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Spring training info thread


boonrob

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QUOTE(boonrob @ Jan 26, 2005 -> 12:00 AM)
Can anyone tell me (for sure) what hotel the SOX stay at in Tucson for spring training?  I'm open to other suggestion of decent nearby hotels if that one is sold out for my dates. Thanks.

Welcome to Soxtalk :cheers .....and to answer your question....I have no clue :huh

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Most of them rent places in Tucson, so there is no official team hotel. If you're looking for a decent place near the ballpark, try the Holiday Inn Palo Verde, they always have spring trainig specials.

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Tucson is very small and has very little traffic. If you don't care about amenities, you can find a Motel 6 for like $45.00 a night and would still be like 10 mins from the park. You'll have just as good a chance at meeting players no matter where you stay, you can find some of them out at night at the bars.

 

^

QUOTE(boonrob @ Jan 26, 2005 -> 06:00 AM)
Can anyone tell me (for sure) what hotel the SOX stay at in Tucson for spring training?  I'm open to other suggestion of decent nearby hotels if that one is sold out for my dates. Thanks.

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I called the Holiday Inn, and their special during spring training is $87/night.

 

Well worth it, nice place and very close to the ballpark.

 

For less expensive options, try the Quality Inn, 1025 E. Benson Hwy., also very close to the park, 520-623-7792. Last yr. they had a special for 1-4 persons, $49 per night. Free deluxe breakfast included.

 

There is a Super 8 on Stone Ave. which is close to the U of A campus and 4th Ave. night life. Probably around $50/night as well.

 

Lazy 8 Motel is another budget option, www.lazy8motel.com , on 314 E. Benson Hwy which is also close to the ballpark.

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This thread should be pinned till late March.

 

:lol:

 

You know, you're right ... it seems like these spring training threads pop up every few days between New Years and March 1 ... "where is a good place to stay, what's the night life like" etc. etc.

 

Maybe a section for Spring Training resources, something like that. Everyone who's been out there can post their insight, and it'd be an easy reference point for those who are unfamiliar.

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Your wish is my command....

 

Holy smokes, great job Mike.

 

Up to you, my only suggestion would be to somehow re-title the thread ... Spring Training Info Center ... something like that. No biggie either way.

 

Thanks again, this will cut down on the clutter a bit. I will add a post to the thread with a lot of the background info I have on Tucson and Phoenix so it's all in one place.

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QUOTE(JimH @ Jan 26, 2005 -> 12:50 PM)
Holy smokes, great job Mike.

 

Up to you, my only suggestion would be to somehow re-title the thread ... Spring Training Info Center ... something like that.  No biggie either way.

 

Thanks again, this will cut down on the clutter a bit.  I will add a post to the thread with a lot of the background info I have on Tucson and Phoenix so it's all in one place.

 

How's that look?

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I know you would like to see the Sox all the time, but I think your best bet would be to pick a streak of days where the Sox are playing in the Phoenix area and get a hotel around Phoenix. Tucson doesn't have much going for it. If you stay in the Phoenix area you can check out more parks. There is also more to do in the area. The drive from Phoenix to Tucson isn't that long, it's just boring because the area between the two cities is completely undeveloped. It was somewhere around an hour I think. If you only have to drive once or twice to Tucson during your stay that isn't too bad. With all that said, if you aren't renting a car, don't stay in Phoenix lol.

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QUOTE(danman31 @ Jan 26, 2005 -> 05:43 PM)
I know you would like to see the Sox all the time, but I think your best bet would be to pick a streak of days where the Sox are playing in the Phoenix area and get a hotel around Phoenix. Tucson doesn't have much going for it. If you stay in the Phoenix area you can check out more parks. There is also more to do in the area. The drive from Phoenix to Tucson isn't that long, it's just boring because the area between the two cities is completely undeveloped. It was somewhere around an hour I think. If you only have to drive once or twice to Tucson during your stay that isn't too bad. With all that said, if you aren't renting a car, don't stay in Phoenix lol.

I disagree. I really liked Tuscon and the surrounding area. It is a lot different than the midwest, that is for sure. If you like the desert environment, I suggest going to the Desert Museum. I'm not sure if it is in Tuscon or not, but I'll check. It is a really cool place. It's not like a museum, it's like a zoo without cages.

 

Edit: Thank god for google, here is the website. http://www.desertmuseum.org/

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I know you would like to see the Sox all the time, but I think your best bet would be to pick a streak of days where the Sox are playing in the Phoenix area and get a hotel around Phoenix. Tucson doesn't have much going for it. If you stay in the Phoenix area you can check out more parks. There is also more to do in the area. The drive from Phoenix to Tucson isn't that long, it's just boring because the area between the two cities is completely undeveloped. It was somewhere around an hour I think. If you only have to drive once or twice to Tucson during your stay that isn't too bad. With all that said, if you aren't renting a car, don't stay in Phoenix lol.

 

Wow, there is lots to do in Tucson, all kinds of stuff. We go down there every year and spend a few days in Phoenix and 3 nites in Tucson ... and we still haven't done everything we want to do and it's been 6 years now.

 

For a good overall idea of what Tucson has to offer the visitor, check this site out:

 

http://www.dotucson.com

 

Also try the Official Tucson visitor site at http://www.visittucson.org

 

I'm looking at the visitor guide as I type this. I will do this in a couple of posts, but will start here with

 

Tucson Nightlife

 

It depends, of course, on your age bracket but there's a great area appealing to those just over 21, all the way up to my age, LOL. That is called the 4th Avenue District, which runs from University Blvd. to 9th Street, on 4th Avenue. This is near the main Univ. of Arizona area. You can walk from the university main entrance to 4th Avenue, particularly during the day when it's nice weather (which is almost always).

