumn. On the day we visited, the Dodgers came to town to face the Padres. The LA boys scored 8 runs in the top of the 1st en route to a 14-1 drubbing
Around the field, a great food selection on “food truck row” abounded along the spacious outfield concourse. A tasty Cheesesteak, mac and cheese with pulled pork and a mountain o’ curly fries were enjoyed amongst the throngs of Padre and Dodger fans sitting on the grassy outfield berm. The latter team’s fans were surely disappointed that their newest star, Shohei “$700 million” Ohtani was not in the lineup. Apparently, ESPN’s coverage of the game wasn’t enough to lure the expensive DH into playing.
There is no bad seat to be found at Peoria Stadium. The ballpark features a covered concourse with a roof that wraps well beyond first and third base and provides shade for folks sitting in the last rows, and more as the sun sets. A huge tent covers the group seating area in left field with other covered pavilions where folks can escape the direct solar rays. Overall, the ballpark is a pleasing venue to see some baseball.
The ballpark seats just over 11,000 excited fans eager to catch a glimpse of what may be come October. Today, the Padres fans would hope to see what happens tomorrow.
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