Goodyear Ballpark caps 2026 spring training season with strong attendance

The 2026 spring training season at Goodyear Ballpark drew strong crowds and community engagement, as the facility hosted 30 games over 30 days from February into March.

Total attendance reached 146,446 fans, contributing to a broader Cactus League total of 1,753,849 visitors  across 10 Valley ballparks.

The league’s attendance marked a 3.4% increase over 2025 and the highest single-season total since 2018, according to league officials.

The most attended games in Goodyear came March 16, when the Chicago Cubs faced the Cleveland Guardians before a crowd of 8,008, and March 5, when the Los Angeles Dodgers played the Cincinnati Reds, drawing 7,869 fans.

“It was another great spring training season with the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds,” said Goodyear Ballpark General Manager Bruce Kessman. “This season was highlighted by special moments including the City of Hope’s Home Run for Life experience honoring a local cancer survivor. I’m always impressed with our ballpark staff that continues to be known for creating a welcoming, high-quality fan experience.”

Across the league, average attendance was 7,400 per game, slightly down from last year. The highest single-day turnout came March 20, when 78,638 fans attended games across the Valley despite temperatures reaching 105 degrees. Most games that day were played in the evening.

Beyond attendance figures, the Goodyear season featured several community moments. On March 8, breast cancer survivor Angela Onodera-Jimenez of Goodyear was honored during a “Home Run for Life” ceremony before a spring training game between the Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks. Players from both teams lined the baselines as she circled the bases in recognition of her cancer journey.

“You have to choose your emotions,” she said. “Life never asks your permission — so you reinvent and go forward.”

The ballpark’s atmosphere was also shaped by longtime volunteers like Judy Tarkowski and JoAnn Terry, sisters affectionately known as the “Minnesota Twins” by returning fans. The pair, who have served in a variety of roles over the years, are best known for greeting fans at the gates.

“By the time they walk through, they’re already having a good day,” Tarkowski said.

Terry added that connections formed over the course of a game often extend beyond a single visit. “By the end of nine innings, you’re not just volunteers and fans anymore — you feel like family,” she said.

Kessman said that sense of familiarity is a hallmark of Goodyear Ballpark, where many season ticket holders return annually and build relationships with staff and volunteers.

The impact of spring training extends beyond the games themselves. According to an Arizona State University study, the Cactus League generated $710.2 million in economic impact and $418.5 million in gross domestic product for Arizona in 2023, underscoring its importance to the region.

In the offseason, Goodyear Ballpark continues to serve as a community hub, hosting events such as First Fridays, city celebrations and youth baseball leagues.

Cactus League Executive Director Bridget Binsbacher emphasized the year-round value of such facilities, most of which are municipally owned.

“All of our facilities, for the most part, are owned by municipalities, so they’re assets in the communities,” Binsbacher told the Independent. “The relationship and the partnership we have with these municipalities is critical.”

She said that from tournaments to community events, the ballparks provide benefits that extend well beyond spring training.

“We’re always talking about not just what happens every spring training, but what happens in the offseason and how these facilities are going to support the communities with signature events and tournaments that happen all year long,” Binsbacher said.