Kino Stadium, Home of the Tucson Padres (For Now)

Official Review by Mike Schwartzer, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

Current residence of the Tucson Padres, Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium was built in 1998 for minor league baseball and spring training purposes. The Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders called Kino Stadium home from its opening until 2008, when they moved to Nevada as the Reno Aces.

Known originally as Tucson Electric Field from its opening until 2010, Kino Stadium has a capacity of 11,500, with 8,000 of those seats being stadium seating, and the rest being grass seating and standing room.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox shared this stadium for spring training from 1998 until 2008, when the White Sox left for Camelback Ranch in Glendale, AZ. The move by the White Sox led to the Diamondbacks and Rockies (Hi Corbett Field) leaving Tucson in 2010, leaving the Tucson Toros (Golden Baseball League) as the lone professional/semi-professional team in Southern Arizona. Baseball is not the only sport that resides in Kino Stadium; Pima Community College also plays their football games here.

Unfortunately for Kino Stadium and the city of Tucson, the Padres may not inhabit Kino Stadium for much longer, as there is a new stadium in the works for them in Escondido, California.

Food & Beverage    5

Whether one has a taste for a cheeseburger, bratwurst, pizza, or chicken tenders; the six concession stands at Kino Stadium give these ticketholders all the ballpark classics at decent prices. To help wash down your Italian sausage, numerous beer stands sit along the inner concourse with a 16oz Bud only $4.50.

Although you are at a ballgame, you are also in Tucson, Arizona; so you may have a craving for something a little more Southwestern than a hot dog and a salted pretzel. Well Kino Stadium has you covered with El Charro Cafe! Enjoy a burrito or other Mexican cuisine from one of the nation's oldest Mexican restaurants.

A close look down the right field side will unveil Napa Valley Noodles and a kettle corn stand. Alongside those is an alcohol stand with various beers and spirits, including a Jaegermeister Tap Machine (to appeal to the nearby students at the University of Arizona).

Kino Stadium truly appeals to every fans taste, no matter how unique or classic.

Atmosphere    3

Having been a frequent visitor of Hi Corbett Field, the other former MLB spring training location in Tucson, I did not have high expectations for Kino Stadium. Walking in, one can immediately recognize that this stadium was built in mind to have MLB clubs spend spring training in Tucson.

The lower concourse provides plenty of great seating, much of which are right up next to the game action, and down the foul lines there is bleacher seating on the upper concourse. There is even an upper deck which includes eight suites which have their own private seats, all of which have a great view of the action. Plenty of grass seating in the outfield is also available.

The scoreboard is a little past its time, looking more like a high school scoreboard than one that was frequently used by major league teams. Even the nearby University of Arizona baseball stadium has a big screen, which is the only other team in town they are competing with for fans during the season.

Keep an eye out for "Kino Bambino", the Tucson Padres official mascot who likes to spend time on top of the dugout between innings.

Neighborhood    1

If fans want to go to a bar or restaurant before the game, they may be hard pressed to find any that would suffice. Located off of I-10, the only other significant area nearby is the Kino Sports Complex, which Kino Stadium happens to be a part of.

There is a truck stop right off the I-10, as well as a Costco down the road, neither of which adds to the area. Unfortunately Kino Stadium is located on somewhat desolate land, with a few small subdivisions to the east.

The highlight of the neighborhood besides the sports complex might be the hospital directly next door, which comes in handy if any foul balls get the best of a spectator.

Fans    2

The only reason why the fan score is so low is because the Tucson Padres just moved in and they haven't drawn much interest as of late. The stadium is a little too far away to pull in much of the university students, and isn't in the greatest of locations, which works against attendance numbers.

Of the fans that are there, only a handful are really into the game, many of whom decided to attend the game because it was a cheap ticket and an above average ballpark. Most fans seem to know what is going on, but since it is their pilot season in Tucson, not too many fans care who wins or who loses.

Access    4

If fans are coming from New Mexico, California, or northern parts of Arizona, Kino Stadium is right off the freeway so there would be no problem finding it.

However, the location of the stadium isn't great for those who live in Tucson; it's a bit too far south of the densest areas of Tucson. There is tons of parking available which is right next to the stadium and also happens to be free! The bathrooms are in good locations in the stadium, as long as you are not sitting in the outfield.

Return on Investment    4

Ticket prices are $6.50, $8.50, and $10.50, coupled with free parking it is hard to beat. The most expensive tickets put you right behind home plate, the middle price putting you behind the dugouts, and the lowest price putting you everywhere else in the stadium.

If you are a true fan of baseball and you are in the Tucson area, I would suggest checking out Kino Stadium. The return on investment is great, and it is quite enjoyable to see the future talent of the MLB.

Extras    2

Two extra points are given to Kino Stadium, and they go together perfectly.

First off there is plenty of grass seating in the outfield, which is perfect for those warm Arizona nights. It seems as if grass seating is a necessity in Tucson, especially during the summer, as the grass is just another way to keep the fans occupying it nice and cool. Also the kids love sliding down the grassy knolls.

Thursday nights receive the second bonus point, where Kino Stadium has their dollar beer night. Want to draw fans to a minor league baseball game? Cheap beer is going to help, especially being placed 10 minutes south of a major college campus.

Final Thoughts

The gorgeous view of the Catalina Mountains with the sun setting against them is very aesthetically pleasing, makes you forget that the stadium is placed right off the freeway. It is obvious the park was built for MLB teams to occupy it for the spring, and I was instantly impressed with how clean and modern the park looked, despite being built in 1998.

If you are in Tucson, especially on a Thursday night, I would definitely suggest checking out a game. Even if you are only able to go for a few innings, buy the cheapest ticket which is completely worth the cost. Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium is a great way to spend a warm Tucson night, and let's just hope if the Padres leave, that another baseball team will take its place.