Sloan Park - ACL Cubs
- Meg Minard
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Photos by Meg Minard , Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29
Sloan Park 2330 W Rio Salado Pkwy Mesa, AZ 85201
Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 15,000
Baby Cubs
Before minor league (the common single-A, double-A, triple-A leagues), there’s the rookie league, called a complex league. MLB operates two complex leagues: the Florida Complex League (FCL) in Florida and the Arizona Complex League (ACL) in Arizona. MLB uses the leagues as its lowest‑level, development‑first proving ground. It's a controlled environment where newly drafted players and recent international signees can train, be evaluated, and transitioned into professional baseball.
The Chicago Cubs use Sloan Park for their player development and Complex League games. Sloan Park is mostly known as the spring training facility for the Cubs and the Mesa Solar Sox (Arizona Fall League). Live concerts, cultural festivities, and college and high school tournaments have also been hosted at the park.
Before Sloan Park, the Chicago Cubs used Fitch Park for rookie ball, extended spring training, and minor league workouts. When Sloan Park opened in 2014, the Cubs shifted all rookie level games to the new complex.
The Complex League isn’t here for the fans; it’s for player development.
Food & Beverage 0
While Sloan Park offers plenty of concessions during spring training, none of the stands are open during a Complex League game, and rightfully so. Fans are encouraged to bring their own food and drink (no alcohol). We recommend bringing several bottles of water, as it gets hot during the season.
Atmosphere 2
When attending an ACL game, some fans like the games being played in the ball team’s spring training back fields as they are closer to the game action, to the players and scouts, it’s more intimate, and it doesn’t feel as ‘empty.’ This isn’t the case for the ACL Cubs, as most games are played in the main stadium, which feels cavernous with fewer than 50 people scattered across a 10,800‑seat venue.
What the ballpark does offer is comfort. The seats are the classic green fold‑down stadium chairs rather than bleachers, and most of them sit in the shade. The section behind home plate on the concourse even catches a bit of a breeze, albeit a warm breeze. It’s also easy to wander to different seating areas throughout the game for a different perspective.
The video board only displays the line score, not any video graphics. The only music played comes from the ACL Cubs dugout, played pregame and between innings. I, personally, find that refreshing.
Similar to all ACL matchups, the starting line-up and rosters are not available at the stadium. For the ACL Cubs 2026 roster, check here.
Again, the focus isn’t the fan experience; it’s preparing players for the next level.
Neighborhood 4
About a mile northeast of Sloan Park is the Mesa Riverview Shopping Center. This center includes several places to eat, a movie theater, and many stores, including a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. Restaurants include Cracker Barrel, Famous Dave’s BBQ, Henhouse Café (good for breakfast), Copper State Taphouse, and plenty more.
A little over a mile west of Sloan Park (make a right on Rio Salado Parkway out of the ballpark) is the Tempe Marketplace, an even larger shopping area. It contains 26 restaurants/places to eat, including the Thirsty Lion and King's Fish House, a multitude of shops, and another movie theater. If shopping is your thing, this might be the place to go. One of Stadium Journey’s favorites for pre or post-game is Hundred Mile Brewery, a little over three miles from the park.
For places to stay near the ballpark, the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West and a Courtyard by Marriott are just beyond right field. The Hyatt Place Phoenix/Mesa is adjacent to the Mesa Riverview Shopping Center (about 1.2 miles from the ballpark). A Hilton Garden Inn and a Homewood Suites are a mile the other way (west) of the ballpark.
Adjacent to the ballpark is Riverview Park, which offers a fishing lake, playground, picnic area, and water fountains to enjoy pre or post-game.
For fans looking to explore more baseball in the area, check out some of the other East Valley Complex League Stadiums, including Papago Park (Giants), Fitch Park (Athletics), and the others at Salt River Fields and Tempe. Or visit Chase Field for an MLB Arizona Diamondbacks game or the Mortgage Matchup Center for a WNBA Phoenix Mercury game.
Fans 1
In a crowd of maybe 20 - 30 spectators, the majority are scouts. Some backup players spend the game charting pitches and logging data with a radar gun. A few local baseball fans trickle in, but that’s about the extent of it; this is standard for the Arizona Complex League. The most enthusiastic cheering comes from the dugouts.
Access 4
If flying in for an ACL Cubs game, the closest airport (about seven miles from Sloan Park) is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Public transportation is somewhat available – from the airport, it’s a combination of using the Valley Metro light rail, transferring to a bus, and taking a short walk.
Since under 50 individuals attend a game, traffic access is not the nightmare it is for a Cubs spring training game. Plenty of parking is available for no charge. Only the home plate gate is open for Complex League games. Bags aren’t checked at entry.
Restrooms on the first base side concourse are open for the ACL games.
Return on Investment 5
Every ACL game is completely free. You just show up; your only costs are transportation and any food or beverages you decide to bring. Parking is free, admission is free, and the experience is pure baseball. For a relaxed afternoon or evening at the park, that’s a pretty great deal.
Extras 0
You won’t find any extras worth calling out during an ACL Cubs game; it’s a simple, baseball‑only experience.
Final Thoughts
A visit to an ACL matchup at Sloan Park offers an intimate, no‑frills way to watch future Cubs prospects in action.
