1. Look forward to new stadium renovations.
This year the Peoria Sports Complex will have 1,000 brand new stadium seats, more field level seating, and additional seat improvements (cupholders and more!). In a new 4,900-square-foot building, the first floor will have a team store, and the second floor will include an open terrace, bar, concession stand and additional restrooms. An event pavilion in the outfield will have a bar for up to 300 people.
2. Sit in the shade and eat buffet-style.
Consider watching from the All You Can Eat Deck on the right field concourse. For a $20 ticket upgrade, enjoy unlimited hot dogs, hamburgers, peanuts, chips, sodas, and more (but not beer). Seating and shade is first come, first served, FYI.
3. Taste Arizona’s local craft beer.
It’s time to branch out from Ballast Point and Stone. While you’re in AZ, taste a beer from the six-months-old Freak’N Brewing Company, a microbrewery right in Peoria. Also try to get your hands on a brew from Arizona Wilderness Brewery, which is based in Gilbert. RateBeer.com ranked it number one out of the ten best new breweries in the world (of the 2,600 that opened in 2013). It also got a write-up on Esquire.com.
4. Sneak in a brewery tour.
Get picked up at your door for Road Dog’s Phoenix Brewery Tour and get the chance to taste the best craft beers that Phoenix breweries offer. Visit three to five breweries in three hour’s time.
5. Get outside.
Waiting for a night game? Don’t waste the day inside. Lake Pleasant is one of the one of the most scenic water recreation areas and is the second largest lake in central Arizona. Go hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, camping, fishing, boating and more.
6. Stay in a nice hotel.
Sure, there are motels near the stadium, but if you want a little more pampering, check out Cibola Vista Resort & Spa, which has huge pools, slides, a premier spa, and horseback riding on the property.
7. Make the most of an away game.
When the Padres are scheduled to play in Mesa at Hohokam Stadium, you can look forward to cheap tickets in the shade. It’s also the only stadium designed for food trucks to be able to be rolled in. Feast on Maine lobster, Chicago or Sonoran hotdogs, and Chinese food.
8. Let the kids run around.
Hohokam Stadium in Mesa has a mini-dugout for kids to play in and the park next to the stadium features a splash pad, climbing wall, and the world’s largest climbing tower at 75 feet!
9. If you want an away hotel.
The Sheraton Mesa Hotel in Wrigleyville West is a brand new resort that provides luxuries like a swim-up pool bar, massage salon, steakhouse, and a wine cellar.
Look for special discounts and themed days, such as Dog Day (March 14), Fan Appreciation Days (April 1-2), Kids Days (every Sunday), and more. springtrainingpeoria.com
For info on visiting Peoria, click here.
2015 Padres Spring Training: 9 Things Fans Should Know
