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| Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Spring Training | Area Info - Tempe |
| Stadium | Location | Parking | Seating | Schedule | Hotels | Restaurants |
Tempe Diablo StadiumSpring Training home of the Angels since 1993 Ballpark address: Opened: 1968 |
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Tempe Diablo Stadium shares something in common with Angel Stadium in Anaheim: both are adjacent to office complexes and have a stretch of Interstate visible just beyond their outfield wall. Besides 1-10 and office buildings, the stadium is bordered by one of Tempe's Twin Buttes and the practice fields that make up the Angels' 75-acre spring training complex.
Directions
Take 1-10 to the Broadway Road exit (#153 from the east or #153-B from the west). Travel west on Broadway to 48th Street and turn left. Travel south on 48th to Alameda Drive and turn left. The stadium is a half-mile ahead on the left.
Parking
There are two paved parking lots on opposite sides of the stadium. But those 1,350 spaces fill up well before game time. Most people will have to park in one of the lots at the office complexes across the street from the stadium. There will be people to guide you where you need to go.
Cost: $5
Stadium Information
Tempe Diablo Stadium sits at the base of the Twin Buttes, one of which rises above the left field wall. The rocky hill with an American flag atop provides a stunning backdrop. Fitting given its hillside location, the stadium is built upon a small hill that necessitates fans to access it via stairs or a ramp, making Tempe Diablo Stadium the only non-street level ballpark in the Cactus League. The stadium's picturesque exterior facade is topped by the Angels' halo logo. Inside, pennants from the years the Angels have gone to the playoffs are affixed to the facade of the press box. The stadium first hosted spring training in 1969 and underwent an extensive $5.9 million renovation to lure the Angels to Tempe in 1993. In 2006, further renovations to the stadium and surrounding complex were completed at a cost of $20 million. Although the stadium itself is architecturally pleasing, the seating bowl features an overabundance of bleachers and all seats are serviced by a cramped concourse, both no-nos by modern-day standards. Games are played on Gene Autry Field, which was named in honor of the original and longtime Angels owner in 1999, the year after he passed away.
Fast Facts
Practice Fields
Types of Seating
Bleacher seats outnumber stadium seats by a 3,570 to 3,231 count, but all seats in the stadium have backs. Traditional chair back seats with cup holders are between the dugouts, with bleacher benches beyond. A berm on the left half of the stadium can seat up to 2,300.
Notes about the seating
Sections and rows
E to W in sections 5-6 and 16-17; A to W in sections 7, 9, 13, 15; A to Z in sections 8, 10-12, 14
B to Z in section 1; B to W in sections 2-4 and 18-22; B to K in sections 23-24
Tickets
Seats to avoid
A small handful of seats are partially obstructed by the green metal protruding from the tunnels that are cut into the grandstand. The tunnels are used by the players to access their clubhouses. The seats with obstructions are:
Seats in the two Grandstand sections (23-24) should only be bought as a last resort. Views from there are blocked by fans standing up in the Field Box sections, which happens when players walk by after they've been removed from the game. Even unobstructed views come at a price, as you'll have to crane your neck to the left for the whole game since the seats face towards the outfield. So given the choice of Grandstand or Lawn seating, choose the berm.
Seats in the shade
Very few. The only shade provided in the roofless stadium's seating sections is cast upon the upper rows primarily on the first base side and comes courtesy of the trellised roof over the concourse. Seats that are in the shade at game's beginning can be found in rows W & up in sections 10-12 and rows U & up in sections 13-22. As the sun slowly descends behind the grandstand during the game shade creeps downward so that rows P & up in sections 10-14 and rows T & up in sections 15-22 are shaded by 2:30.
VIP seating
Homeplate MVP seating makes up rows A-D in sections 7-15. The upper level structure next to the press box houses a pair of suites, which combined can hold about 50 people, and an extensive deck along the first base line that was appropriately referred to as the Upper Pavilion, where seating is limited to simple patio furniture mostly lacking views of the game. Renamed the Honey Brown Sweet Spot Pavilion in 2012, its selling point is great views of the ball field and its backdrop when standing up and a buffet of free food.
Game Day
Gates open approximately an hour and a half before game time, which means 11:30 a.m. for the typical 1:05 p.m. start.
Food, drink and bag policy
Getting autographs
Tempe is tops in the Cactus League in autograph accessibility. To guarantee you get a slew of signatures from the home team, arrive while the Angels are taking batting practice, which they do exclusively on the field adjacent to the west parking lot. After a group of players has finished hitting they walk from the practice field through the north end of the parking lot to the main stadium. The pathway is lined by a steel barricade only about three feet in height and the majority of players will stop to sign for fans gathered there. For the normal game time (1:05), the best timeframe to gather along the walkway is 11:15 to 11:30. Inside the stadium, players sign down the outfield lines before the game. Visitors sign down the left field line, between their dugout and end of the grandstand. Angel autographs can be had well down the right field line next to the tunnel between sections 22 and 23. That tunnel leads to the home team clubhouse and is the place to be after the game, as quite a few Angels (players and coaches) will sign near its entrance before continuing into their clubhouse.
