Major League Baseball spring training has come back to life following a contract agreement between the players’ union and the owners.
This is big news for all the businesses that look forward to the extra bucks generated this time of year. Restaurants and hotels were adding up their losses in the weeks spring training was sidelined, and while it will be hard for them to make up for the lost dollars, the little bit of spring training that is now unfolding will be a much needed financial shot in the arm.
This is also big news for seasonal workers and volunteers who love working the games.
Sun City West area residents and guests have a variety of teams and stadiums to pick from, with the closest venue being Surprise Stadium, 15930 N. Bullard Ave., where the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers play their spring games. Not all that far away is the Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N. 83rd Ave., where the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners take the field every spring. If you don’t mind riding a bit more, check out the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch, 10710 W. Camelback Road, Glendale, as well as the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear.
That’s right, this is the first year of the new name for the Cleveland team with the long-time team name the Indians now in the rear-view mirror.
If you hadn’t noticed, while spring training was on the shelf, more people were making very good use of the amazing rec center facilities we have in Sun City West. With more than half a dozen golf courses, indoor and outdoor pools, and every form of bowling available indoors and outdoors as well as an abundance of pickleball and tennis courts, people here had plenty to pick from to keep busy and keep fit while the ballplayers kept tabs on contract talks instead of fielding baseballs.
Editor’s Note: Gary Cohen hosts the Community Chat, which airs 2 p.m. Thursdays.
