Goodyear Ballpark - Cleveland Guardians Spring Training
- Meg Minard
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
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
Goodyear, Great Park
Goodyear Ballpark, opened in 2009, serves as the spring training home of Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds. The stadium was built as part of a $108 million project that brought MLB spring training back to Arizona’s West Valley. Before relocating to Goodyear, the Guardians (then known as the Cleveland Indians) held spring training at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, FL.
The ballpark is an inviting and visually appealing venue, ideal for relaxed spring training baseball. Its main entrance behind home plate features shaded seating areas (to sit and wait for the gates to open), desert landscaping, palm trees, sculptures, and several military memorials that contribute to the park’s welcoming atmosphere.
Beyond spring training, the facility hosts fall instructional league games and a variety of community events throughout the year, including car shows, July 4th celebrations, graduation ceremonies, and regional and national baseball tournaments. The surrounding complex also houses the Guardians’ and Reds’ Arizona Complex League teams, which primarily play on Practice Field 2.
Food & Beverage 4
Baseball fans won’t go hungry at Goodyear Ballpark, where a broad mix of refreshments, entrées, and drinks is available throughout the concourse. The permanent concession stands carry different names but offer largely similar menus. Classic ballpark staples - hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, corn dogs, and bratwurst - run $7.50 to $15.50, while snacks such as fries, nachos, popcorn, pretzels, peanuts, Cracker Jack, chips, and candy range from $5 to $8.
Carts and portable stands line much of the concourse and add more variety, including Burgertopia (burgers $16 - $18), Maui Wowi, Skyline Cheese Coney, Lemonade, and Kettle Korn. Beyond the first base concourse, concession tents expand the options further with vendors like Handel’s Ice Cream, Taco Central Street Tacos, Pan Bee Pizza, and others.
A shaded public bar beyond the right field wall serves popular beers on tap and offers tables and chairs for relaxing between innings. Local favorite Saddle Mountain Brewery operates a cart, and the left field corner features a bar pouring a selection of craft brews.
Soft drink and beer prices are in line with other Arizona spring training venues. Coca‑Cola products are the soda offerings ($7), and a wide range of canned and draft beers is available for $13 - $15.50, with a few stands offering a $5 value beer.
Atmosphere 5
Attending a Guardians spring training game at Goodyear Ballpark makes for a delightful afternoon or evening. Traditional green fold‑down seats with cup holders circle the infield and extend down both baselines, with ample wheelchair seating along the top of the concourse. Most seats sit in full sun, though shade is available in the upper rows behind home plate and along the third base side. Berm seating stretches behind the outfield walls, and the bullpens sit side‑by‑side in left field in front of one of the berms.
Shaded club seats are on the third base side, and new for the 2026 season is the Left Field Landing - a dedicated, shaded group space that accommodates up to 160 guests. Medium‑thickness protective netting extends past the dugouts, stopping just short of the foul poles. Fans on the first base side enjoy picturesque mountain views, while the left field scoreboard displays lineups, player photos, pitch speed, the line score, and the current time.
The concourse circles the entire field, allowing fans to walk the full perimeter. Drink rails line portions of the upper walkway, and tables and chairs are scattered throughout, including a cluster beneath the scoreboard in left field. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch. Fans can enjoy cornhole, inflatable pitching and batting games, wide grass areas for catch, and a mini‑diamond for kids.
Audio levels are refreshingly restrained. The PA announcer is easy to hear, music never overwhelms game action, between-pitch sound bites is minimal, and between‑innings songs stay at a comfortable volume that still allows conversation. It’s a welcome change from louder ballparks.
The main merchandise store near the home plate entrance is extremely crowded before the game, so it’s best to wait until after first pitch to browse comfortably.
Neighborhood 3
Goodyear Ballpark sits across the street from Phoenix Goodyear Airport, which operates mainly general aviation (non-commercial) operations. The city of Goodyear is about 17 miles west of Phoenix, AZ and like several other suburban areas, continues to expand, build, and grow.
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).
The usual chain restaurants are also a few miles from the park like Oregano’s, Rubios, P.F. Changs, etc. For some place local try Haymakers (breakfast, burgers, beer, bourbon) or Pho House Restaurant (Vietnamese). Saddle Mountain Brewing Company, and 8-Bit Aleworks provide the local hops in Goodyear. Be sure to check their websites for hours of operation. Side note: When visiting Saddle Mountain Brewing after the game, show your ticket stub and you’ll get your first beer for just $2.
Most of the hotels straddle the I-10 interchanges and are three to five miles from the ballpark. The closest is a Comfort Inn. Best Western Phoenix Goodyear Inn and Townplace Suites by Marriott Phoenix Goodyear are other choices not too far from the park.
For other sporting events, visit the same park and watch the Cincinnati Reds play their spring training games. The closest other spring training facility is Camelback Ranch (home of the LA Dodgers and Chicago White Sox). 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
Cleveland fans show up strong in Arizona, and the atmosphere around Guardians spring training reflects it. Goodyear Ballpark typically draws 4,500 to 6,500 fans per game, giving the ballpark a steady, energetic crowd without losing its relaxed spring training feel. You’ll still spot plenty of classic Cleveland Indians gear mixed in with the newer Guardians look, a reminder of the team’s long history and loyal following. Fans cheer for good plays, support their players, and spend much of the afternoon simply talking baseball with the people around them.
Access 4
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. If coming from the east (Phoenix area), GPS will recommend taking Bullard Ave off I-10. We recommend traveling one more exit west to Estrella Pkwy for an easier ingress and egress.
Public transportation does not reach the ballpark, so driving is the only practical option. Parking is free mostly in large grass lots surrounding the stadium. Golf‑cart type shuttles are available to take fans from the lots to the home plate entrance, though the walk is manageable in February and March when temperatures are mild.
The ballpark has four entrances: first base, home plate, third base, and center field. The home plate entrance is the busiest and the most scenic, located next to the ticket office. The concourse behind home plate can feel tight on crowded days, but once you move away from that area, the walkways open up and are easy to navigate.
Fans can bring bags up to 16” x 16” x 8” into the ballpark.
Return on Investment 4
Ticket prices range from $10 (berm) to $47 (premium field box) with plenty of other choices available. If purchased on game day, tack on another $2 per ticket. Fans 55+ receive $5 off midweek games the first few weeks of the season. Active duty, retired military, and Guard/Reserve receive a free game ticket and can purchase up to four tickets at a child’s rate.
Parking is free and concession prices are on par with other Cactus League venues.
Extras 4
A couple of additional things are worthy of mention.
Fans enjoying a baseball game without the bombardment of extraneous noises and blaring music between every pitch and batter is heaven on earth. All spring training games should be like this.
Right in front of the home plate entrance of Goodyear Ballpark stands a fiberglass sculpture called The Ziz. The Ziz stands 60 feet 6 inches, the exact distance between home plate and the pitcher’s mound.
If you enjoy a good beer, the $2 first pint at Saddle Mountain Brewing Company after the game is a deal that’s hard to beat.
Though not baseball related, Goodyear Ballpark holds two unique Guinness World Records achievements. First, 426 people participated in the Largest Soul Train Dance in center field in July 2014. Second, in July 2013, 1,957 people broke the record for Largest Gathering of People Wearing False Moustaches.
Final Thoughts
Watching the Indians play their spring training games in Goodyear, AZ provides an exemplary afternoon or evening out. Be sure to put it on the list when visiting spring training venues in Arizona.
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