Unique ballpark fare
Specialty food tents are found on the concourse down the left field line, which also features a picnic area and a lookout deck filled with high top bar tables. Unfortunately most of the choices there and throughout the stadium are fairly routine. A noteworthy exception has long been the supersized portobello mushroom sandwich that comes from the grills on the concourse that also cook burgers, sausages and hot dogs during the game. Only one of the many left field line grills sells them, but the "Blazin' Burger," which is topped with jalapeno peppers, pepper jack cheese and spicy mayo, is darned good and comes with garlic fries to boot. The combo's addition to the stadium's menu in 2011 has given Tempe's concessions a highlight item for the masses, whereas in the past meat-loving fans had mostly mundane choices for consideration. Beverage service is dominated by Pepsi (soft drinks) and Miller Lite (beer). Besides Miller products, there are numerous beers on tap. Recent options include beers from Oregon-based breweries Deschutes and Full Sail being poured at a pub near home plate, plus Rolling Rock found at places on opposite ends of the concourse.
2013 Angels Spring Training Schedule(only home games at Tempe Diablo Stadium are listed) |
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| February | Day | Time | Visiting Team | TicketsNow |
| 23 | Saturday | 1:05 | Cubs | Tickets |
| 24 | Sunday | 1:05 | A's | Tickets |
| 26 | Tuesday | 1:05 | Diamondbacks | Tickets |
| 27 | Wednesday | 1:05 | Giants | Tickets |
| March | Day | Time | Visiting Team | TicketsNow |
| 1 | Friday | 1:05 | Dodgers | Tickets |
| 3 | Sunday | 1:05 | Cubs | Tickets |
| 5 | Tuesday | 1:05 | Reds | Tickets |
| 6 | Wednesday | 1:05 | Italy | Tickets |
| 8 | Friday | 1:05 | Diamondbacks | Tickets |
| 9 | Saturday | 1:05 | Rockies | Tickets |
| 14 | Thursday | 1:05 | White Sox | Tickets |
| 15 | Friday | 1:05 | Mariners | Tickets |
| 17 | Sunday | 1:05 | Padres | Tickets |
| 20 | Wednesday | 1:05 | Indians | Tickets |
| 22 | Friday | 1:05 | Royals | Tickets |
| 23 | Saturday | 1:05 | Brewers | Tickets |
| 24 | Sunday | 1:05 | Giants | Tickets |
| 27 | Wednesday | 12:05 | Rangers | Tickets |
* Single game tickets went on sale Thursday, December 20.  See the full 2013 Angels Spring Training schedule |
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Ballpark Area Info
Tempe Diablo Stadium is synonymous with congestion. The stadium is tightly fit into real estate bordered by a rock formation, industrial section and two traffic-clogged major highways. The end result is traffic headaches coming and going, the worst you'll find in spring training on either coast. Your options are limited to waiting it out. And as inviting as the 25-acre Twin Buttes are, they are off limits to anybody wanting to hike them as they are controlled by a Marriott Resort that has been built into their hillside.
Travelers' notes
 Hotels close to Tempe Diablo Stadium |
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| Distance | Hotel | Street Address | City/Zip | Phone |
| 0.1 miles | The Buttes Marriott Resort | 2000 W Westcourt Way | Tempe, AZ 85282 | 602-225-9000 |
| 0.6 | Hampton Inn | 4234 S 48th St | Phoenix, AZ 85040 | 602-438-8688 |
| 0.7 | Comfort Suites | 1625 S 52nd St | Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-446-9500 |
| 0.75 | Fiesta Inn Resort | 2100 S Priest Dr | Tempe, AZ 85282 | 480-967-1441 |
| 0.75 | Sheraton | 1600 S 52nd St | Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-967-6600 |
| 0.8 | Quality Inn | 1550 S 52nd St | Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-967-3000 |
| 0.8 | Red Roof Inn | 2135 W 15th St | Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-449-3205 |
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 Restaurants close to Tempe Diablo Stadium |
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| Distance | Restaurant | Street Address | City/Zip | Phone |
| 0.45 miles | Zax Incredible Subs | 2403 W Huntington Dr | Tempe, AZ 85282 | 602-438-2995 |
| 0.5 | Whataburger | 4610 S 48th St | Phoenix, AZ 85040 | 602-454-6453 |
| 0.5 | Pizza Hut | 4708 S 48th St | Phoenix, AZ 85040 | 602-438-9236 |
| 0.55 | Taco Bell | 4430 S 48th St | Phoenix, AZ 85040 | 602-453-9330 |
| 0.55 | Del Taco | 4252 S 48th St | Phoenix, AZ 85040 | 602-454-0863 |
| 0.55 | Hot Wok II China Farm | 3135 S 48th St | Tempe, AZ 85282 | 602-438-2707 |
| 0.6 | Salazar Brothers Mexican Food | 2602 W Southern Ave | Tempe, AZ 85282 | 602-438-4744 |
| 0.6 | O2 Cafe | 1731 E Broadway Rd | Tempe, AZ 85282 | 602-616-2935 |
| 0.6 | Blimpie Subs | 2747 W Southern Ave | Tempe, AZ 85282 | 602-431-0552 |
| 0.6 | Wendy's | 2704 W Southern Ave | Tempe, AZ 85282 | 602-438-8255 |
| 0.6 | Arby's | 2755 W Southern Ave | Tempe, AZ 85282 | 602-438-2259 |
| List your restaurant or bar |
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 Airports close to Tempe Diablo Stadium |
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| Distance | Airport | Airport Code | ||
| 4.7 miles | Phoenix Sky Harbor International | PHX | ||
| 107 | Tucson International | TUS | ||
| 160 | Yuma International | YUM | ||
