Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training Moves in 2011Diamondbacks Spring Training and Colorado Rockies Spring Training Will Have a Historic New Home
The Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks will share a brand new spring training facility just outside Scottsdale on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
While the two teams aren't the first to share an Arizona spring training baseball site, they are making history by having the first Major League Baseball spring training location built on Native American land. The site for this project is north of Indian Bend Road on the west side of the Loop 101 Freeway and north of the Pavilions Shopping Center on the east side of the city of Scottsdale. The new 140-acre Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training and Colorado Rockies Spring Training complex will feature an 11,000-seat ballpark, 12 practice fields, Major and Minor League clubhouses, training facilities and offices. In addition to being a custom, state-of-the art ballpark, the new site will also showcase the rich and diverse cultures, histories and artistry of the Salt River Pima and Maricopa tribes. This location has commanding views of several famous landmarks including Camelback Mountain, the McDowell Mountains, Four Peaks, the Superstition Mountains and Red Mountain, which is a sacred peak to the Salt River Pima and Maricopa peoples.
Mortenson Construction, the general contractor, is a large, experienced company that has built numerous sports facilities across the nation. The equally noteworthy HKS Architects designed the new Arizona Diamondbacks spring training complex. HKS and Mortenson collaborated recently on the design and construction of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox’s Glendale Camelback Ranch ballpark, which opened in 2009 in Glendale, Arizona. Two distinct Native American tribes form the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The Pima, Akimel O'Odham, are the "River People". The Maricopa, Xalychidom Pipaash, are the "People who live toward the water". Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, Tempe and Mesa all border the Community.
Salt River Pima-Maricopa have over 8,700 enrolled tribal members. Their lands comprise 52,600 acres with 19,000 acres held as a natural preserve. About 12,000 acres are farmed and cotton is one of their most important crops. The Community's commercial development properties are located along the Loop 101 Freeway, which is the Community's western boundary. They also own and operate a number of businesses including two Casino Arizonas, the Talking Stick Golf Club and the new Talking Stick Resort and Spa. See more below about the resort. Formal groundbreaking for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community spring training site began in November 2009.
The Salt River spring training complex is set to open for Arizona Diamondbacks spring training and Colorado Rockies spring training 2011 season. In 2010, the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks were the only teams left with spring training facilities in Tucson. The Chicago White Sox left their Tucson spring training in 2009 for Glendale. Due in part to concerns about travel time from Tucson to games in the Phoenix area, both the Diamondbacks and the Rockies decided that it would be better to have their spring training facility near all the other Cactus League teams currently playing there. A talking stick is a long piece of wood, also known as a "calendar stick," onto which a tribe records important events using various symbols.
The opening in April 2010 of the 15-floor Talking Stick Resort, which towers over the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, is just such an event for these two tribes, who share a reservation and have been diversifying their economy beyond agriculture and casinos. Their impressive resort, located east of the Loop 101 freeway, should help them do that by drawing in leisure and business travelers, and conventions. The resort's close proximity to the new Colorado Rockies - Arizona Diamondbacks spring training baseball facility should also bring spring training fans. Talking Stick's $440 million resort complex includes a hotel, casino, golf, pools, and soon-to-open spa. There are 497 non-smoking guest rooms, including a Presidential Suite. Each room has a LCD HD TV, free wireless internet access, in-room safe, refrigerator, and coffee maker. Some guest rooms also have a balcony or patio. The atmosphere is clean and contemporary with Native American art and accents. The 240,000 square foot Casino Arizona at Talking Stick features over 800 slot machines, card game tables, and Keno. Although smoking is allowed in the casino, the Poker Room has 50 non-smoking tables of card games and there is a small non-smoking section of slot machines. Orange Sky Restaurant, the signature restaurant, is on the 15th floor and has amazing mountain views not only in the dining room but also from the restrooms. Among Talking Stick Resort’s other dining opportunities are Coffee Garden, Ocean Trail, Wandering Horse Buffet, Blue Coyote Cafe, and the Black Fig Bistro. Entertainment venues include the Talking Stick Resort Showroom, Shadows, Degree 270, Palo Verde Lounge, and Players Sports Bar. The Talking Stick Golf Club has a North Course, South Course, and a restaurant. The two distinct golf courses are managed by Troon Golf. Talking Stick’s Salt River Grand Ballroom is part of over 100,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting and convention space. Location: East of the Loop 101 Freeway, 9800 East Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85256 Click here to Find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say about Talking Stick Resort Note: This information was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, availability, access, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the facility before making reservations and/or travel plans. Return to Arizona Spring Training Baseball Locations and Teams from Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training Move
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