MLB spring training, Arizona: Hello, Planning to visit Phoenix in mid-March for 2 1/2 days to watch some of the games. I’m interested in photography as well as videography. Just...

Chicago312 Loc: Western suburb, Chicago

Hello,
Planning to visit Phoenix in mid-March for 2 1/2 days to watch some of the games. I’m interested in photography as well as videography. Just curious:
1) do they allow cameras (Nikon Z6) and lenses (24-120mm f4 or 70-200 f2.8 or 300 f2.8 + TC’s) into the ballparks?
2) how close do spectators get to players?
3) if sitting in the outfield (grassy areas from what Google shows me), can you bring in a monopod or tripod?
Thank you,
Stephen

bnsf

Your best bet is to contact the team you want to visit in Phoenix. They will give you all the information you need to know about cameras and photos.

Laramie Loc: Tempe

Chicago312 wrote:

Hello,
Planning to visit Phoenix in mid-March for 2 1/2 days to watch some of the games. I’m interested in photography as well as videography. Just curious:
1) do they allow cameras (Nikon Z6) and lenses (24-120mm f4 or 70-200 f2.8 or 300 f2.8 + TC’s) into the ballparks?
2) how close do spectators get to players?
3) if sitting in the outfield (grassy areas from what Google shows me), can you bring in a monopod or tripod?
Thank you,
Stephen

Some of the older facilities might have more access, but many Cactus League sites are new - and expensive! I used to go with a friend to Hohokam Park to watch the Cubs. Outfield in the grass was $5. The Cubs moved to a new place in Mesa. I checked for grass outfield tics last year, they were over $30!

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Do you have reservations? It's hard to find a place to stay during spring training - and the prices are inflated so be prepared to spend the $$$'s

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Laramie wrote:

Some of the older facilities might have more access, but many Cactus League sites are new - and expensive! I used to go with a friend to Hohokam Park to watch the Cubs. Outfield in the grass was $5. The Cubs moved to a new place in Mesa. I checked for grass outfield tics last year, they were over $30!

Somebody has to pay the salaries being offered today in MLB. It is still a semi-rip-off. The players who participate in most pre-season games are not the big leaguers who start the regular season. The "stars" are too valuable to risk injury in pre-season. Most of them wait until the first week, or month of the season to get a season ending injury. The kids who play pre-season games, then assigned to a minor league team, get called up to fill in for the high priced stars. Pre-season baseball is much more fun for players AND fans alike. Kids can still get autographs. They do keep score but fans don't care.

Chicago312 Loc: Western suburb, Chicago

bnsf wrote:

Your best bet is to contact the team you want to visit in Phoenix. They will give you all the information you need to know about cameras and photos.

Thanks!

Chicago312 Loc: Western suburb, Chicago

Laramie wrote:

Some of the older facilities might have more access, but many Cactus League sites are new - and expensive! I used to go with a friend to Hohokam Park to watch the Cubs. Outfield in the grass was $5. The Cubs moved to a new place in Mesa. I checked for grass outfield tics last year, they were over $30!

Thank you. Sounds like Vegas; everything is more expensive these days. Grassy outfield is okay with me, though $30+ sounds fairly steep.

Chicago312 Loc: Western suburb, Chicago

Shellback wrote:

Do you have reservations? It's hard to find a place to stay during spring training - and the prices are inflated so be prepared to spend the $$$'s

I’m going with a friend who is familiar with the area and spring training, so he’s taking care of the hotel. Prices/inflation/tourists - duly noted. I’ll be prepared to spend.

Chicago312 Loc: Western suburb, Chicago

davidrb wrote:

Somebody has to pay the salaries being offered tod... (show quote)

Thank you. That’s very helpful. I think I’ll just bring my 24-120 lens, shoot a few photos/videos, and otherwise relax, and enjoy the weather & baseball.

ksmmike

Ah yes, spring training. I've been photographing it since 1977 however never in Arz, only in Florida. The first year I went, a season ticket was $45. Now one game box seat is that or more. It's now so overpriced, IMHO.

As far as photography, I know in Florida, it has gotten near impossible. There is netting and security fences everywhere now. If you do sit in the OF for a game, try a wider angle shot with the pitcher in motion and the infielders all in proper position. However, getting along first or third base and getting the classic shot of the hitter striking the bat on the ball or right after a full swing and looking up at the ball is now tough with all the netting. I used to take a monopod, but no longer do that because of the IBIS in my camera and lenses. On sunny days, you're shutter will be plenty fast, even at ISO 64 or 100.

My advice depending on the stadium and what they allow or don't, go to the back fields before the regular game and watch practice. Even there they have put up extra security fences and even screens so that you cant see as much in certain parks but not all. I know even in the same facility, like the one in West Palm, the Astros side has much easier viewing positions than the Nationals side. The Nats put up green screens which make it tougher for photos than the Astros side. So it's almost as team dependent as much as the park.

The only time I had issues getting a camera in was soon after 911. The checked everything. Most places if not all still check camera bags but I've been never been turned away for a certain lens. Football yes, and at major league stadiums yes, but so far not spring training. But again, that can change at all time, so the advice to call is good advice.

