America’s pastime is warming up for the upcoming MLB season, with spring training 2016 beginning next week in Arizona and Florida.
We’re a little biased in favor of the San Francisco Giants, who use Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona as their home base this time of year. The stadium has a fantastic location in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale. It seats 12,000, which seems like a lot for spring training, but the Giants seem to have no trouble packing ’em in for their exhibition season.
Scottsdale Stadium is near several hotels and resorts with ample meeting space. Less than a mile from the stadium are Hotel Valley Ho and W Scottsdale. The Valley Ho is celebrating its 60th birthday this year. It offers 191 guest rooms, 13,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space and 20,000 sq. ft. of outdoor event space. W Scottsdale anchors the Scottsdale entertainment district. It features 230 guest rooms and 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. The pool creates a dynamic event space.
About 1.5 miles from the stadium is Firesky Resort & Spa, which has 204 guest rooms and suites. There’s 14,000 sq. ft. of event space, including two ballrooms, with room for up to 600.
There’s a $22 million transformation underway at Chaparral Suites, which will soon become Embassy Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Resort. The property is 1.8 miles form Scottsdale Stadium and 3.4 miles from Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. The resort features 312 upgraded guest suites, including multiple-room executive and VIP suites. There’s 60,000 sq. ft. of flexible meetings space, which includes an 11,000-square-foot conference center.
W Scottsdale, Arizona
Spring Training 2016 Luxury
The Phoenician is about 2 miles away. Offering 160,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor event space, this jewel has 643 guest rooms and suites, and the 60-room Forbes Five Star Canyon Suites.
The Scottsdale Plaza Resort is located 3.5 miles from the stadium. There are 404 guest rooms and 40,000 sq. ft. of event space. A full-service spa and salon, tennis center, nine-hole putting green and five pools make this property a great home base for all-around sports fans.
The Colorado Rockies and hometown Arizona Diamondbacks play at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, A Destination Hotel is the place to stay and meet if you’re interested in attending a spring training game at Salt River Fields. The resort is coming off a $10 million renovation, including new outdoor event space, two new restaurants and a bar, and enhanced guest rooms, There’s more than 80,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting space and 326 spacious guest rooms and suites.
Known as the Cactus League, Arizona hosts 15 teams in nine cities and 10 stadiums. Last year, Cactus League fans set attendance records with nearly 1.9 million attending at least one game in greater Scottsdale, according to Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.
