Everything you can expect to do, eat and see at Goodyear's Spring Training

Alexandra Hardle, Arizona Republic
·2 min read

Goodyear Ballpark is ready for Opening Day of spring training on Saturday.

Goodyear is home to one of nine stadiums in the Valley that host baseball teams every year for Spring Training. This year will be the city's 15th anniversary, with Goodyear Ballpark first hosting ahead of the 2009 season.

It's the Spring Training home for both the Cleveland Guardians and the Cincinnati Reds, although various teams that also have spring training in the Valley, like the San Francisco Giants and the Seattle Mariners, will be playing the two Ohio teams throughout March.

Bruce Kessman, general manager of Goodyear Ballpark, said the city will have several giveaways starting on Opening Day.

Goodyear Ballpark is the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Guardians in Goodyear, Arizona.
Goodyear Ballpark is the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Guardians in Goodyear, Arizona.

The first 1,500 fans to get to the park on Opening Day will win a camouflage hat with the 15-year logo. The first 1,500 fans on March 10 will win a Goodyear Ballpark bag, while on March 17 they will win a pint glass and on March 24 a towel.

There will also be events for season ticket holders, as well as appreciation events for Goodyear Ballpark staff who have been with the city for 15 years.

Attendance has varied over the past few years since the pandemic, Kessman said. While 128,962 people attended Goodyear Ballpark for spring training, the city anticipates 130,000 to 150,000 people this year.

Cincinnati Reds first base coach Collin Cowgill jumps while explaining talking to outfielders during spring training workouts, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at the team’s spring training facility in Goodyear, Ariz.
Cincinnati Reds first base coach Collin Cowgill jumps while explaining talking to outfielders during spring training workouts, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at the team’s spring training facility in Goodyear, Ariz.

And neither Goodyear residents nor tourists have to worry about traffic, Kessman said.

While it's inevitable for there to be some traffic with the significant influx in people in the city, Kessman said the Ballpark works closely with the city's streets and engineering departments, as well as the Police Department.

The attendance is monitored closely to ensure that there is always a clear path to the ballpark despite potential road closures and high volumes of people, Kessman said.

Goodyear Ballpark is about a 10-minute drive from GSQ, which is the city's up-and-coming dining and entertainment hub.

At the nearby intersection of West McDowell Road and North Pebble Creek Parkway, baseball watchers and residents can find a variety of different restaurants, including sit-down restaurants like Red Lobster and Texas Roadhouse and drive-through joints.

Just north of the ballpark are a variety of spots as well, like the vegan restaurant Bereisheet 129 and N-DUB Pizza Pub.

A full spring training schedule for Goodyear Ballpark can be found at https://goodyearbp.com. Tickets can be purchased through the MLB's website or directly at the Ballpark. Ticket prices vary depending on the location of the seats but are typically between $10 and $35.

Reach the reporter at ahardle@gannett.com or by phone at 480-259-8545. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @AlexandraHardle.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How to most enjoy (or avoid) Goodyear Spring Training. What to know