SportsQuest
All games

Spring training, Sat, Mar 6, Time TBA local

MLB and its players need a new labor deal before the 2027 season. Until one is signed, dates could change, so pick rooms you can cancel.

Seattle Marinersat Chicago Cubs

Sloan Park, Mesa. Fly into PHX.

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What we know about Sloan Park

Where visiting fans stay

Checked at the source
  • Wrigleyville West. 5 min by walk. The Cubs list the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West and the Courtyard Mesa at Wrigleyville West, both next to the ballpark. Mesa Riverview's restaurants and the free game-day shuttle are across the street.
  • Tempe Marketplace and Tempe. 5 min by transit. Tempe Marketplace runs a trolley to every Cubs home game, and Tempe has more hotels plus Four Peaks Brewing and the Mill Avenue bars.
  • Downtown Mesa. 8 min by drive. Main Street has breweries, a distillery and sandwich shops near the light rail, and Hohokam Stadium is 5 minutes away for an A's game.

Around the stadium

Checked at the source
The Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West (860 N Riverview) and the Courtyard Mesa at Wrigleyville West (2224 W Rio Salado Pkwy) sit next to the ballpark. Mesa Riverview Shopping Center across the street has Copper State Taphouse and Dink & Dine, and a free shuttle to the gates.

Getting in from the airport

Checked at the source
PHX (Phoenix Sky Harbor) is about 8 miles from the ballpark, roughly 15 minutes by car without traffic. Take Loop 202 east to Exit 10 (Dobson Road); the lot entrance is about 0.4 miles on the right.

Getting to the stadium

Checked at the source
Free Mesa Riverview shuttle, about 10 min. First Base Gate. Board near Rito's, Copper State Taphouse and Dink & Dine; shuttles leave every 20 minutes from about 11 a.m. (4 p.m. for night games) until 30 minutes after the game. Free Tempe Marketplace trolley, about 15 min. First Base Gate. Board between Thirsty Lion and Kabuki; trolleys leave every 30 minutes from about 11 a.m. (5 p.m. for night games) until 30 minutes after the game. Light rail to Sycamore/Main St, then bus 96 (Dobson), about 45 min. Bus 96 stops less than a mile from the ballpark. Drive and park, about 15 min. Ballpark lots off Dobson Road (Loop 202 Exit 10) or Rio Salado Parkway.

Tailgating

Checked at the source
Tailgating is allowed in all parking lots, which open four hours before the game. Stay in front of or behind your own vehicle and do not block other spaces or roads.

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: Bags and backpacks must be smaller than 16 x 16 x 8 inches. Purses, drawstring bags, fanny packs, lunch bags and soft-sided coolers under that size are fine. Hard-sided coolers are banned, and there is no luggage storage.
  • Cashless: Parking, food, retail and raffle tickets are all cashless. A reverse ATM inside the Home Plate Gate turns cash into a card.

Touring the stadium

Checked at the source
One-hour guided tours cost $15 per person, free under 2, with a minimum of 8 people. Stops include the marquee, seating bowl, Budweiser Rooftop, press box, party decks and suites. Buy at least 48 hours ahead in the MLB Ballpark app and park in the Blue Lot.

After the final whistle

Checked at the source
The free Mesa Riverview shuttle and the Tempe Marketplace trolley run until 30 minutes after the game, and rideshare pickup is outside the Right Field Gate across Sheffield Avenue.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Bringing aerosol sunscreen or a stadium seat. Sloan Park bans both, along with lawn chairs and umbrellas larger than 10 inches, even though some other Cactus League parks allow them.

Bars near the stadium

Checked at the source

  • Copper State TaphouseBefore or after

    1033 N Dobson Rd, Suite 104, Mesa, AZ 85201

    A taphouse at Mesa Riverview right where the free shuttle to Sloan Park picks up. Have a beer, then ride to the First Base Gate.

    Away fans: a Cubs crowd on game days, but visiting fans are common in spring.

  • Dink & DineBefore or after

    1017 N Dobson Rd, Mesa, AZ 85201

    A pickleball park with music, games, screens, food and drinks next to the Mesa Riverview shuttle stop. Book a court for a non-game morning or just eat and drink before the game.

    Away fans: a family-friendly pickleball park and bar where any jersey works.

  • Four Peaks BrewingBefore or after

    1340 E 8th St, Suite 104, Tempe, AZ 85281

    A Tempe craft brewery known for rotating award-winning beers and pub food. The Cubs list it among their favorite places to eat and drink.

    Away fans: a busy local brewpub, not a team bar, so visiting fans fit in.

  • Tempe MarketplaceDistrict

    2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85281

    An outdoor shopping center with chain restaurants and bars, including Thirsty Lion and Dave & Buster's. Its free trolley runs to every Cubs home game.

    Away fans: a shopping and dining center full of Cubs fans on game days.

Sidequests in Mesa

Listed in the order they happen. Each one earns points.

  1. Tailgate40 points

    Tailgate before the game

    Lots open four hours before first pitch, and tailgating is allowed in all of them, in front of or behind your own car. Get there early for a spot.

    $. 3 hours before kickoff

  2. Ritual50 points

    Line the walking path to the ballpark

    Fans line up around the two main practice fields across Clark Street, and a walking path runs from the practice complex to the stadium. It is a rare chance to see players up close as they walk to the game.

    Free. 2 hours before kickoff

  3. Photo50 points

    Put your name on the Sloan Park Marquee

    On game days you can request a free custom message on the marquee from when gates open until the bottom of the seventh. Join the queue next to the marquee, keep it to 20 characters per line, and take the photo.

    Free. 1 hour before kickoff

  4. Ritual25 points

    Get a First Timer's Certificate

    Fan Services, just inside the First Base Gate, hands out personalized First Timer's Certificates and spring training celebration buttons. Pick one up on your first visit.

    Free. 45 minutes before kickoff

  5. Ritual65 points

    Watch batting practice on Fields 3 to 6

    The practice fields west of the ballpark are open to the public, and Fields 3 to 6 on the far west side are a good place to watch batting practice. On non-game days practice often runs 9 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m., and parking is free on workout-only days.

    Free

  6. Tour40 points

    Tour Sloan Park

    On non-game days, a one-hour guided tour takes you to the marquee, press box, party decks, suites and Budweiser Rooftop. Tours cost $15, need at least 8 people, and must be bought 48 hours ahead.

    $

  7. Double header75 points

    Two games in one day: add Hohokam Stadium

    Hohokam Stadium, spring home of the A's, is about 3.9 miles and 9 minutes away without traffic. Pair a Cubs day game with an A's game, or watch morning workouts at one park before a game at the other.

    $$

  8. Ritual40 points

    Kids Run the Bases after Sunday games

    Kids 13 and under can run the bases after Sunday home games, weather permitting. Listen for the announcement on where to meet on the main concourse.

    Free. 3 hours after kickoff

  9. Eat50 points

    Sonoran-style Mexican at Nando's

    Sonoran-style Mexican food is the local food to eat in Arizona, and the Cubs list this locally owned cafe in Gilbert among their favorite places. Go for dinner after a day game.

    $$. 4 hours after kickoff

Seats and views

Where each part of Sloan Park sits, and what you see from it.

Fans post the view from their seats, section by section. See the views at Sloan Park