Cheap seats in short supply for Cactus League games, but value can be found

By Mark Carlisle
Mail | X: @mwcarlisle

The games may not matter, but try telling that to your wallet.

You may see very different pricing for a spring training baseball game in the Valley this year, depending on where and when you go. Tickets range from $10 to $101.20 for the cheapest seat in the house.

Mostly, it will depend on who’s playing.

The two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers have head-and-shoulders the highest prices for tickets in the Cactus League this year. Mostly, that’s due to home games at Camelback Ranch-Glendale, where the cheapest ticket for each game averages $77.56 compared with an average ticket price of $33.83.

The next highest-priced team, the San Francisco Giants, averages $48.06 for the cheapest ticket to a home game. The cheapest team to see at home is the Los Angeles Angels, with an average cheapest ticket at $19.41.

Prices are based on the lowest price available per ticket on a set of two tickets on Ticketmaster on Feb. 5. Prices are subject to change.

The Dodgers also have the most expensive tickets to see on the road in the Cactus League, but the margin is far narrower. The cheapest ticket for a Dodgers road game averages $45.59, with the next team, the Chicago Cubs, at $40.66. Despite having the best regular season record last year, the Milwaukee Brewers are the cheapest team to see on the road, with the cheapest ticket costing $29.95 on average.

Overall, whether at home or on the road, the cheapest ticket to see the Dodgers this spring averages $61.57. The next highest team is the Cubs at $42.99, and the cheapest team is the Angels at $25.48.

The most expensive game on the Cactus League schedule is the Dodgers hosting the also popular Cubs on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Camelback Ranch. It will cost $101.20 to get in the door.

The cheapest ticket is $10 to see the Angels prospects host the Cleveland Guardians prospects in a Spring Breakout game on Thursday, March 19, at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

It’s the third year MLB will host the Spring Breakout games, with eight games featuring every team once and the Brewers twice. One of those games, Chicago White Sox prospects at Dodgers prospects at Camelback Ranch, will be sold as part of a double-header with the Athletics at Dodgers game earlier in the day.

It won’t be the only way to get a cheap ticket, however. The cheapest ticket featuring established big leaguers is also an Angels home game at Tempe Diablo Stadium: $11 for a seat to see the Halos take on the Cubs on Thursday, Feb. 26.

The Colorado Rockies, at Salt River Fields, and the Angels each have home games for $13 or less. The Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium and the Guardians and Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark each have home multiple games for $20 or less.

There will be some unfamiliar teams on the Cactus League fields this year. As nations prepare to compete in the World Baseball Classic this March, six national teams — the United States, Mexico, Great Britain, Cuba, Brazil and Italy — will play two games apiece against Cactus League teams March 3-4. The only Cactus League teams that won’t face a World Baseball Classic team are the White Sox, Guardians and Seattle Mariners.

Two Grapefruit League teams will also make an appearance in Cactus League play: the Rockies will host the Detroit Tigers and the Cubs will host the New York Yankees to end spring training on Monday-Tuesday, March 23-24.

For the hometown Diamondbacks, every home game at Salt River Fields is either $23 or $26 for the cheapest seat. They sit ninth out of 15 with an average price of $24.31 for the cheapest home ticket. They drive prices more on the road, ranking third for road price behind the Dodgers and Cubs at an average of $35.71 for the cheapest seat. The Snakes are ninth in combined home and road price, with an average of $29.63 for the cheapest seat.

Lowest price to see each team

Diamondbacks

$17, at Texas Rangers (Surprise Stadium) on Tuesday, Feb. 24

Colorado Rockies

$13, home (Salt River Fields) vs. Angels (split squad) on Tuesday, Feb. 24

$13, home (Salt River Fields) vs. Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, March 10

Seattle Mariners

$20, at Cincinnati Reds (Goodyear Ballpark) on Sunday, Feb. 22

$20, at Cleveland Guardians (Goodyear Ballpark) on Friday, March 20

San Diego Padres

$17, at Los Angeles Angels (Tempe Diablo Stadium) on Tuesday March 10

Kansas City Royals

$16, at Los Angeles Angels (Tempe Diablo Stadium) on Monday, March 2

$16, home (Surprise Stadium) vs. Cuba on Tuesday, March 3

Texas Rangers

$12, at Los Angeles Angels (Tempe Diablo Stadium) on Monday, Feb. 23

Los Angeles Dodgers

$18, at Cleveland Guardians (Goodyear Ballpark) on Tuesday, March 3

$18, at Cincinnati Reds (Goodyear Ballpark) on Thursday, March 5

Chicago White Sox

$20, at Cleveland Guardians (Goodyear Ballpark) on Saturday, Feb. 28

$20, at Texas Rangers (Surprise Stadium) on Monday, March 16

$20, at Cincinnati Reds (Goodyear Ballpark) on Saturday, March 21

Cincinnati Reds

$13, at Colorado Rockies (Salt River Fields) on Tuesday, March 10

Cleveland Guardians

$10, prospects at Los Angeles Angels prospects (Tempe Diablo Stadium) on Friday, March 20

$18, home (Goodyear Ballpark) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, March 3

Milwaukee Brewers

$16, at Texas Rangers (Surprise Stadium) on Thursday, Feb. 26

San Francisco Giants

$12, at Los Angeles Angels (Tempe Diablo Stadium) on Wednesday, Feb. 25

Los Angeles Angels

$10, prospects at home (Tempe Diablo Stadium) vs. Cleveland Guardians prospects on Thursday, March 19

$11, at home (Tempe Diablo Stadium) vs. Chicago Cubs on Thursday, Feb. 26

Chicago Cubs

$11, at Los Angeles Angels (Tempe Diablo Stadium) on Thursday, Feb. 26

Athletics

$17, at Los Angeles Angels (Tempe Diablo Stadium) on Thursday, March 5

Detroit Tigers (Grapefruit League visitor)

$26, at Colorado Rockies (Salt River Fields) on Monday, March 23

$26, at Colorado Rockies (Salt River Fields) on Tuesday, March 24

New York Yankees (Grapefruit League visitors)

$60.69, at Chicago Cubs (Sloan Park in Mesa) on Tuesday, March 24

United States

$23, at Colorado Rockies (Salt River Fields) on Wednesday, March 4

Mexico

$23, at Diamondbacks (Salt River Fields) on Tuesday, March 3

Cuba

$16, at Kansas City Royals (Surprise Stadium) on Tuesday, March 3

Italy

$14, at Los Angeles Angels (Tempe Diablo Stadium) on Wednesday, March 4

Great Britain

$27, at San Diego Padres (Peoria Sports Complex) on Wednesday, March 4

Brazil

$15, at Texas Rangers (Surprise Stadium) on Wednesday, March 4

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Mark Carlisle
Associate Editor | Phoenix

mcarlisle@iniusa.org

Meet Mark

Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.

Community: Mark enjoys taking his two young sons to parks, the Phoenix Zoo, the Phoenix Public Library  and other fun events around the Valley. He also participates in a local book club.

Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.

Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.

 Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, sons and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.