 Home |  Cactus League  Grapefruit League  Schedules  Shop |  Contact Us |
| Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training | Area Info - Tucson |
| Stadium | Location | Parking | Seating | Schedule | Hotels | Restaurants |
Tucson Electric ParkSpring Training home of the Diamondbacks from 1998-2010 Ballpark address: Opened: 1998 |
 |
Tucson Electric Park is the centerpiece of the 158-acre Kino Sports Complex, which is located next door to the University Physicians Healthcare (UPH) Hospital. The stadium is clearly visible from I-10.
Directions
Take 1-10 East to the Kino Parkway/North Ajo Way exit (#263B) and head east, following the signs to Ajo Way and the stadium, which will be on your right-hand side. Alternatively, the stadium can be reached from I-10 by taking the Park Avenue exit (#262) and staying on Park until you reach East Ajo Way.
Parking
There are plenty of spaces within the Kino Sports Complex - 1,000 paved and 2,300 gravel/grass. The parking lot is located between the ballpark and I-10, accessible by a road between the hospital and stadium.
Cost: $5
Stadium Information
Tucson Electric Park is best known for its fantastic views of the Catalina Mountains, which loom large beyond the outfield. Big and spacious, it's one of a handful of spring training venues with a second deck. But thanks to a design quirk the upper level seats and suites are further away from the field than at most stadiums of a similar size, as the second deck was built behind the concourse, not on top of it. Through 2008 the Diamondbacks, White Sox and city's Triple-A team all played their home games at TEP, the initials that the ballpark is often referred to by, but that changed when the Tucson Sidewinders, as the minor league team was known, moved to Reno after a new ballpark was built to lure them to Nevada. Now the stadium that was designed with a dual purpose in mind has only spring training to host, but even the future of that is in doubt after the White Sox officially bolted for Glendale on November 18, 2008 after paying a $5 million buyout to break their lease. The Diamondbacks are now the only tenant of the two-team complex but have begun to explore other options as their lease, which runs through 2012, contains an out clause if fewer than three teams train in Tucson, as is now the case. The ballpark's name comes courtesy of the Tucson Electric Company, who paid $2 million for 10 years of naming rights.
Fast Facts
Practice Fields
Types of Seating
This stadium has a little bit of everything - traditional stadium seats with chair backs, bleachers with or without seat backs, and lawn seating.
Notes about the seating
Sections and rows
1 to 20 in sections 104-107; 6 to 20 in section 108; 6 to 22 in sections 109-110; 3 to 20 in sections 111-112; 6 to 22 in sections 113-114; 3 to 20 in sections 115-116; 6 to 22 in sections 117-118; 1 to 20 in sections 119-121; 1 to 6 in sections 201-208
14 to 22 in section 101; 4 to 22 in section 102; 1 to 20 in sections 103 and 122-123; 1 to 16 in sections B3-B4
Seats to avoid
Views from the first row of seats in the upper level's covered mezzanine sections (201-208) are obstructed by a guard rail. The entire upper level, suites included, is far away from the playing field as it was built behind the concourse, not above it. The upper bleachers (B3-B4) are also far away from the field, at least by spring training standards, and the higher up you sit there the more wind becomes an issue.
Seats in the shade
All seats in the upper level are covered by a trellised roof. Since the upper level was built behind the concourse very few seats in the lower level have any shade cast upon them. The only exceptions are found in the top two rows (21-22) of sections 109-110 and 113-114. That's it until after 3:30, when the sun has retreated far enough behind the stadium that its entire left half becomes shaded.
VIP seating
There are a large number of suites, party decks and tents relative to other Cactus League ballparks. There are eight sections of suites (301-308), each with balconies featuring two rows of six seats. There are two upper deck party terraces, the Rincon and Catalina. Three tents are found on concourse level.
Game Day
Gates open an hour and a half (90 minutes) before game time, which is about midway through the visiting team's batting practice.
Food, drink and bag policy
Getting autographs
Up until the National Anthem begins Diamondbacks players do a good job signing for fans down the left field line, especially for those in sections 122 and 123. The tunnel to the team's clubhouse is at the end of the third base grandstand, between section 123 and the berm, and numerous D-backs sign for fans gathered there after the game.
Unique ballpark fare
The Chill & Grill tent made its debut on the right field concourse in 2008, serving all-you-can-eat ballpark food to groups of 20 or more. But the stadium's concession menus really aren't that creative, although hot dog lovers will appreciate the choice of super dog, Polish dog, bratwurst and Italian sausage. What's unique at TEP are wings and mini donuts, each found among the specialty concession stands set up in the right field corner. Pepsi is served throughout the park and so is a good selection of beer on tap. Standing out among the available choices are suds from Newcastle, Tecate, Stella Artois and Leinenkugel's.
