Cubs Spring Training
| 2010 First Practice Dates |
Pitchers & Catchers: February 18Position Players: February 23 |
| Recent Attendance |
| Year | Total | Average |
2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 | 152,493 203,105 181,119 187,549 154,978 193,993 189,692 | 10,892 10,690 12,075 11,722 11,070 12,125 11,856 |
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Spring Training Info
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| Chicago Cubs Spring Training |
Area Info - Mesa |
Hohokam Park Spring Training home of the Cubs since 1997Ballpark address: 1235 North Center Street Mesa, AZ 85201 Opened: 1997 Capacity: 13,074 Send this page to a friend

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Location
Hohokam Park is in a residential area of Mesa, directly across the street from the City of Mesa Cemetery.
Directions
From Phoenix: Take Loop 202 east to the McKellips Road exit (#12). Turn right on McKellips then right on North Center Street. The stadium will be on the left. The driving distance from Loop 202 (aka the Red Mountain Freeway) is 1.8 miles.
From the south (Chandler/Tucson): Use Highway 60 (aka Superstition Freeway), exiting at Country Club Drive (exit #179). Travel north on Country Club for about 3.4 miles then turn right (east) on Brown Road. Proceed to North Center Street and take a left. The ballpark is just ahead on the right.
Parking
There are 3,000 spaces at the stadium, the bulk of which are in grass fields that are used for youth soccer on non-game days. The fairly sizable (by spring training standards) paved lot is for season ticket holders and is designated as Lot A. Just like in Chicago, neighborhood parking is available. It's necessary in Mesa thanks to the big crowds that the Cubs draw. The benefit to parking at homes belonging to local residents is much easier exiting upon game's end. Stadium and neighborhood parking are priced the same.
Cost: $5
Stadium Information
Hohokam Park is best known for its large crowds. Its seats and berm are regularly filled to capacity, and capacity in Mesa is larger than at any other spring training ballpark. As such, the Cubs own the single season (203,105 in 2009) spring training attendance record. There's no doubt the Cubs are the draw, as the stadium's bland tan stucco exterior leaves a lot to be desired. The expansive interior is utilitarian in design, with the upper grandstand providing wonderful views of the surrounding mountain ranges. Just like at Wrigley, the fans make Hohokam a wonderful experience and every game one of them is picked to lead the crowd in the signing of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Referred to interchangeably as Hohokam Park and Hohokam Stadium, the current structure opened in 1997 on the same spot as the original Hohokam Park, which was razed and rebuilt following twenty years of use. The stadium is named after the Mesa HoHoKams, an influential local civic organization that has been the booster of spring training baseball in Mesa since 1951.
Fast Facts
Fans enter the ballpark at street level through one of multiple gates. Gate A is behind center field and is the main berm entrance, Gate B is in the left field corner, Gate C is behind third base and is the most used entrance, Gate D is on the first base side of home plate, and Gate E is behind first base.
The majority of ticket windows are next to Gate C, although there is a cash only window near both Gates B and D. Ticket lines get backed up at Gates B and C, but not D. If you don't need to use a credit card head there to reduce your time waiting in line.
The main concourse is behind and covered by the grandstand. Banners of Cub greats hang from its walls. An interior concourse completely encircles and is open to the playing field.
The bullpens are tiered in right field with the Cubs' closest to the playing field. Only a chain link fence separates fans from the visitors' bullpen.
The stadium's main scoreboard is a 32-foot tall behemoth that stands behind the berm in left field. It has a video board and electronic line score. Mini scoreboards are attached to the façade of the two Upper Deck Cafes.
The playing field is named in memory of Dwight W. Patterson, the founding member of the Mesa HoHoKams.
A pair of team shops, both named the Cubbie Hole, can be found behind home plate and third base, respectively.
Practice Fields
The Cubs' practice field is just beyond the ballpark's center field wall.
Cubs minor leaguers practice and play on the four fields found within Fitch Park, which is located a half mile south of Hohokam Park at 160 East 6th Place.
Types of Seating
All seats have chair or seat backs, but none have cup holders. A berm extends from foul pole to foul pole.
