Before Major League Baseball (MLB) season begins each year, the players gather for Spring Training—one league in Arizona (AZ) for the ‘Cactus League’ and the other in Florida for the ‘Grapefruit League.’
The Cactus League consists of 15 teams who play across 10 stadiums throughout Phoenix, and the surrounding area. As my partner and I are both from the San Francisco Bay Area and huge Oakland Athletics (A’s) fans, we decided to take our kiddos to root on the A’s at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, AZ for a few days during the preseason.
Located just 30 minutes outside of Phoenix, Hohokam Stadium hearkens back to the days of baseball’s early beginnings, when games were played in small-town stadiums. Hohokam Stadium is small and perfect for kids and families, i.e., not too crowded and not too loud. The players are so close you can almost touch them. Spring Training fans gather without a worry in their hearts because it doesn’t matter if your team wins or loses but how they show up and play.
All these factors make Spring Training a great way to introduce your littles to the sport of baseball.
We were happy to explore all that Spring Training had to offer over a four-day trip to Phoenix. Read on to find:
Hohokam Stadium is located on the stolen lands of the Hohokam and Pima Tribes
Visiting Hohokam Stadium for Spring Training
Hohokam Stadium is named after the Hohokam tribal community (see the anti-racist travel considerations below for more info). I loved this little stadium—here is what you need to know about visiting with your family:
Before you go
- Buy tickets in advance—the stadiums are small and seats sell out quickly. Plan your trip and additional activities around the baseball games so you can maximize your time in the area.
- Check the stadium A-Z guide to know what you can bring into the stadium, such as bag and stroller size limitations.
- Bring your credit cards and your phone—the stadium is cashless.
What we packed
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Sunscreen and hats
- A small bag with snacks and water bottles
- Oakland Athletics gear
- Baby carrier
- Blanket for lawn seats
- Baseball (or other gear) and sharpie for autographs!
Getting There
Hohokam Stadium is in Mesa, about 20 minutes outside of Phoenix without traffic. Traffic from Phoenix to Mesa builds up during commuting hours, so plan accordingly.
Tips for visiting Hohokam Stadium with your Kids
1. Arrive at the stadium early
The stadium opens two hours before game time. If you arrive early, you can see the players warm up and get an autograph.
Bring a baseball and a sharpie and prepare to get in line for a signature. Although we loved the thrill of getting the ball signed, we had to look up each player’s name post-signing since many players were new and their jerseys did not have their names on them.
2. Consider buying lawn seats
Lawn seats are perfect if you have little kids who might not sit still for an entire three hour game and could benefit from more space to move and play. Bring a blanket and let your kid roll down the hill on the lawn while you watch for home runs.
Outfielders tossed balls into the grass during the game, and even played a game of catch with some kiddos between innings!
3. Be prepared to be in direct sunlight
It gets H-O-T in Mesa, and there is very little shade at the stadium. Make sure to pack hats, long sleeves, and sunscreen.
I was disappointed that my children refused to wear their adorable A’s baseball caps during the game, but glad I remembered to bring a ton of sunscreen.
4. Find shade when you need it
If you need to cool down, take a stroll through the stadium to find the shady covered walkway underneath the upper deck seats.
There are two shaded areas with picnic tables and fake grass near the entrance to the stadium and the Stomper’s Kids Zone. We spent the last few innings here, allowing the kids to run around in the shade while we watched the game from the standing-room only section.
5. Check out Stomper's Kids Zone
Walk towards the outfield to find Stomper’s Kid Zone. This kid-friendly space was full of kid-sized fun—t-ball, skeeball, and more—for kids 12 and under.
Since the stadium is so small, you can watch the game from the Kids Zone while your kids are playing.
6. Wander through the stadium for some gametime activities
Ask Guest Services for a schedule of activities held during the game. You may find baseball hall-of-famers available to sign autographs and take photos.
At the time of this writing, the Stomper’s Kids Zone offered a scavenger hunt that took us on a journey through the stadium to find letters that spelled a baseball-themed word. The game started after the first pitch, and the first 30 kids that completed the hunt won a free t-shirt.
At the end of the day, this activity was my daughter’s favorite.
And yes, we won the shirt!
7. Get in line early for stadium food
We ordered delicious handlebar mustache pretzels when we arrived at the stadium as a pre-game snack. When it was time for lunch, I waited an hour in line for a hot dog. All concession stands had long lines at least one hour into the game. So get your food early, my friends! Or bring your own.
Although stadium food was standard fare, the mustache pretzels were delicious.
I was glad I brought snacks for the kids to eat while we waited in line for a hot dog.
8. Spend time in the outfield
No matter where you are sitting in the stadium, I recommend you take a walk to the outfield and experience the game from the grass.
Our kiddo loved rolling down the hill and running around the scoreboard while we enjoyed our beers relaxed on a grassy knoll. It was a great place to stretch your legs after sitting in our seats for most of the game.
9. Go shopping for spring training exclusive gear
Don’t forget to pick up your commemorative Spring Training gear. You can’t get this stuff anywhere else!
Many people, both at the stadium and at home, complimented me on my amazing spring training A’s sun hat. Don’t pass up on an opportunity to get an A’s hat with a cactus on it. It is a right of passage.
Things to do with kids in the Phoenix Area
(besides watching baseball)
Phoenix has a ton of kid-friendly and family-friendly activities. Some of our favorite things to do before game time (from 10am-1pm) were:
- See the cactus at the Desert Botanical Gardens
- Ride the trains and carousel at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
- Hike the Lost Dutchman State Park
- Play at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix
Read our blog post on visiting Phoenix with kids for more.
Where to Eat
On our Spring Training Arizona trip, we went to a baseball game everyday around lunchtime. That meant we were free to taste our way through Phoenix for breakfast and dinner.
Phoenix is full of breweries and hip, kid-friendly eateries that delighted our tastebuds. Some of our favorites were:
- Breakfast at Ollie Vaughns
- Grabbing a beer at Arizona Wilderness Brewery, OHSO Brewery, or Roses by the Stairs
- Enjoying dinner on the patio at Luci’s at the Orchard
For more on our favorite family-friendly Phoenix eating spots, check out our blog post.
Antiracist Travel Considerations
History Corner:
Hohokam stadium is named after the Hohokam tribal community that settled in this territory between 300 BC – 1200 AD. They built over 125 miles of irrigation canals, a system that is still used today. Historians believed the community left, however many other tribes believe their families descended from the Hohokam.
The stadium uses the name “Hohokam” to honor the tribe on who’s land it stands, but does not have a noticeable historical marker.
Our experience
Although there were a lot of families with young kids, I did not see many BIPOC families. The SF Bay Area and Athletic’s fan base are diverse, so this was surprising to me. We were treated with respect and felt safe during our travels.
Questions
What do you notice about the people at the stadium? Who is here, who isn’t?
How do we make baseball more accessible?
How is the history and innovation of the Hohokam acknowledged?
My dad, a lover of all things baseball, has instilled a love for the game in me, too. I don’t care about who is winning or losing, or fret about a player’s ERA. Instead, I have a love for the baseball experience—the corndogs, the crowds, the cheering.
But what I love most is sitting next to my family—device-free—and the time and space it allows for conversations, laughter, and connection.
The overall feel of Spring Training reminded me of my childhood baseball memories, and I was happy to recreate this for my kiddos.
Maybe I’ll see you out there next time? We can cheers our handlebar mustache pretzels while our kids roll down the hills at an Oakland A’s game in Arizona.
Go A’s!
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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