Spring Training

[Neuby]

I'm thinking of heading down to Arizona Feb 28 for a couple days. I know the first game doesn't start until the 5th. Are the practices open to the Public?

[CubsWin]

Yes, on non-game days you can access the practice fields and possibly mornings of game days as well. So since you'll be there before games start up, you should be good.

[PosterToBeNamedLater]

I'm thinking of heading down to Arizona Feb 28 for a couple days. I know the first game doesn't start until the 5th. Are the practices open to the Public?

Yes they are. You can just park right around the practice fields and walk around. The practice fields are right next to the new stadium. I will say the practices used to be much more open and fan friendly though. At their old facility, you were able to walk right between each of the 4 practice fields. You could stand right behind the chainlink fence behind homeplate and be a few feet away from batting/fielding practices. If something or someone was more interesting on another field, you could be there in about 5 seconds. They even had mini-bleachers for fans to sit on and a small concession stand. When players changed fields, they literally walked right by you. I honestly liked going to the practices more than games.

 

Now, the fields are all enclosed to where you have to walk around the outfields to get from one to the other. It is harder to tell which players are on a farther field, so you may take the longer walk over only to realize no one important is currently over there. You also can't get right up behind home plate. You have to stand at a distance that would be like having seats in short right field. Every year I make the trip out for practice on President's Day and I remember being a little disappointed last year, but only because I remember every other year of being so much closer.