Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
Camelback Ranch 10712 W. Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ 85037
Year Opened: 2009
Capacity: 13,583
Desert Dogs
The Glendale Desert Dogs are members of the Arizona Fall League, a yearly instructional league that features baseball’s top prospects every October and November. The Desert Dogs play their games at Camelback Ranch, built as the spring training home for the LA Dodgers and Chicago White Sox in 2009. During the summer, the rookie league ACL Dodgers and White Sox play at the facility.
Camelback is a good-looking ballpark with a 5-acre lake and river system, fantastic landscaping, and easy-to-walk trails to take you around the area.
Major league prospects from the White Sox, Dodgers, Cardinals, Phillies, and Reds round out the Desert Dogs roster this 2024 season. The major league affiliates change throughout the years. The Desert Dogs have won six league championships in the past but haven’t captured one since 2008. Will 2024 be the year?
Food & Beverage 2
One concession stand is open, and that’s enough for attendance at a Desert Dog game. Fans can bring bottled water and small snacks or sandwiches into the stadium.
The food choices are limited: A hot dog ($6.75), sausage dog ($9.99), and cheese and pepperoni pizza slices ($7). Snacks include nachos ($6.25), soft pretzels ($5.75), popcorn ($4.75), candy ($4), chips ($4), and Dippin’ Dots ($8.49).
Soft drinks are 20 oz bottled Pepsi products ($5.75), 20 oz bottled water ($4.75), and coffee ($3). Alcohol choices are 16 oz cans of domestic and premium beers of Bud, Bud Light, Michelob, Michelob Ultra, Coors Light, Modelo Chelada, and Hop Knot IPA ($10.25 - $11.25). Truly Seltzer is $11.25, and wine costs $9.25.
Atmosphere 4
Seating at Camelback Ranch extends down the baselines. For day games, shade covers the first base side first, while the third base side is in the sun most of the game. The seats are a golden color, which blends in well with the copper-colored support structures and earthtone stonework. They’re comfortably wide and are mostly staggered, so you’re not sitting directly behind another fan’s head. That’s generally not a problem for Desert Dog games because of low attendance. The seating area does not have cup holders.
Fans enter at the top of the concourse and then walk down to the seating areas. Plenty of accessible seating is available on the top row of the concourse. Bring a small towel, in case you need to wipe off the seat.
The batter’s eye is pleasantly landscaped with trees surrounding the area. Fans can easily read the scoreboard which shows the line score, the time, and the batter’s name and photo. Balls, strikes, and outs indicators are yellow dots, while the runs per inning are blue. Those colors are a striking and refreshing contrast.
The music volume between innings is too loud to converse with your neighbor. The music person shuts it off during play, with an occasional blast when a Desert Dog executes a good play.
Sundays are Fundays this 2024 season at all Fall League venues. This promotion is geared towards kids, where staff hand out baseball cards (to kids) and toss a few t-shirts into the crowd. Kids get to run the bases after the game.
Neighborhood 3
Camelback Ranch is in an expanding residential area. No choices for lunch, dinner, and other entertainment are available within walking distance.
Three miles away is the Westgate Entertainment District. It has many restaurants, all of which are very different from each other in price and menu. Numerous shops and boutiques, a movie theater, a pottery painting studio, arcades, and breweries are part of the amenities in the district.
Places in the district for a pre-game meal or drink include Yard House, State 48 Funk House Brewery, and Fat Tuesdays. Be sure to check Westgate’s website for happy hour specials; some restaurants do not include a happy hour on event days or weekends. First Watch (breakfast/lunch), Manna Korean BBQ, Opa Life (Greek), and Salt Tacos y Tequila are a few other worthwhile places to eat.
I always enjoy Yard House, which has a fabulous beer selection and good food; this one has outdoor seating for those comfortable fall Arizona days and evenings.
Many chain hotels are in and around the Westgate Entertainment District. The two closest hotels to the ballpark are a Comfort Inn & Suites and a Holiday Inn.
Other nearby sports during the Fall League season include the Arizona Cardinals (next door to the Westgate Entertainment District). The two other Fall League teams in the West Valley are the Peoria Javelinas and the Surprise Saguaros. And, if looking to go downtown Phoenix, sports fans can usually catch a Suns game when in town.
Fans 3
Numerous scouts attend Desert Dog games, filling much of the seating area behind home plate. Other fans in attendance are what one would consider baseball purists – fans who attend for the game itself and not all the extras that occur in minor and major league parks throughout North America. However, as the popularity of the Arizona Fall League increases, more casual fans (the ones who don’t know baseball etiquette) attend games now.
The Desert Dogs average around 300 – 400 fans per game, with weekend and later season games getting higher attendance numbers. This is comparable to other West Valley Fall League teams.
Access 3
Getting to the stadium is most conveniently done by vehicle (unless you’re a nearby neighbor and can walk). Valley Metro does provide bus service. The closest stop is 1.1 miles from the stadium, so there’s still some walking involved if taking public transportation.
The stadium is 2 ½ miles west of the Loop 101 Agua Fria Fwy on Camelback Rd. Only the gate behind home plate is open for Fall League games. Plenty of free parking is available close to that entrance.
The stadium offers benches to sit on and wait for the gates to open or for late-arriving friends. It has a huge, clean, artfully landscaped plaza area outside the home plate entrance where fans can gather.
Getting through security is easy. Clear sports stadium bags (12” x 6” x 12”) are allowed. A smaller purse or bag is permitted; security will ask you to open it for inspection if it is not clear.
The restrooms are clean and have an extraordinary number of stalls (at least the ladies’ room).
Walking around the stadium and concourse is wide open, making it quite an enjoyable place to stroll.
Return on Investment 3
As with everything else, ticket and food prices have increased. Single-game tickets are $13 (seniors 55+ and teens 11 - 17 are $11). Kids 10 and under get in free. If you live in the area or plan on attending 12 or more games, a season pass is a less expensive way to go. A single admission season pass is $155; a double admission pass is $185 (both are less if you are 55+).
Concession prices are at the expected higher stadium amounts. There’s no charge for parking (none of the Arizona Fall League stadiums charge for parking).
Attending a baseball game on a warm fall day or evening for the game is worth the price.
Extras 3
A small merchandise stand is just to the right when entering the stadium. Printed starting lineups, rosters, and game notes are available there too.
The Arizona Fall League is testing a ‘pitch challenge’ at some of its ballparks, including Camelback Ranch.
The batter, catcher, or pitcher can challenge a ball or a strike (usually by tapping the top of their helmet or cap) immediately after the umpire’s call.
Each team is allowed/permitted three challenges per game, and if the player wins their challenge and the call is overturned, the team maintains their number of challenges.
A graphic replay of the pitch is shown on the video board to determine the call.
It all happens within 15 seconds or so and does not delay the game.
Pitch Challenge, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
The landscaping and exterior features are beautiful. The structure is made of natural stone and resembles a desert landscape perfectly. The architects painted the support structures to look rusty and aged. Though unusual, even the golden-colored seats fit the natural desert design.
Final Thoughts
Camelback Ranch is the prettiest Fall League stadium in the West Valley. If you’ve got a few extra hours in the fall and want to see a ballgame, head to Glendale, AZ, catch a Desert Dog game, and enjoy!
Comments