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| - My 2016 tour of the Cactus League ends here at the 10th and final stadium. Welcome to the king of paradoxes! Tempe's Diablo Stadium, the Spring Training home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim... I'm just gonna refer to them as the Angels, and point out that Diablo is Spanish for devil. Enough said.
Originally built in the late 60's, this is the oldest stadium in the Cactus League by a mile! And the Angels have been training here for over 20 of those years. I've driven by this stadium thousands of times. This was my first visit and it was a gorgeous day. Gotta love Arizona!
This place has character! The moment you walk through the ticketing gate, you are in the stadium and you almost feel like you're on the field. Clearly the topography plays an important role in the siting here. Otherwise, you wouldn't have such a grand stair up to the entrance, or the ramps, or the buttes beyond left field.
For such an old ball park, the wide, open concourse is perfect! You can stroll to your seat, grab a bite to eat, and watch the action the whole time. The concourse isn't a full 360 degree around the park (and the only one in the Cactus League), but I don't mind this. The stadium seats less than 10,000 and it feels intimate. Compare that with Scottsdale's attempt to cram in an extra 2,000 seats without parking.
Getting to Diablo Stadium is super easy off the 143 from I-10. Tempe police officers did a great job directing vehicles in and out. I parked in the east lot for $5. If you're like me, and you want to sit on the lawn, shoot for this lot. There is one gate they open after the game and it's a super short walk back to your vehicle, while everyone else funnels out of the stadium.
The lawn is limited to a small area down the third base line and wraps around left field, eventually stopping at center field. Works for me! The interstate backdrop beyond the right field fence means you are closer to the freeway in this stadium than any other. It didn't bother me, although it does contribute some ambient background noise that fights the PA system. The freeway probably makes the Angels feel at home.
I was happy to see Four Peaks and the Tempe Tap Room represented here. Food wise, it's just typical ball park fare. Which is exactly what I would expect in So Cal. What I didn't expect, was that the game would end in a draw. After only nine innings... Not sure why they didn't play the 10th. Regardless, the Indians and the Angels left it at 1-1. It's a fitting end to my tour in 2016, seeing how it started in Goodyear, also watching the Indians play.
Despite the renovations in 2005, this stadium feels way behind the curve in terms of what everyone else is playing in. That said, it wouldn't take much to bring it up to speed. Remove the bleachers on the first base line and add some lawn seating to balance the park; Add some shade off the press box for those in the seats; Add a second floor deck above the concession stands behind the third base line; Move the home teams bull pen from beyond right field and put it back on the field for the fans to see. Hey, if the visitors can warm up near the left field foul pole, so should home. Oh, and it's time for a new sound system.
These aren't complaints. Just suggestions to take what feels like the Fenway Park of the Cactus League, and extend its lease on life, without ruining it's ambiance. This is a fun little park that deserves to sell out every game. Stop complaining about the drive to Camelback Ranch and go to Tempe!
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