It’s that time of the year that we all were waiting for – Spring Training! After a few months of winter, the warmth of the sun is about to be felt again. The summer is gradually returning and with it is coming America’s favorite pastime. Spring Training feels different. Although its games don’t really matter, there’s an air of romance around it. The stadiums are different; the crowd is relaxed, and the weather is pretty. Amidst this excitement, it’s only fitting to see which stadiums are the best to visit this year. But then, like every coin has two sides, Spring Training has a duality too.

While some ballparks increase the romance, there are a few that give a less than satisfactory experience. So before one talks about the best, let’s delve into the discussion regarding the not-so-great stadiums.

The worst: Stadiums which fail the test of spring training 

Here are the three stadiums which fail the test of spring training:

1. Tempe Diablo Stadium – Cactus League (Los Angeles Angels)

While the gorgeous buttes that start after the left field do set a beautiful mood, there isn’t much else there in the Tempe Diablo Stadium. The extremely small footprint and small size make it a congested place to visit. Add to this a general lack of amenities compared to other stadiums, the Tempe Diablo finds itself in the lower half of the Cactus League. While the beautiful view is a fantastic add-on, it can’t cover the lack of options and space for the attendees.

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2. Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium – Grapefruit League (Miami Marlins)

Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium is perhaps one of the most iconic Spring Training facilities around. It was the first two-team facility in Florida and was at one point the most state-of-the-art stadium in baseball. However, recent years have seen it fall behind the competition, partly due to a lack of big-scale renovations.

Again, the lack of amenities becomes an issue here, also the fact that there’s nothing to do outside of watching baseball takes away a few of its points. Still, it at least excels in one thing – the experience of watching players rock the ballpark.

3. Clover Park – Grapefruit League (New York Mets)

The Clover Park isn’t quite so bad. The issue is that it could’ve been more. It celebrates the history of the Mets and is a concrete behemoth. More importantly, it has been renovated thrice (1988, 2004, and 2020). While the renovations have given it a beautiful exterior, the interior hasn’t improved much. The biggest disappointment is the fact that the stadium lacks the intimacy that’s associated with Spring Training. Thankfully, Clover Park has understood this and is trying to change things as quickly as possible.

While these were some of the lesser stadiums, it’s time to talk about the ones that are giving bang for the buck. 

The best: Stadiums to witness the luxury of Spring training

Here are the three best stadiums to witness the luxury of spring training:

1. Salt River Fields at Talking Stick – Cactus League (Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies)

Few Spring Training stadiums manage to combine facilities and aesthetics as well as the Salt River Fields has done. With some of the best food available, it is bound to satisfy the tastebuds of baseball fans. Aesthetically, the stadium has beautifully merged the desert elements with tribal architecture. The innovative designs are bound to blow the minds of people visiting this increasingly state-of-the-art ballpark.

2. Sloan Park – Cactus League (Chicago Cubs)

Another Cactus League ballpark, Sloan Park, is perhaps the closest a ballpark has come to merging the facilities of Arizona with the intimacy of the Grapefruit League. The stadium, while not the most beautiful, makes up for it with the utter celebration of the Cubs‘ history. While it has some of the most expensive amenities, the local food trucks, Chicago specialties, and Sloan Parks’s varied concessions combine to make it a foodies’ paradise. 

3. Camelback Ranch – Cactus League (Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers)

It’s perhaps the most strikingly beautiful ballpark in Spring Training. The sheer size of it plus the beautiful landscaping turn it into a baseball fan’s dream come true. But it isn’t a great place to be if you’re afraid of the sun. There’s a lack of shade in the ballpark. However, the sheer experience and sheer beauty of it cannot be overstated. However, despite the concessions being filled with surprising options, the quality remains a little lower than others on the list.

There are a few ballparks that lost their Spring Training privileges in recent history.

Spring Training: Origin, History, and Everything You Need to Know About Baseball’s Preseason

Stadiums which lost their place from spring training

Here are the three stadiums which lost their place from spring training:

1. The Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports (formerly Champion Stadium)

Originally the Spring Training home of the Atlanta Braves, the Champion Stadium has also hosted a few MLB games. While it was a stylistically good ballpark, few facilities were lacking in it. As a result, when the CoolToday Park was built, the Braves were quick to shift to the newer and better facilities. While the Stadium no longer has a permanent team, the Tampa Bay Rays conducted their spring training here in 2023. 

2. Osceola County Stadium

The Osceola County Stadium was the Spring Training Home of the Houston Astros from 1985 to 2016. After the lease expired, the Astros shifted to The Ballpark of The Palm Beaches in 2017. As of now, the Osceola County Stadium has firmly established itself as an MLS Next Pro stadium for Orlando City B.

3. Space Coast Stadium 

The Space Coast Stadium has been at different points the Spring Training home of the Florida Marlins, the Montreal Expos, and the Washington Nationals. However, 2016 saw the Nationals leave to join the Astros in their new facility. On the other hand, the Stadium entered into a year-long renovation. In 2017, it was renamed the USSSA Space Coast Complex and became a baseball/softball venue.

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So these were the best, worst, and some of the historic Spring Training stadiums. With the games starting soon, grab on to your seats – Baseball is back again with a new year!