Desert Sun Stadium

Last updated
Desert Sun Stadium
Desert Sun Stadium, Yuma, AZ.jpg
Arizona Winter League on February 24, 2008
Desert Sun Stadium
Location1280 W Desert Sun Drive
Yuma, AZ 85365
OwnerCity of Yuma
Capacity 7,500
Field size120 yards x 75 yards [1]
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Built1970
Opened1970
Renovated1984, 2015
Tenants
Frontera United (UPSL) 2015–2017
Arizona Strikers FC (W-League) 2015
Yuma Scorpions/Panthers (NAL) 2005–2013
San Diego Padres (MLB) (Spring Training) 1970–1993
Yakult Swallows (NPB) (Spring Training) 1979–1998

Desert Sun Stadium is a converted soccer-specific stadium in Yuma, Arizona, originally built for baseball. It was the spring training home of the San Diego Padres from 1970 through 1993, the North American League's Yuma Scorpions minor league baseball team, the Arizona Winter League, and the Arizona Summer League. The stadium serves as the main field of the Ray Kroc Baseball Complex.

The stadium was built for the 1970 spring training season using a 2% hospitality tax and $100,000 in bonds. The Padres started training in Yuma in 1969 but trained at Keegan Field, on 24th Street, while the new ballpark was being built. [2] The first game was March 6, 1970, with Arizona Governor Jack Williams throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. [3]

The stadium was expanded again in 1984. [4]

In 2015, Desert Sun Stadium was converted to a soccer stadium by OneGoal LLC, an organization that paid for the $15,000 conversion fee. [5] Frontera United had played at Desert Sun Stadium from 2015 to 2017. WWE Wrestling occasionally makes a stop at the complex.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuma, Arizona</span> City in Arizona, United States

Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. The city's population was 95,548 at the 2020 census, up from the 2010 census population of 93,064.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kino Sports Complex</span> Sports venue in Tucson, Arizona

Kino Sports Complex is a multiple-use sports complex in Tucson, Arizona. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox formerly utilized the complex's main ballpark, Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, for Cactus League games each March and had their minor league complexes on-site. The ballpark was also home to the Tucson Sidewinders of the Pacific Coast League for the team's last decade in Tucson, running from the stadium's 1998 opening season to the 2008 season. The ballpark was a temporary home (2011–2013) to the Tucson Padres of the Pacific Coast League during the team's relocation to El Paso, Texas. It is also the regular season home of the Pecos League's Tucson Saguaros baseball team since 2016. It seats 11,500 fans, and hosts concerts in addition to its primary function as a baseball park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tempe Diablo Stadium</span> Sports venue in Tempe, Arizona

Tempe Diablo Stadium is a baseball field located in Tempe, Arizona. It has been the spring training home of the Los Angeles Angels since 1993, and it is the home field for night games of the Arizona League Angels. It was the spring training home of the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and 1970, the Milwaukee Brewers in 1971 and 1972, and the Seattle Mariners from 1977 through 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoenix Municipal Stadium</span> Baseball stadium

Phoenix Municipal Stadium is a baseball stadium, located in Phoenix, Arizona. It is often referred in short as Phoenix Muni. The stadium was built in 1964 and holds 8,775 people. It is currently the home to the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball program, having relocated to Phoenix Municipal Stadium at the start of their 2015 season. It is the former spring training home to the Oakland A's, having played their home games from 1982 to 2014. The San Francisco Giants held spring training at the ballpark from 1964 to 1981, when they moved to Scottsdale Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Diego Surf Dawgs</span> Former independent pro baseball team

The San Diego Surf Dawgs are a professional baseball team based in San Diego, California, that competes in the Federal Baseball League. The team played for two seasons in San Ramon, California, in the Golden Baseball League (GBL), and then in the Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuma Desert Rats</span> Former professional baseball team in Arizona

The Yuma Desert Rats were a professional baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona, in the United States. From the 2005 season to the 2011 season, they were known as the Yuma Scorpions and played their home games at Desert Sun Stadium at the Ray Kroc Complex, former spring training home of the San Diego Padres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surprise Fightin' Falcons</span> Baseball team

The Surprise Fightin' Falcons are an inactive professional baseball team based in Surprise, Arizona. They played in the Arizona Division of the independent Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball. They played their home games at the Surprise Recreation Campus athletic facility, which includes a spring training ballpark called Surprise Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peoria Sports Complex</span> Sports venue in Peoria, Arizona

Peoria Sports Complex is a baseball complex located in the Peoria suburb of Phoenix, Arizona, United States, near Peoria's main shopping district on Bell Road. It consists of the main baseball stadium and 12 practice fields. It is one of six facilities to host Arizona Fall League games. The capacity of Peoria Stadium is approximately 12,000.

