Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Ted Hamilton Field College of the Desert Palm Desert, CA 92260
A Diamond in the Desert
Tucked away in the beauty of the Palm Springs area lies College of the Desert. Here, baseball is played in a picturesque setting. Situated in the city of Palm Desert, just south of Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley, College of the Desert is a small yet beautiful campus with various sports programs that participate in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference. While the sports options in the greater Palm Springs area are limited, this small diamond may well be worth a stop.
Food & Beverage 1
There are no concessions stands at Ted Hamilton Field, but outside food and drinks are allowed for fans. Nearby on campus fans can also find a few vending machines.
Atmosphere 4
The facility at Ted Hamilton Field is simple enough. Once you enter the main gate, right field features a big lawn for fans to set up chairs with a view of the field, as well as of the pitching warmup mounds. Behind home plate is a small grandstand. Just to the left of home plate is a small bench between two large shade trees. The seating areas are almost always in the shade, providing welcome relief from the sun’s hot rays.
A large scoreboard is also featured in the outfield, as well as the team’s championship banners. The vista beyond the fence is idyllic for the area; countless palm trees framed by desert mountains. Behind home plate and beyond left field, snow-capped mountains loom. Indeed, this small corner of the campus is a beautiful and relaxing site, simple in construction and purpose.
Neighborhood 4
The area around campus is a mix of neighborhoods and retail. Palm Springs airport is but a short 15-minute drive north. To the immediate south, a National Parks visitor center and twisting road into the mountains awaits visitors seeking the nature and tranquility of the mountains above.
Less than a mile southwest of campus lie countless restaurants and shops, including the high end El Paseo district. The nearest highway is I-10 to the northeast, while hotels are plentiful in the general area. Hiking is of course a major draw to the area, as are the Palm Springs Air Museum and the Tramway.
Fans 3
The fans who attend Roadrunner games are a mix of locals, students, and friends and family of the players. Even for mid-week early afternoon games, fans still fill in along the fence line and the shaded sections of grandstands.
Access 4
To get to College of the Desert, take either I-10 or Highway 111. Free parking is plentiful in Lot 24 across the street from the main entrance. Fans are warned, however, that foul balls may be an issue when parking here.
Return on Investment 5
Tickets to College of the Desert baseball games are $5. At the main entrance, signs are set up with QR codes to scan to purchase tickets on your phone. Combined with free parking, this makes Roadrunner games extremely affordable for the whole family.
College baseball is always filled with excitement for diehard sports fans, and the possibility of seeing one of tomorrow’s stars on the field is certainly a draw as well.
Extras 2
The stadium is located near the college’s tennis and softball fields, as well as adjacent to the school’s football field, making visiting multiple other sports an easy thing to do. The stadium’s ability for fans to walk over and see the bullpens up close is also a unique feature, as some baseball facilities have those separated from fan areas, especially in lower-league colleges.
Final Thoughts
While Coachella Valley and the greater Palm Springs area may not be a haven for sports, College of the Desert has done a good job of providing something for the baseball-starved fans nearby. A beautiful backdrop provides a perfect setting to watch tomorrow’s stars take the field – coupled with incredibly affordable pricing, this is a no-brainer for sports fans visiting California’s desert paradise.