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| Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers Spring Training | Area Info - Surprise |
| Stadium | Location | Parking | Seating | Schedule | Hotels | Restaurants |
Surprise StadiumSpring Training home of the Rangers and Royals since 2003 Ballpark address: Opened: 2003 |
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Surprise Stadium is the centerpiece of the city's Surprise Recreation Campus, a 132-acre complex that includes a little bit of everything. In addition to baseball practice facilities, the complex is home to the city's aquatic center, tennis complex, regional library and an art museum, all of which are across the street from the stadium's main entrance.
Directions
Take I-10 to the Loop 101 North. Exit at Grand Avenue (exit #11) and head west. Drive for 6 miles on Grand (aka Hwy 60) and turn left onto busy Bell Road. Go 1½ miles and turn left onto Bullard Avenue. The stadium is a short distance ahead on the right. You'll see its light towers from Bell Road.
Parking
There's a small paved lot behind left field and then a large grass field beyond that to handle most overflow, with the rest of the excess parking in the paved lot across the street at the Surprise Aquatic Center. Both lots are close to the stadium and have a price that can't be beat.
Cost: Free
Stadium Information
Surprise Stadium exudes a wow factor, as everything was done first class. Built at a cost of $48.3 million on the former site of a World War II pilot training field, the stadium is essentially split into two halves. Everything Royals - dugout, bullpen, clubhouse, logos, banners - is on the left (third base) half; the Rangers get the same treatment on the right (first base) side. The stadium was the brainchild of the architects at HOK Sport and they followed the recent trend of including a small second deck. Surprise's upper level overhangs the lower seating bowl. Those sitting in the Lower Dugout seats benefit from that design with shade, thanks in part to the sun descending behind the grandstand during the afternoon. The only ribbon scoreboards found at a spring training ballpark adorn the two facades of the upper level. Designed to be exceptionally fan, and specifically, family-friendly, the stadium features a free to ride carousel for kids and their accompanying parents on the first base concourse. Near the merry-go-round fans can watch Rangers hitters hit in their covered batting cage building through chain link fencing. The Royals have a similar back of the concourse batting cage setup, but fan accessibility is blocked by a food court. Games are played on Billy Parker Field, named in honor of the former Angels infielder and city's first Parks and Recreation Director. Parker died a month before the first Cactus League game was played in Surprise. The entire facility is sometimes referred to as the Surprise Recreation Campus as the stadium also contains the city's Community and Recreation Services Department building.
Fast Facts
Practice Fields
Types of Seating
All seats have chair backs, armrests and cup holders. A berm extends the entire length of the outfield.
Notes about the seating
Sections and rows
E to R in sections 101-102; B to V in sections 103-106; D to T in sections 107-108; D to R in sections 109-110; D to T in sections 111-112; A to V in sections 113-116; A to T in sections 117-118; A to R in sections 119-120; A to V in sections 121-122; K to V in sections 123-124; A to G in sections 201-206.
Tickets
Seats to avoid
It's a minor detail, but seats in sections 117-120 are angled towards center field, not home plate.
Seats in the shade
The Upper Dugout seats (sections 201-206) are covered by a roof and they overhang sections 107-112, where rows N and up are covered by the overhang. Fans sitting in the Lower Dugout seats (sections 101-112) are protected from the sun thanks to the upper level, which blocks the rays completely at varying times depending on the section. By the time of a typical afternoon start (1:05), most seats in sections 101, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110 & 112 are in the shade and remain so throughout the game. Seats on the opposite side of the stadium (sections 103, 105, 107, 109 & 111) enjoy full shade by 2:30.
VIP seating
Suites with outdoor balconies are on both sides of the press box in the upper level. The Home Run Party Deck is in right field, erected in the berm next to the Rangers bullpen. An all you can eat buffet and two drink vouchers come with the price of party deck admission.
Game Day
All gates open an hour and a half before game time.
Food, drink and bag policy
Getting autographs
Fans will have difficulty obtaining autographs before the game as teams generally don't take batting practice inside of Surprise Stadium. The Rangers and Royals instead hit on one of their practice fields while visiting teams often take BP in their home park before boarding their bus to Surprise. About an hour before the game begins fans of visiting teams should position themselves directly behind home plate and alongside the tunnel that is cut into sections 101 and 102. That tunnel is used by visiting players to get to and from their clubhouse and they have to utilize it to get to the playing field. Since the Rangers' and Royals' clubhouses are in the outfield corners their players don't have to come in close contact with fans unless they choose to. The good news is that when it gets closer to game time a handful of players will sign near their respective dugouts. The best place to station yourself is in sections 113-118, with Rangers players signing down the right field line and Royals players signing down the left field line. Also, players from the Rangers and Royals will sometimes sign after they have been removed from the game as they walk along the warning track back to their respective clubhouses. The best place to be at that time is sections 122 and 124 (Rangers) and sections 121 and 123 (Royals).
Unique ballpark fare
A handful of specialty concession stands can be found on the concourse down the left field line. The diverse offerings change yearly, but barbeque, funnel cakes, and cheese steaks seem to be a constant. Coca-Cola controls the soft drink market, but alcohol choices are numerous, with wine sold by the glass, margaritas served frozen, and at least a half-dozen beers on tap. Not all beers are served at all stands, with one exception: the Beer Garden taps a keg of each. You can find the Beer Garden mixed in with the specialty concession stands.
