Spring Training Stadium Showcase: Camelback Ranch
Camelback Ranch is the spring training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox, located in the western Phoenix suburb of Glendale, Arizona.
For 61 years, the Dodgers trained in Vero Beach, Florida, dating back to their days in Brooklyn. LA remained the only western MLB team to train in Florida, prior to their departure in 2008.
The White Sox were most recently based in Tucson, Arizona, until 2009, when both franchises opened up Camelback Ranch.
It makes so much more sense for both teams to conduct business in Arizona. LA is only 370 miles away, while many Chicagoans vacation or own homes in the Arizona desert. Plus, many transplants from both Southern California and Illinois now call the Phoenix area home.
Camelback Ranch is part of the new era of modern spring training stadiums, equipped with more seats, as well as ample space for practice fields. The complex incorporates a very rustic, western look, with significant amounts of open space. Outside of the stadium, all of the practice fields are designed to make it very easy for fans (with or without ticket) to get autographs and watch each squad take batting practice (photos below from a couple years ago).
Located 20 miles west of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, the city of Glendale has become a stadium hub, with the Arizona Cardinals' University of Phoenix Stadium and the Arizona Coyotes' Gila River Arena (former Jobing.com Arena) sitting just 3 miles east of Camelback.
Right next to the NFL and NHL venues stand the impressive Westgate City Center, which features a Renaissance Hotel, along with abundant shopping, dining and entertainment options.
By the way, it should be noted that the Cactus League is a baseball fans dream, as there are 15 MLB teams that train within 47 miles of one another, all amid the Phoenix metropolitan area.