The Arizona Complex League Padres or ACL Padres are a Minor League Baseball team based in Peoria, Arizona. The Padres compete in the Arizona Complex League as a rookie-level affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Peoria Sports Complex, which is also the spring training home of the major-league Padres. The team is composed mainly of players who are in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palm Springs Stadium</span> Sports venue in Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs Stadium is a stadium in Palm Springs, California. It is primarily used for baseball. It used to be named Angels Stadium and was the home field of the Palm Springs Suns of the Western Baseball League in 1995 and 1996. Palm Springs Stadium is the home of the Palm Springs Power, a collegiate summer baseball team playing in the California Premier Collegiate League. The stadium is also the official home of the Power Summer Collegiate League and the California Winter League (2010). The stadium has a seating capacity of 5,185.

The Arizona Winter League was an independent professional winter baseball league. Arizona Winter League games were all played at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona. The league was founded in 2007. It disbanded in 2013 due to parent league, the Golden Baseball League/North American League, folding, but was restarted in 2016, only to fold again following the 2018 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spring training</span> Training during the spring season, in baseball

Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives established players practice time prior to competitive play. Spring training has always attracted fan attention, drawing crowds who travel to the warm climates of Arizona and Florida to enjoy the weather and watch their favorite teams play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonora Pilots</span> Pro baseball team in Yuma, Arizona

The Sonora Pilots are a professional independent baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona and represent Sonora, Mexico. They play in the International Division of the developmental Arizona Winter League, a short-season instructional winter league sanctioned by the North American League and they play their home games at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, along with the Canada Miners, San Diego Surf Dawgs and Yuma Scorpions. They are not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Canada Miners</span> Baseball team in Yuma, Arizona

The Western Canada Miners are a professional independent baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona, and representing western Canada. They play in the developmental Arizona Winter League, a short-season instructional winter league affiliated with the North American League and they play their home games at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, as well as the San Diego Surf Dawgs, Saskatchewan Silver Sox, Team Canada and Yuma Scorpions. The team uses the logo and uniforms of the now-defunct Mesa Miners team and are owned by Diamond Sports & Entertainment.

The Arizona Summer League (ASL) was a professional short-season instructional baseball league affiliated with the independent North American League (NAL). The league was announced on April 3, 2009, and founded in Yuma, Arizona by the now-defunct Golden Baseball League. Now headquartered in San Ramon, California, it is an independent baseball league that includes of four teams based out of different cities. All games are played at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona. The 2011 season ran from July 13 to August 8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuma Scorpions (Arizona Winter League baseball team)</span> Former developmental baseball team

The Yuma Scorpions were a professional developmental baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona. They were members of the Arizona Winter League, a short-season instructional league run by the North American League. They are owned by Diamond Sports & Entertainment LLC and are 3-time AWL Champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona Strikers FC</span> Soccer club

Arizona Strikers FC was a women's soccer team based in Yuma, Arizona. They played in the Western Conference of the USL W-League, the second highest tier of women's soccer in the United States and Canada.

Sports in Arizona includes professional sports teams, college sports, and individual sports. All four major league sports teams in Arizona are based in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Keegan Field is an amateur sports field located in Yuma, Arizona, United States. The 4‐acre athletic facility contains a softball field with lights for night games and is part of the larger 32-acre Kennedy Park Athletic Complex. It was named in honor of Frances Keegan, a local supporter of amateur athletics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun City Stadium</span> Former baseball park in Arizona

Sun City Stadium was a baseball park located in Sun City, Arizona, from 1971 until the mid-1990s. It was built by developer Del Webb, and served as the spring training home of the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1973 to 1985. The park was dismantled in early 1995, and a retirement community was subsequently built on the site.

References

  1. O’Reilly, Charles (January 24, 2011). "Desert Sun Stadium, Yuma, Ariz". Charlie's Big Baseball Parks Page. Archived from the original on April 18, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  2. Patrick, Jim (February 8, 2016). "San Diego Padres in Yuma–Spring Training 1969". yumalibrary.org. Yuma County Library District . Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  3. "Kelly keys San Diego 6–1 victory". The Arizona Republic . United Press International. March 7, 1970. p. 119.
  4. Cobbs, Chris (February 24, 1985). "Penant Pays Off For Yuma, Ariz. : Desert Town Rallies' Round Padres' Flag". Los Angeles Times .
  5. Sweet, Holly (March 4, 2015). "Yuma City Council to approve Desert Sun Stadium contract". KYMA-DT KSWT KECY News. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015.

32°39′47″N114°38′11″W / 32.66306°N 114.63639°W / 32.66306; -114.63639