 

4th Avenue is a unique collection of interesting shops, restaurants, and great bars. Most of the places are independents ... very few chain places, which I think makes it more interesting. There are three places in particular (bars) that are fantastic and will keep you busy for 2 nites at least. They are all clustered around 9th and 4th Avenue, although there are bars from about 4th St. to 9th St. on 4th AVe. The three I like the best, and are appropriate for age group 21 - whatever:

 

O'Malleys - kind of a sports bar place with live music in the back. Big place, serves good food but mainly a bar. Big round bar in the middle, lots of beer on draft and lots of action after 9 pm. A great time if a basketball game is on.

 

Maloneys - right next door to O'Malleys. Oh baby. Unbelieveable women in here, starting at about 10 pm. Great cheap drink specials and there is always someone from Chicago in there. I have met several players at Maloney's. No dress code per se, but they do have a doorman and there's often a line to get in after 10:30 or so. Get there at 8:30, grab a seat at the bar and watch the parade. An outstanding place, great servers too. This place is a can't miss.

 

The Shanty - Directly across the street from Maloney's. A covered and heated beer garden in back. A little more laid back, lots of tables, great beer selection. Somewhat smaller, historic, has been in biz since 1939 or so. Get a table with a few friends or make new friends.

 

These are three off the top of my head in this area but there are several more.

 

Right outside the University Main Gate, you will find two of my other favorites:

 

Gentle Ben's - a brewpub. They have a patio and rooftop deck, which really gets going for happy hour. When we were there it was a $1 "cover" for happy hour and an all you can eat taco spread, plus discounted beer. Their own beers are excellent, but not for the "I'll only drink Miller Lite" crowd. Waitresses are outstanding, several from Chicago. Directly acroos the street is:

 

Frog and Firken - kind of an English pub style place but not exactly. Great bar food and their pizza is damn good. Best feature is an outdoor patio where you watch the scenery go by. My dad is 75 and loves this place. We know some people in their 20's who love this place too. Lots of interesting beers on tap and on a warm day/evening this place cooks. Sometimes they have live music at night.

 

A great place (unique) for a sandwich near the three places listed above is Bison Witches (buy sand-wiches, get it??). Interesting people, big sandwiches, cheap. A real slice of Tucson.

 

I will cover the dozens of things to do in Tucson in another post. All of these places have websites, just Google.

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We've been there twice during spring break and believe me, there is still plenty going on, there is still a nightlife scene if that's yer thing.

 

I'm baffled why anyone would say Tucson is boring outside of the ballgames. With even the slightest bit of research, no matter what your interests are there is ample opportunity to enjoy yourself.

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I dunno Jim, I love the Phoenix area. :) But it doesn't mean Tuscon is boring, I just don't know the places to go. We always stay in Phoenix and its a total blast but I guess it all depends.

 

Either way I'll make it up for Tuscon for one game and its about an hour and a half drive. I think the big reason we like Phoenix is that its an hour and a half shorter drive back home mixed with the fact we have easy access to a ton of stadiums.

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Yes, the Phoenix area is terrific, and it's a baseball fan paradise in March. My dad lives way out east on Route 60 but it's still a pretty easy drive to most of the stadiums. The furthest out is the newer stadium in Surprise which is a far northwest suburb of Phoenix, about 40 miles NW of the Sky Harbor airport.

 

We have been fortunate to see games in all the stadiums with exception of Maryvale (Brewers) and the Surprise stadium (Texas and KC). To be honest they are all pretty nice, some better than others but hey, it's 75 and sunny in March so what's to complain about?

 

Phoenix is of course bigger and more spread out and the ASU party scene which centers around Tempe is a really good time. Scottsdale is world class, in terms of restaurants, bars, and scenery. Axis/Radius, Mint, Suede, Martini Ranch are great club scene places. We stumbled upon a Ladies Nite at Axis/Radius on Thursdays and it was a great time, even though most of us were not, umm, on the market.

 

And of course there is tons of stuff to do during the day in the Phoenix area if you're not going to a ballgame. As for places to stay, check your budget and take your pick. Every chain in every price range, no problem. Food? Same thing.

 

Arizona is a little earlier in terms of closing up shop, don't look for 3 a.m. places. Everything shuts down at 2 a.m. and it's 1 a.m. on weeknites, although they may have extended everything an hour. No 4 a.m. places though, but I see no need for 4 a.m. places - if you haven't found a good time by then, cash it in.

 

It is always a good idea to either go on the tourist website and request a free visitor guide and do a little basic research beforehand. Or, go to Barnes and Noble and look at the guidebooks.

 

I have been fortunate enough to have been in Phoenix dozens of times in my adult life, used to supervise an office there. It is a great city, although very spread out (urban sprawl).

 

It really depends what it is you like to do. If anyone is looking for specific info, I will be happy to help you out and post things here.

 

If you are there strictly for the baseball, yes, Phoenix is better. We only go to the White Sox games so we usually hit 1 or maybe 2 games in Phoenix and almost always catch 3 in Tucson. Either way, in either city, there is a game every day.

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Tuscon was completely dead when I was there last year.

Trust me, I was all over the city when we were trying to find out hotel.

 

Where was the hotel? Just like any city, there are good parts and bad parts.

 

It's not as lively as Chicago, or Scottsdale ... no doubt about that.

 

I do not mean this to come out the wrong way at all, but it sounds like you are/were not familiar with the city because you were hunting for the hotel. We have been there dozens of times and it's like any city ... you have to research it a little bit, and know where to go. And of course that is sometimes hard to do when you only have a few days, etc.

 

Give it a try again and I'm sure you will come to like it. It is certainly not a dull place.

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