In years past, yes, I'm old, I could sit on the same bench on a back field with Andre Dawson and Larry Walker and listen their chats during BP. I could watch coaches give instruction from only a few feet away while working on foot work ect for infielders, but those days are long passed.

However, at least in most places in Florida, the better access to players by far is on the back fields for photos. I have for the most part stopped going to the games. I go early in spring and watch intra-squad games or the better minor league games for free. Even after the major league games start, the minor league games are free on the back fields and many times you get the big league guys getting extra at bats in those games and bullpen pitchers getting work in. That's when you get much better access for photos, again IMHO.

Here are a few all taken on back fields in recent years. All were taken during practice on back fields over the years except for the Aaron Judge, which was before they put up the netting along the base lines. I have thousands of images from spring training and 90% of my best were during practice, not games. The access is much better there and not nearly as many people crawling around, though it has gotten far more crowded in recent years even in the back fields. After covid, they again did more security so it's nothing like it was even before Covid, but try the back fields if photos are what you're after. And you can still hear the banter with the players for your video.

rcorne001 Loc: Cary, NC

ksmmike wrote:

Ah yes, spring training. I've been photographing it since 1977 however never in Arz, only in Florida. The first year I went, a season ticket was $45. Now one game box seat is that or more. It's now so overpriced, IMHO.

Wow. Reading some of these comments makes me appreciate what I experienced when living in Glendale, AZ even more. In the mid 90s-early 2000s, I could bicycle to the Seattle-San Diego complex. But more times than not I rode my motorcycle. The parking attendant got to know me and would just wave me through.

I could sit in the first row behind the dugout and listen to chatter going on. On rare occasions even participated. If I recall correctly, it was $7. As I went by myself, I had no problem getting a seat. Even saw Garth Brooks play and get his only "hit". It was a ground ball to third. The third baseman held the ball, triple pumped and then "attempted to throw Garth out" at first to no avail. LOL!

My how things have changed! Here are a couple giving one the idea of how close I was. Taken with my first digital camera - a Sony Mavica that used 3½ floppy drives as the storage medium! LOL!

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

rcorne001 wrote:

Wow. Reading some of these comments makes me appr... (show quote)

OMG - Lou Pinella and Ichiro

That time of the year in baseball is always full of hope and possibility. But here in Chicago, once the season starts, that all goes to hell.... 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

ksmmike wrote:

Ah yes, spring training. I've been photographing it since 1977 however never in Arz, only in Florida. The first year I went, a season ticket was $45. Now one game box seat is that or more. It's now so overpriced, IMHO.

As far as photography, I know in Florida, it has gotten near impossible. There is netting and security fences everywhere now. If you do sit in the OF for a game, try a wider angle shot with the pitcher in motion and the infielders all in proper position. However, getting along first or third base and getting the classic shot of the hitter striking the bat on the ball or right after a full swing and looking up at the ball is now tough with all the netting. I used to take a monopod, but no longer do that because of the IBIS in my camera and lenses. On sunny days, you're shutter will be plenty fast, even at ISO 64 or 100.

My advice depending on the stadium and what they allow or don't, go to the back fields before the regular game and watch practice. Even there they have put up extra security fences and even screens so that you cant see as much in certain parks but not all. I know even in the same facility, like the one in West Palm, the Astros side has much easier viewing positions than the Nationals side. The Nats put up green screens which make it tougher for photos than the Astros side. So it's almost as team dependent as much as the park.

The only time I had issues getting a camera in was soon after 911. The checked everything. Most places if not all still check camera bags but I've been never been turned away for a certain lens. Football yes, and at major league stadiums yes, but so far not spring training. But again, that can change at all time, so the advice to call is good advice.

In years past, yes, I'm old, I could sit on the same bench on a back field with Andre Dawson and Larry Walker and listen their chats during BP. I could watch coaches give instruction from only a few feet away while working on foot work ect for infielders, but those days are long passed.

However, at least in most places in Florida, the better access to players by far is on the back fields for photos. I have for the most part stopped going to the games. I go early in spring and watch intra-squad games or the better minor league games for free. Even after the major league games start, the minor league games are free on the back fields and many times you get the big league guys getting extra at bats in those games and bullpen pitchers getting work in. That's when you get much better access for photos, again IMHO.

Here are a few all taken on back fields in recent years. All were taken during practice on back fields over the years except for the Aaron Judge, which was before they put up the netting along the base lines. I have thousands of images from spring training and 90% of my best were during practice, not games. The access is much better there and not nearly as many people crawling around, though it has gotten far more crowded in recent years even in the back fields. After covid, they again did more security so it's nothing like it was even before Covid, but try the back fields if photos are what you're after. And you can still hear the banter with the players for your video.

Ah yes, spring training. I've been photographing i... (show quote)

Excellent portraits, perfectly realized 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Great shot of Pete Rose, abused by baseball

ksmmike

yeah its so different now... sad in a way... but not much you can do

rcorne001 Loc: Cary, NC

joecichjr wrote:

OMG - Lou Pinella and Ichiro img src="https://st... (show quote)

I believe that was Ichiro's first year. I also have a print image of of Ken Griffey Junior from his Seattle time. One of those "stories" I remember was when Seattle went back out on the field, I heard (and saw!) him check out a young, blonde female fan dressed in shorts and halter top. Funny. Reminded me of Ball Four stories! LOL!