If you want a great place to take the family for an outing in March, look no further than Surprise, Ariz. Spring home to the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers, Surprise Stadium is one of the most fan-friendly, affordable facilities in the Cactus League.
For fans on a budget, $8 reserves a gorgeous view of the field from the outfield berm. (Be advised, however, there is no shade available on the lawn.) For fans who feel like splurging, the Home Run Party Tent is the way to go. This package includes a ticket to the game, a general admission seat in the party tent, a catered meal and a drink voucher. Plus, TV screens in the tent allow basketball enthusiasts to keep an eye on their teams in the NCAA Tournament. Not too shabby for $30.
The stadium offers a hefty sampling of traditional ballpark food, from hot dogs and French fries to popcorn and cold beer. (And if you really want to enjoy your day off from work, they'll drop a Fireball shot in your beer for $5.) Of course, no ballpark that houses teams from Kansas City and Texas would be complete without BBQ, and fans can find Diamond Barbeque out on the deck just past third base.
The overwhelming crowd favorite, though, are the Sno-Cones. Located right next to Diamond Barbeque, the "Snowie" stand is guaranteed to have a long line from first pitch until the final out. But the short wait is a small price to pay for a cold, crunchy bite of the "Godzilla" or "Tiger's Blood" flavors on a 90-degree spring afternoon.
If you're not feeling the concession stands, Surprise Stadium allows fans to bring up to one liter of water per person plus snacks in sealed or Ziploc bags. The Sundancers (volunteer ushers) are some of the friendliest folks in the Cactus League. And the parking? It's free.
If you're a collector, get to the park early. We caught a game between the Royals and Indians one Monday afternoon, and Kansas City players signed autographs for fans along the third base line starting about 45 minutes before first pitch.
Affordability, friendliness, accessibility and a chance to watch the 2014 World Series runners-up -- you have no reason not to head out to Surprise for an afternoon of baseball.
