Goodyear Ballpark – Cincinnati Reds Spring Training
- Meg Minard
- Mar 7, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 18, 2024
Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
Goodyear Ballpark 1933 S Ballpark Way Goodyear, AZ 85338
Year Opened: 2009
Capacity: 10,311
Reds in Goodyear
Goodyear Ballpark, opened in 2009, is the spring training home for Ohio’s two major league baseball teams: the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Guardians. It is also home to the Guardians and Reds Arizona Rookie Complex League ball teams. The attractive venue is celebrating its 15th anniversary this 2024 season.
It is an extremely enjoyable, good-looking ballpark. The main home plate entrance is beautiful, with plenty of shaded places to sit and wait for the gates to open. It has several sculptures, palm trees, and other Arizona landscaping to admire.
The facility also hosts instructional league games in the fall as well as other events like car shows, July 4th celebrations, local and national baseball tournaments, graduation ceremonies, and more throughout the year.
Since 1891, the Cincinnati Reds have had spring training in 24 different cities. The team moved their spring training site from Florida to Goodyear, AZ, in 2010. Arizona is delighted to have them as part of the Cactus League.
Food & Beverage 4
Baseball fans won’t go hungry at Goodyear Ballpark as there’s a wide choice of refreshments, entrees, and drinks for sale.
The permanent stands (Queen City Grill, Hanger 46, and 1901 Charter Grill) more or less offer the same choices: chicken tenders, hot dogs, Cincinnati cheese coney, Cleveland Polish boys, cheeseburgers, pizza, and traditional snacks, soda, and beer ($5.99 - $12.99).
I find the portable carts along the concourse have a better variety: Salsa (nachos), Steakadelphia (Philly cheesesteak sandwiches), and Burgertopia (hamburgers). The first baseline has several kiosks (similar to those found in a carnival) selling tacos, kettle corn, ice cream, flavored ice, and more. The tacos look delicious, and fans can’t go wrong with a Handles (from Ohio) ice cream cone or cup.
Good Hops sells adult beverages (including mason jar cocktails), soda (Coca-Cola), water, and snacks. Other choices for the hophead are the AZ Craft Beer Corner (local AZ brewery beer pints and flights) and Goodyear’s Saddle Mountain Brewing, selling a few choices of their own brewed beers.
Fans can bring in a bottle of factory-sealed water and their own food if it fits into a quart-sized clear bag.
Atmosphere 5
The staff and game day operations do a fabulous job at making a Reds spring training game leisurely and enjoyable. And the Cincinnati fans revel in watching their Reds play ball.
A single seating bowl descends from a main concourse, which encircles the entire park. The seats are standard stadium fold-down seats, are comfortably wide, have cup holders, and the rows have average legroom. Plenty of wheelchair seats line the top of the concourse. Grass berms stretch beyond the outfield walls. The bullpens are adjacent to each other in left field in front of the berm area.
The stadium has a Right Field Pavilion and a Party Patio (under the scoreboard in left field); both offer tables for four on a single-game basis.
Goodyear Ballpark Right Field Pavilion, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
The seating areas get plenty of sun, with shade available in the top rows on the third base side and behind home plate. The third base side has three sections of shaded, cushioned club seating. Bring sunscreen, though the ladies’ room offers sunscreen for those who forget.
Medium-thick nets extend to the end of dugouts (sections 107 – 117). Sit further down the baselines to watch the game net-free. Fans can view the gorgeous Estrella Mountain Range beyond the first base side.
The announcer (female) calls the starting lineups nice and slowly, giving you enough time to complete your scorecard. Music is never played over any PA announcement. When played, the music volume is loud enough to enjoy, and still have a conversation with your neighbor without yelling to be heard. More baseball sports venues should emulate this.
Staff throw out t-shirts, and a few sponsors have contests. Kids can run the bases on Saturday games in March. Check their website for additional promotions. Game day is more about the delight of the game, time with family and friends, and the lovely AZ spring weather.
Neighborhood 3
Goodyear Ballpark sits across the street from Phoenix Goodyear Airport, which handles mainly general aviation (non-commercial) operations. The city of Goodyear is about 17 miles west of Phoenix, AZ, and like several other suburban areas, is expanding, building, and growing.
