BASEBALL
The Arizona Diamondbacks major league team plays at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. The team was formed in 1998 and won the World Series in 2001 and the National League West Pennant in 2007.
Springtime in the Valley of the Sun brings several major league teams to Cactus League Spring Training and the valley resounds with the crack of bats at several locations around town. Below is a list of the Spring Training facilities and the teams that play there:
Cactus League Spring Training :
Surprise Stadium
Kansas City Royals
Texas Rangers
Peoria Sports Complex
San Diego Padres
Seattle Mariners
Maryvale Baseball Park
Milwaukee Brewers
Scottsdale Stadium
San Francisco Giants
Phoenix Municipal Stadium
Okalnd A's
Hohokam Park
Chicago Cubs
Tempe Diablo Stadium
L.A. Angles of Anaheim
The Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training Camp is in Tucson, along with the Chicago White Sox, at Tucson Electric Park. Also playing in Tucson are the Colorado Rockies.
BASKETBALL
The US Airways Center downtown is the home of the Phoenix Suns’ NBA team. Also playing at the US Airways center are the Phoenix Mercury Women’s National Basketball Assoc. team who play from the end of June through August.
College basketball is represented by ASU Sun Devils who are a member of the Pacific 10 Conference.
FOOTBALL
The National Football League Arizona Cardinals play at the 67,000 seat University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, site of Super Bowl XL11 in 2008. The University of Phoenix Stadium is also home to the Fiesta Bowl, one of the five largest college bowl games in the country.
The ASU Sun Devils football team play at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, along with the Insight Bowl games. The Arizona Rattlers Arena Football team play at the US Airways Center.
SOCCER
The Arizona Sahuaros play at the Brazell Field on the campus of Grand Canyon University from April untyil August.
HOCKEY
The National Hockey League Phoenix Coyotes play at the Jobbing.com Arena in Glendale.
HORSE RACING
Thoroughbred racing can be seen at Turf Paradise one of the Southwest’s premier racing facilities.
GREYHOUND RACING
Year-round racing can be enjoyed at the Phoenix Greyhound Park.
AUTO RACING
The Phoenix International Raceway is home to such events as the Indy Car Races and the NASCAR Winston Cup.
Another racetrack in the area is the Firebird International Raceway where National Hot Rod Association drag races are held.
GOLF AND TENNIS
The FBR Open is played each year in Scottsdale with over 100,000 fans attending each day.
Other professional golf tournaments in the valley are: PING LPGA; the Legends Classic and Senior PGA The Tradition. Tennis tournaments include the Open Tennis Championships and a Nabisco Grand Prix event.
The Valley of the sun has over 150 golf courses, some of the best in the country. To see area courses go to the following websites on the internet for listings:
www.golfguideusa.com
www.arizonagolfer.com
www.golfhub.com
Tennis is also a popular pastime with over a thousand courts across the Valley. The City Parks Department in each town will have a list of public tennis courts available.