Stadium seats: Sections 100-116 and 200-212
Bleachers: Sections 117-124, 213-228 and all 300-level sections
Berm: Can hold up to 2,500 people
Notes about the seating
The Cubs dugout is on the first base side. To make sure you're on the home side of the stadium, buy your tickets in any odd numbered section.
An aisle cuts through the middle of the grandstand. All 100-level seats are below the aisle while all 200-level seats are above it.
Handicap accessible seating is available on railed in platforms on the concourse at the top of sections 101-104 and 111-122. Handicap seating is also available in areas above sections 209, 212 & 214.
The protective screen behind home plate extends from sections 100-104 and doesn't obstruct views of those sitting behind it.
Fans in even numbered 200-level sections (third base side) have a nice view of the Superstition Mountains.
The outfield berm is a standing room haven, specifically on the larger right field berm. There's also plenty of room to stand on the aisle between 100- and 200-level seats.
Ushers are very friendly. All members of the Mesa HoHoKams, they will generally let you sit in sections for which you don't have a ticket as long as there is availability. But given the Cubs' drawing power that's not often.
Sections and rows
Rows for sections with stadium seats range as follows:
C to P in section 100; C to L in sections 101-104; F to P in sections 105-110; F to L in sections 111-112; A to L in sections 113-116; P in sections 123-124; AA to LL in sections 200-204; AA to PP in sections 205-212; QQ in sections 213, 215-218
Rows for sections with bleacher seats range as follows:
A to L in sections 117-122; G to N in sections 123-124; AA to PP in sections 213-218; AA to RR in sections 219-228, which are the freestanding sets of bleachers found down each outfield line.
Beginning in 2009, six sections of padded bleacher seats were added to the patio above 200-level seats on the first base side of the stadium. Rows in those sections (307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317) range from A to C.
Rows I and O are skipped in all 100-level sections, while rows II and OO are skipped in all 200-level sections.
Tickets
Sections 100-116 are sold as Field Box.
Sections 117-124 are sold as Field Reserved.
Sections 200-212 are sold as Terrace Box.
Sections 213-218 are sold as Terrace.
Sections 219-228 are sold as Patio Bleachers.
Sections 309, 311, 313, 315-318 are sold as Grandstand.
Space on the outfield berm is sold as Lawn.
Children ages 3 & under get in free.
Seats to avoid
They're not necessarily bad seats, but those in sections 117-124 are aluminum bleachers and the higher the section number the further away your seat will be from home plate. For example, sections 123 and 124 are very close to the foul poles. Some seats in the new 300-level bleachers are obstructed by poles. Although padded and shaded, the 174 spaces that are sold as Grandstand are some of the worst seats you'll find at any spring training ballpark. You're better off sitting in the berm.
Seats in the shade
There are plenty here. The stadium's trellised roof casts shade upon all rows in sections 200-207, 209, 211 and 213. Most seats in sections 208, 210, 212, 214 and 216 are in the shade, with all seats in those sections shaded by 1:45.
VIP seating
There are two outdoor patios, one on each side of the press box. The third base patio is adjacent to an indoor skybox. There are six luxury suites. The Budweiser Party Deck in right field can hold up to 250 people.
Game Day
Will call windows open at 9 a.m. The ballpark's gates open two hours before game time but the berm remains closed until batting practice is over.
Food, drink and bag policy
Food cannot be brought into the stadium, but one sealed bottle of water per person is permitted.
Bags allowed inside can't exceed 16" x 16" x 8" in size.
Getting autographs
Simply put, this is not a good park to obtain autographs in. The Cubs take batting practice before gates open, limiting fan access to them. Occasionally a Cub player will sign near the tarp close to their dugout before the game, but with tunnels to the clubhouses for both teams located in the dugouts players can easily avoid fans. The best thing to do is to wait until after the game is over, when many Cubs players will sign autographs once they've showered and changed into street clothes. The place to be is near the exit door of the Cubs' clubhouse at the end of the first base grandstand, from which players emerge in route to their parking lot in the right field corner. To get there, players walk through a closed off section of the concourse inside of the stadium and fans gather along the route in front of the appropriately named Clubhouse Cafe (see photo). This is the epicenter of autograph activity inside of Hohokam Park, and it's found directly behind the freestanding bleachers down the right field line.