2010 Royals Spring Training Schedule(only home games at Surprise Stadium are listed) |
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| March | Day | Time | Visiting Team | StubHub |
| 4 | Thursday | 1:05 | Rangers | Tickets |
| 5 | Friday | 1:05 | Rangers | Tickets |
| 7 | Sunday | 1:05 | Giants | Tickets |
| 9 | Tuesday | 1:05 | A's | Tickets |
| 11 | Thursday | 1:05 | Dodgers | Tickets |
| 13 | Saturday | 1:05 | Angels | Tickets |
| 16 | Tuesday | 1:05 | Brewers | Tickets |
| 17 | Wednesday | 1:05 | Padres | Tickets |
| 21 | Sunday | 1:05 | Rockies | Tickets |
| 22 | Monday | 1:05 | White Sox | Tickets |
| 23 | Tuesday | 1:05 | Cubs | Tickets |
| 25 | Thursday | 1:05 | Mariners | Tickets |
| 27 | Saturday | 1:05 | A's | Tickets |
| 30 | Tuesday | 6:05 | Indians | Tickets |
| April | Day | Time | Visiting Team | StubHub |
| 1 | Thursday | 12:05 | Diamondbacks | Tickets |
* Single game tickets went on sale Saturday, January 9.  See the full 2010 Royals Spring Training schedule |
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2010 Rangers Spring Training Schedule(only home games at Surprise Stadium are listed) |
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| March | Day | Time | Visiting Team | StubHub |
| 6 | Saturday | 1:05 | Royals | Tickets |
| 8 | Monday | 1:05 | Angels | Tickets |
| 10 | Wednesday | 1:05 | Mariners | Tickets |
| 12 | Friday | 1:05 | Padres | Tickets |
| 14 | Sunday | 1:05 | Diamondbacks | Tickets |
| 15 | Monday | 6:05 | Giants | Tickets |
| 18 | Thursday | 6:05 | Brewers | Tickets |
| 19 | Friday | 1:05 | Indians | Tickets |
| 20 | Saturday | 1:05 | Dodgers | Tickets |
| 24 | Wednesday | 1:05 | Cubs | Tickets |
| 26 | Friday | 1:05 | A's | Tickets |
| 28 | Sunday | 1:05 | White Sox | Tickets |
| 29 | Monday | 1:05 | Rockies | Tickets |
| 31 | Wednesday | 1:05 | Mariners | Tickets |
* Single game tickets went on sale Saturday, January 9. See the full 2010 Rangers Spring Training schedule |
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Ballpark Area Info
Surprise Stadium is the westernmost spring training ballpark in the Phoenix area, found 25 miles northwest of the Arizona capital. Just as the two team complex in neighboring Peoria spurred stadium-centered development, so too is the case in Surprise. But the immediate development surrounding the stadium in Surprise is much more community oriented than in Peoria. Residences, schools, public recreation and service buildings, and the Heard Museum (which closed in September 2009) flank different sides of Surprise Stadium, while a Mecca of commerce can be found a short drive away on Bell Road. It all adds up to a perfect mix of live, work, play...and a lot of traffic congestion on game day. So be prepared for stop and go traffic before and after games.
Travelers' notes
 Restaurants close to Surprise Stadium |
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| Distance | Restaurant | Street Address | City/Zip | Phone |
| 0.85 miles | My Favorite Martin's | 17300 N Sun Village Pkwy | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-584-5931 |
| 1.0 | TGI Friday's | 14127 W Bell Rd | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-546-7727 |
| 1.1 | Charley's Grilled Subs | 14071 W Bell Rd | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-214-7450 |
| 1.1 | Carrabba's | 14043 W Bell Rd | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-214-3299 |
| 1.1 | Red Robin | 14015 W Bell Rd | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-556-9066 |
| 1.1 | Lucky's Pizza | 15508 W Bell Rd | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-584-2203 |
| 1.1 | Subway | 15508 W Bell Rd | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-546-8551 |
| 1.2 | NYPD Pizza | 13980 W Bell Rd | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-544-6915 |
| 1.2 | Macayo's Mexican Kitchen | 15565 W Bell Rd | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-214-5950 |
| 1.3 | Buffalo Wild Wings | 13882 W Bell Rd | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-584-2323 |
| 1.3 | China Buffet | 17119 N Litchfield Rd | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-584-9198 |
| 1.3 | El Paso Barbeque | 13823 W Bell Rd | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-209-8001 |
 List your restaurant or bar |
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 Hotels close to Surprise Stadium |
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| Distance | Hotel | Street Address | City/Zip | Phone |
| 0.1 miles | Holiday Inn Express | 16540 N Bullard Ave | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-975-5540 |
| 2.4 | Hampton Inn | 14783 W Grand Ave | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-537-9122 |
| 2.8 | Windmill Suites | 12545 W Bell Rd | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-583-0133 |
| 2.9 | Quality Inn | 16741 N Greasewood St | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-583-3500 |
| 2.9 | Days Inn | 12477 W Bell Rd | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-933-4000 |
| 3.3 | Lodge at Sun Ridge | 12129 W Bell Rd | Surprise, AZ 85374 | 623-583-0993 |
| 12.6 | Holiday Inn Express | 9310 W Cabela Dr | Glendale, AZ 85305 | 623-939-8888 |
| List your hotel |
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 Airports close to Surprise Stadium |
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| Distance | Airport | Airport Code | ||
| 23.5 miles | Phoenix Sky Harbor International | PHX | ||
| 134 | Tucson International | TUS | ||
| 145 | Yuma International | YUM | ||
Contact Us With Any Questions About Rangers or Royals Spring Training