![]() There were some Oakland touches to the proceedings – the popular Ike’s Love and Sandwiches, an Oakland institution with a Tempe outpost, attracted some long lines – and there were hot dogs pitched as Oakland favorites. Ovations is still in charge of the food, but they couldn’t address one of the big problems with the ballpark: with a 1970s design, most concession stands are under the grandstand, in a concourse with no view of the action. The new Daktronics high-def videoboard, measuring 56 feet wide and 32 feet tall, is bright and clearly visible from almost every part of the ballpark. The scoreboard location isn’t different, but it’s a new game there as well. Bring sunscreen, as there are no sunscreen dispensers as found in other spring-training ballparks.) There’s also shade in the upper-level group picnic areas. (If you sit in the closer 100-level seats, you’ll be in the sun. That means a very large share of the 200-level seating – basically, anything from Section 202 on the third-base side down to Section 213 is now fully shaded at the start of the game. In fact, there’s now an abundance of shade at Hohokam Stadium, thanks to a new canopy covering most of the grandstand. ![]() Perhaps the best thing about both party decks: they were shaded. (The away side sported artificial turf and no drink rails.) While these drink rails were a little too off the action to be usable for most of the game, they still attracted fans for most of the game. Seating down each line was removed and replaced by party decks, complete with their own concessions, picnic tables and drink rails on the home side. And then there’s the Lew Wolff Training Center at Fitch Park ( as we discussed here), which raising Athletics training abilities to a new level. For players, an expanded clubhouse with weight room provides more comfort than experienced at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. For fans, green and gold – as well as lots of grey paint – is the new theme, with a overhauled entry gate, new murals in the concourse, new fan decks, upgraded concessions and the largest LED videoboard in spring training. The Hohokam Stadium renovation happened on a few different levels. (It also opened as Hohokam Park, but sometime in the last year acquired the Hohokam Stadium name.) Every trace of the red and blue have been removed from Hohokam Stadium, as the A’s and Mesa forge a new identity. Hohokam Stadium was originally built in 1977 for the Athletics and then rebuilt in 1997 for the Chicago Cubs, and you can’t help but expect Ronny Woo Woo to be patrolling the outfield berm or Ron Santo chatting with fans from the press box when you visit. ![]() ![]() Oakland Athletics Spring Training: Moving to Mesaįor fans used to cramped seating and lack of shade at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, the move by the Oakland Athletics to a renovated Hohokam Stadium in Mesa for spring training was a pleasure indeed. From Tucson, take Route 10 North to 360 (Superstition Highway), to Country Club Drive exit north turn right at Brown Road turn left at Center Street the ballpark is one block on the right. HoHoKam Stadium will be on the left-hand side of the street. Rom Phoenix, take 202 Loop east to exit 12 (McKellips Road), turn right on W. Oakland Athletics Spring Training Home | If You Go … | 2023 Schedule | Minor League Schedule | Roster HOHOKAM PARK You are here: Home › Oakland Athletics Spring Training Oakland Athletics Spring Training ![]()
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