2010 Diamondbacks Spring Training Schedule(only home games at Tucson Electric Park are listed) |
||||
| March | Day | Time | Visiting Team | |
| 4 | Thursday | 1:05 | Rockies | |
| 7 | Sunday | 1:05 | Rockies | |
| 8 | Monday | 1:05 | Indians | |
| 11 | Thursday | 1:05 | Angels | |
| 12 | Friday | 1:05 | A's | |
| 13 | Saturday | 1:05 | Dodgers | |
| 15 | Monday | 1:05 | Mariners | |
| 16 | Tuesday | 1:05 | Reds | |
| 19 | Friday | 1:05 | Royals | |
| 21 | Sunday | 1:05 | Giants | |
| 22 | Monday | 1:05 | Padres | |
| 25 | Thursday | 1:05 | Cubs | |
| 26 | Friday | 1:05 | White Sox | |
| 28 | Sunday | 1:05 | Brewers | |
| 30 | Tuesday | 1:05 | Rangers | |
* Single game tickets went on sale Saturday, January 23.  See the full 2010 Diamondbacks Spring Training schedule |
||||
Ballpark Area Info
Prior to the White Sox leaving, Tucson was the only city in Arizona or Florida to host three spring training teams. Now a two team city, the Rockies play their games at Hi Corbett Field, found just five miles away in a city park. There's not a lot to do in the immediate vicinity of Tucson Electric Park with storage shacks and scrap yards in one direction and civic buildings such as a juvenile court in the other. The stadium is southwest of downtown Tucson, which like the University of Arizona is a short drive away. Also nearby is Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. It's home to the West Coast A-10 Demonstration Team, whose pilots can be seen (and heard) a couple times per game practicing their aerial maneuvers in the sky.
Travelers' notes
 Restaurants close to Tucson Electric Park |
||||
| Distance | Restaurant | Street Address | City/Zip | Phone |
| 0.55 miles | Ajo Cafe | 3132 E Ajo Way | Tucson, AZ 85713 | 520-294-1100 |
| 0.85 | Pizza Hut | 2175 E Irvington Rd | Tucson, AZ 85714 | 520-889-9583 |
| 0.85 | Viva Burrito | 2175 E Irvington Rd | Tucson, AZ 85714 | 520-294-6470 |
| 0.9 | Famous Sam's Restaurant & Bar | 2048 E Irvington Rd | Tucson, AZ 85714 | 520-889-6007 |
| 0.9 | Burger King | 2040 E Irvington Rd | Tucson, AZ 85714 | 520-889-8389 |
| 1.0 | Chop Stix | 3820 S Palo Verde Rd | Tucson, AZ 85714 | 520-889-7849 |
| 1.0 | Blimpie Subs | 3820 S Palo Verde Rd | Tucson, AZ 85714 | 520-295-9092 |
| 1.0 | Subway | 3760 S Palo Verde Rd | Tucson, AZ 85713 | 520-624-2862 |
| 1.0 | Los Betos Mexican Food | 3760 S Palo Verde Rd | Tucson, AZ 85713 | 520-623-3813 |
| 1.0 | Taco Bell | 4951 S Campbell Ave | Tucson, AZ 85706 | 520-573-1986 |
| 1.1 | Sunny Daze | 4980 S Campbell Ave | Tucson, AZ 85706 | 520-295-0300 |
| 1.1 | Chinatown Buffet | 5005 S Campbell Ave | Tucson, AZ 85706 | 520-294-8858 |
 List your restaurant or bar |
||||
 Hotels close to Tucson Electric Park |
||||
| Distance | Hotel | Street Address | City/Zip | Phone |
| 0.7 miles | Owl Lodge | 2015 E Benson Hwy | Tucson, AZ 85714 | 520-889-9052 |
| 0.75 | Sunshine Motel | 1675 E Benson Hwy | Tucson, AZ 85714 | 520-746-9583 |
| 0.9 | Round Up Motel | 1503 E Benson Hwy | Tucson, AZ 85714 | 520-746-8050 |
| 0.95 | Stage Coach Inn | 1431 E Benson Hwy | Tucson, AZ 85714 | 520-889-4493 |
| 1.0 | Holiday Inn | 4550 S Palo Verde Rd | Tucson, AZ 85714 | 520-746-1161 |
| 1.2 | Days Inn | 4855 S Palo Verde Rd | Tucson, AZ 85714 | 520-747-8988 |
| 1.2 | Motel 6 | 1031 E Benson Hwy | Tucson, AZ 85713 | 520-628-1264 |
| List your hotel |
||||
 Airports close to Tucson Electric Park |
||||
| Distance | Airport | Airport Code | ||
| 3.8 miles | Tucson International | TUS | ||
| 108 | Phoenix Sky Harbor International | PHX | ||
Contact Us With Any Questions About Diamondbacks Spring Training