Away games
When the Cubs play road games in the Phoenix area they generally take batting practice at Hohokam Park then bus over to wherever they are playing. Ballpark gates in Mesa will be open so Cubs fans can watch the team take BP, which happens between 10 and 11 a.m. Ironically, fans can't watch the Cubs take batting practice when they are playing at home, as gates to the ballpark don't open until just after the team has finished hitting.
Unique ballpark fare
Although not overly creative, the food is actually pretty good. The biggest issue is that concession stands are behind the grandstand and sold out crowds lead to long lines that will often force you to miss an inning. If you like hot dogs, the Chi-Town Dog (onions, mustard, sport peppers, sweet relish, tomatoes) or the Mesa Dog (chili, cheese, fritos, jalapenos) are worth the wait behind home plate at Hot Dog Nation. But mainly you'll find tried and true menu items (pizza, pulled pork BBQ, nachos), although the trailer serving up Iowa breaded pork tenderloins is original. Pepsi is the cola of choice. Old Style beer, sold at Wrigley Field since 1950, is also available at Hohokam Park. So too is plenty of beer on tap, with Bud and Bud Light available pretty much everywhere and lesser known brands (like Land Shark) scattered throughout the park.
Ballpark Area Info
Although Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona, the area surrounding the stadium is pretty much summed up by the cemetery across the street from it. There's just not a lot happening. Your time is better spent enjoying the recreational offerings of Phoenix or the upscale shopping and dining found in Scottsdale. Both cities are about 10 miles away. If you like art, the Mesa Arts Center houses five galleries. Baseball fans should make the short drive to the Arizona Museum for Youth, where an exhibit called Play Ball: The Cactus League Experience details the history of the Cactus League. The museum is just 1.9 miles from Hohokam Park and is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10-4.
Travelers' notes
The closest major highway, the Loop 202, is less than 2 miles away.
The area surrounding the stadium is as safe as it is boring.
 Restaurants close to Hohokam Park |
| Distance | Restaurant | Street Address | City/Zip | Phone |
| 0.4 miles | Mardenely's Ristorante | 223 E Brown Rd | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-649-3333 |
| 0.45 | Native New Yorker | 318 E Brown Rd | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-464-4383 |
| 0.45 | Subway | 322 E Brown Rd | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-890-0305 |
| 0.5 | Krazy Sub | 1211 N Country Club Dr | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-835-0330 |
| 0.5 | Dirty Drummer | 1211 N Country Club Dr | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-834-6371 |
| 0.5 | Italian Joe's Pizza | 1211 N Country Club Dr | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-464-2121 |
| 0.55 | Taco Bell | 352 E Brown Rd | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-461-9362 |
| 0.55 | Wendy's | 1205 N Country Club Dr | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-964-0861 |
| 0.85 | Mama Maria Restaurant | 118 E McKellips Rd | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-610-6818 |
| 0.85 | Cindy's Arizona Cafe | 124 E McKellips Rd | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-655-1349 |
| 0.95 | Royal Thai Grill | 321 W McKellips Rd | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-733-9025 |
| 0.95 | Rally's Hamburgers | 343 W McKellips Rd | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-461-9676 |
List your restaurant or bar |
 Hotels close to Hohokam Park |
| Distance | Hotel | Street Address | City/Zip | Phone |
| 1.3 miles | Marriott | 200 N Centennial Way | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-898-8300 |
| 1.7 | Best Western | 250 W Main St | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-834-9233 |
| 1.8 | Travelodge | 22 S Country Club Dr | Mesa, AZ 85210 | 480-964-5694 |
| 1.8 | Citrus Inn | 524 W Main St | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-833-9810 |
| 1.9 | Kiva Lodge Motel | 668 W Main St | Mesa, AZ 85201 | 480-834-3796 |
| 1.9 | Budget Inn | 106 S Country Club Dr | Mesa, AZ 85210 | 480-668-4811 |
List your hotel |
 Airports close to Hohokam Park |
| Distance | Airport | Airport Code |
| 11.9 miles | Phoenix Sky Harbor International | PHX |
| 105 | Tucson International | TUS |
| 169 | Yuma International | YUM |

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