Besides the ballpark (which is a major attraction in Goodyear), the city is home to Luke Air Force Base, a slew of shopping centers, eight golf courses, Estrella Mountain Regional Park (hiking, trails, picnicking, camping, and fishing), and more.
The usual chain restaurants are also a few miles from the park, like Oregano’s, Rubio’s, P.F. Chang’s, etc. For someplace local try Haymakers (breakfast, burgers, beer, bourbon) or Pho House Restaurant (Vietnamese). Goodyear has over 100 restaurants, so check Visit Goodyear for an up-to-date list of places to eat or drink.
Saddle Mountain Brewing Company, Transplant City Beer Co, and 8-Bit Aleworks provide the local hops in Goodyear. Be sure to check their websites for hours of operation.
Most of the hotels straddle the I-10 interchanges and are three to five miles from the ballpark. The closest is a Comfort Inn. The Best Western Phoenix Goodyear Inn and Townplace Suites by Marriott Phoenix Goodyear are other choices not too far from the park. Be aware that hotel prices are exorbitant during spring training.
For other sporting events, visit the same park and watch the Cleveland Guardians play their spring training games. Camelback Ranch (home of the LA Dodgers and Chicago White Sox) is another nearby spring training facility. Phoenix Raceway is a little over eight miles from the park. Check their schedule to see if a race or event is being held.
Fans 3
Reds fans do a good job at rooting on and cheering their team at spring training. There are plenty of Reds’ caps, jerseys, and shirts in the crowds. While they don’t sell out, a decent number still come out and root for their team. Crowds are higher on weekends and when the Reds play the Dodgers or Cubs.
Access 3
Goodyear Ballpark is located 17 miles west of downtown Phoenix and 22 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. It is about two miles south of Interstate 10. Public transportation is not an option to get to this ball field.
Parking (free) is mostly on grass lots. Common at Cactus League spring training facilities, golf cart-type shuttles are on hand to bring fans from the parking lots to the home plate entrance, if desired.
The ballpark has four entrances: first base, home plate, third base, and center field, with the home plate entrance being the busiest and most scenic (it’s next to the ticket booth). It can get crowded on the concourse behind home plate. Once inside, except for behind home, the concourse is wide open and is easy to traverse.
Fans walk through a scanner and may or may not get their bags checked. Guests are welcome to bring small bags and purses into the ballpark, as long as their dimensions are less than 16″ x 16″ x 8″.
Plenty of serviceable restrooms are spread along the concourse and along the concourse path in the outfield. Guest services (to the right after entering the home base entrance) offer assisted listening devices for those who are hard of hearing.
Return on Investment 4
The Reds spring training home is less expensive to attend than other Cactus League venues.
Ticket prices range from $12 (berm) to $35 (club or premium field box). Tickets are $2 more when purchased on game day. The ballpark offers a variety of other discounts. Active military receive a free ticket. Veterans can purchase outfield tickets at a child’s price. Seniors received $5 off an infield seat for mid-week games during the early part of spring training. We recommend checking third-party sites for even better deals.
Parking is free, and food and drink prices aren’t as expensive as other Cactus League ballparks. Plus, fans can bring in their own snacks and water in limited quantities.
Extras 5
A few additional things are worth noting.
Goodyear Ballpark does a tremendous job of honoring our military and veterans. Statues, a POW chair, ticket discounts, and more demonstrate the respect and appreciation the city has for those men and women.
A merchandise shop sells a nice selection of clothes, caps, and trinkets. Check the clearance racks for discounted items.
Giveaways are provided throughout the season, though this might be specifically for the facility’s 15th anniversary.
Fans can still watch net-free baseball!
The team and ballpark have extremely friendly staff, including parking attendants, ticket booth personnel, ushers, security, and concessions personnel. They are not pretentious and are genuinely nice people, easy to chat with.
Final Thoughts
Attending a Reds spring training game at Goodyear Park is a pleasurable afternoon or evening out. We recommend visiting this diamond if in town for the spring.
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