Spring Training Question

[NCCubFan]

Tomorrow I'm going to my first-ever game at Hohokam Park. I'm hoping that somebody who's been there in the past can tell me when the gates usually open and when batting practice (and any other pregame practice) begins. Thanks.

[Roast]

Just posting to tell you i'm extreemly jelous as i will be locked up in school, and then a taekwondo testing tomorrow. :x

[stitchface]

We usually go over to Fitch Park before the game to watch the minor leaguers practice. I don't remember there being any batting practice.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think the gates opened at 11:00 or 11:30 for a 1:00 game.

 

I'd go spend the morning at Fitch.

[NCCubFan]

Fitch sounds interesting. I may not get there in time for that, though (I'll be driving in from Williams, Arizona, which is a fair distance away). I'm planning to leave early, so hopefully I'll be able to make it for at least some of the minor league practice before heading to Hohokam.

[EricG]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/ejg29/hohokam.jpg

parking is a pain in the ***. I usually park on the street next to horse property. It's a short walk and you make it to center st in the same amount of time as it takes to leave the parking lot. Oh and it's free parking (at least last year).

[stitchface]

those are long blocks but definitely opt for free street parking.

[NCCubFan]

That parking area does look like a good middle ground between Fitch and Hohokam.

[Coach C]

Hope that you have fun there NC.

 

Don't forget to take some photos if you can. Have a good time there. :D

[NCCubFan]

Hope that you have fun there NC.

 

Don't forget to take some photos if you can. Have a good time there. :D

I'm planning to take some photos. Hopefully some of them will turn out good enough to post.

[abuck1220]

if i remember correctly, hohokam opens two hours before game time. i don't think i've ever seen the cubs take BP before a game there. they either do it before the park opens or at another location that fans can't get to.

 

parking at hohokam does suck. it's all just grassy hills. we were there once in the middle of a serious downpour, and i seriously don't know how there weren't 500 accidents. cars were trying to drive up steep grass hills that were buried in standing water, tires were spinning, cars were rolling back down the hills...it took us forever to get out of there.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

What time do the minor leaguers start practice at Fitch?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

What time do the minor leaguers start practice at Fitch?

 

9:00 AM if I remember correctly. Some will be out around 8 doing early drills. I watched Vince Coleman teach Pie and some others bunting one morning in 2004.

[NCCubFan]

Thanks for all the info. I didn't make it to Fitch to watch the minor leaguers (it took me longer than it normally would have to get there since I was coming from Williams, Arizona, which was in the middle of a major snowstorm when I left). However, there WAS batting practice at Hohokam before the game started.

 

I took quite a few pictures. I'll post some once I've had a chance to edit them and weed out the bad ones. Just for Vance, I even have a picture of a Hooters girl after she finished a ceremonial first pitch (she was the second first pitch). :D

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Thanks for all the info. I didn't make it to Fitch to watch the minor leaguers (it took me longer than it normally would have to get there since I was coming from Williams, Arizona, which was in the middle of a major snowstorm when I left). However, there WAS batting practice at Hohokam before the game started.

 

I took quite a few pictures. I'll post some once I've had a chance to edit them and weed out the bad ones. Just for Vance, I even have a picture of a Hooters girl after she finished a ceremonial first pitch (she was the second first pitch). :D

 

Awesome! Are you going to the game tomorrow? Apparently, the Cubs wives are having an auction.

[NCCubFan]

Awesome! Are you going to the game tomorrow? Apparently, the Cubs wives are having an auction.

Unfortunately I need to fly back home tomorrow. I wanted to go back Sunday and see two games, but I'm flying on a free voucher (compensation for volunteering to be bumped from an overbooked flight) and couldn't get a return trip on Sunday. You're right about the auction tomorrow. I'd say that the game is very much up in the air, though, as there is a 70% chance of rain for the Phoenix area tomorrow (which would break a streak of 140+ days with no rain).

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Awesome! Are you going to the game tomorrow? Apparently, the Cubs wives are having an auction.

Unfortunately I need to fly back home tomorrow. I wanted to go back Sunday and see two games, but I'm flying on a free voucher (compensation for volunteering to be bumped from an overbooked flight) and couldn't get a return trip on Sunday. You're right about the auction tomorrow. I'd say that the game is very much up in the air, though, as there is a 70% chance of rain for the Phoenix area tomorrow (which would break a streak of 140+ days with no rain).

 

Yeah it sucks that you can't stay longer, but free flights are always good.

 

I would love to be at the auction.

[NCCubFan]

Yeah it sucks that you can't stay longer, but free flights are always good.

 

I would love to be at the auction.

I actually considered abandoning the return portion of the free flight and buying an inexpensive one-way ticket on Southwest, but decided against it when I realized that would also mean paying for an additional day's car rental and lodging. Given the forecast for rain tomorrow I'm glad I decided not to.

[Coach C]

Yeah it sucks that you can't stay longer, but free flights are always good.

 

I would love to be at the auction.

I actually considered abandoning the return portion of the free flight and buying an inexpensive one-way ticket on Southwest, but decided against it when I realized that would also mean paying for an additional day's car rental and lodging. Given the forecast for rain tomorrow I'm glad I decided not to.

 

Glad to see you making it there all right. I hope it was a good experience for ya. :D

[ManCrushOnNomar]

My flight leaves tomorrow. I'm so excited!

[NCCubFan]

My flight leaves tomorrow. I'm so excited!

You should get better weather then. It's raining today and predicted to rain again tomorrow, at least early, and the high is only supposed to be in the 50s both days. By Monday it's supposed to be back to warm and dry. Fortunately, I had dry weather for my game yesterday (although cooler than usual). I'm flying back home today, so at least I won't have missed out if today's game gets rained out (which I think is highly likely).