Sloan Park – Mesa Solar Sox

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14

Sloan Park 2330 W Rio Salado Pkwy Mesa, AZ 85201

Mesa Solar Sox website Sloan Park website

Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 15,000

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Mesa Solar Sox at Sloan Park

The Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League play their home games at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is a baseball league owned and operated by Major League Baseball during late fall, where the intent is to give top prospects additional playing time to further develop their skills. The league plays at six different stadiums around Phoenix, AZ. The MLB affiliates change over the seasons. The 2022 Mesa Solar Sox has players from the following MLB teams: Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Miami Marlins, and Toronto Blue Jays.

The Solar Sox started in 1992 (the year the AFL was founded) in Sun City, AZ at Sun City Stadium. The team has since played at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, AZ, Mesa’s HoHoKam Stadium, and eventually in 2014 at Sloan Park as the Mesa Solar Sox.

Sloan Park is best known as the spring training facility for the Chicago Cubs. It is owned by the city of Mesa and named after Sloan Valve Company, an Illinois-based leading global manufacturer of water-efficient solutions.

Food & Beverage 2

Only one concession stadium is open during an AFL game at Sloan Park with a limited menu including hot dogs, popcorn, and peanuts. The prices are a little too high for the AFL games with prices ranging from $5.99 and up for most items.

Beer is limited to Budweiser products in cans only.

Atmosphere 3

Even in fall, the sun can be intense for a 12:35 pm game in Arizona. You may need to adjust where you are sitting based on the sun/shade line. Luckily, you should be able to find your perfect spot as less than 1,000 fans or so attend AFL games and seats are first come, first served. The first base side gets the sun first. There is a safety net all along the foul line, so you will not find a net free experience at Sloan Park.

The concourse at Sloan Park is very wide and accessible, offering a good view of the game while walking around.

The grass berms in the outfield and the Budweiser Rooftop area are not open for Solar Sox games. They are meant to imitate the rooftops outside of the Cub’s home park of Wrigley Field.

Sloan Park has one of the worst scoreboards and videoboards for this quality level of ballpark. It is far too difficult to read, especially when the sun is bright.

The starting lineup for each game is written on a whiteboard located on the concourse. The rest of the atmosphere for the Solar Sox games can be described as “chill”. There is not the extra music and atmosphere that you may be used to at minor league baseball games, with simple PA announcements and walk-up music only. The games are the star here.

Neighborhood 4

The Mesa Riverview Shopping Center is located nearby and contains several places to eat, drink and shop. If you are still looking for places to pre- or post-game, the Tempe Marketplace, has even more things to do. Worth Takeaway is a simple restaurant along Main Street in Mesa and was one of our favorite food stops in the area.

There are two hotels (Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West and a Courtyard by Marriott) located right on the ballpark property. Prices in the late fall are much better than if attending Sloan during the Cubs’ spring training schedule. This goes for all hotels in the area, as well.

Riverview Park is located right near the park as well and offers fishing, a playground, and a decent picnic area.

Fans 3

Most of the fans who attend AFL games are serious about baseball. You may get an occasional family with kids, especially on a weekend or night game, but those who attend a daytime game during the week are likely to really enjoy the sport. Expect to see lots of scouts sitting behind home plate.

Access 4

Sloan Park is easy to access as it is near Loop 202 Red Mountain and Loop 101 Pima Freeways. Traffic in the Phoenix area can be busy , especially near rush hour, so please plan accordingly.

The first base gate is the main (and only) entrance open for Fall League games. Only clear stadium bags are allowed and metal detectors are in use.

The stadium concourse is wide and efficient, especially with the small crowds seen at Solar Sox games.

Return on Investment 3

Tickets are $10 (adult), and $8 (seniors 55+ and children 3 – 17). Kids 12 and under receive free admission when accompanied by an adult. parking is free.

The food and drink prices could use to be a little cheaper for Solar Sox games.

The return on investment is good for Solar Sox games.

Extras 3

Sloan is a well-maintained park that shows itself very well, with a great field and a great seating bowl for the fans.

The whiteboard for the starting lineups is a great little extra, if not a little amusing at its simplicity.

There is a new, and very large, Cubs store that is open for Solar Sox games. Most of the merchandise will be Cubs items, with a limited selection of AFL merchandise.

Final Thoughts

Sloan Park is a very nice baseball stadium that offers a great time for the Arizona Fall League experience.