{{Short description|Stadium complex in the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community}} {{Infobox venue | name = Salt River Fields at Talking Stick | nickname = | logo_image = Talking Stick.PNG | logo_caption = | image = Salt River Fields - 2011-02-23 - Home Base Entry.JPG | image_size = 300px | caption = The main entry to the stadium behind home plate | fullname = Salt River Fields at Talking Stick | location = 7555 N. Pima Road<br/>Scottsdale, AZ 85258<br/>U.S. | coordinates = {{Coord|33|32|46|N|111|53|7|W|region:US-AZ_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | broke_ground = November 17, 2009 | opened = February 11, 2011 | owner = Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community | operator = | surface = Bermuda Grass | scoreboard = | cost = $100 million<br/>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|100000000|2011}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) | architect = HKS, Inc. | project_manager = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = Mortenson Construction | capacity = 11,000 | suites = | record_attendance = 14,035<br/>(March 16, 2019, D-Backs vs Cubs) | dimensions = {{ubl |'''Left Field''' – {{Convert|345|ft|0}} |'''Left-Center''' – {{Convert|390|ft|0}} |'''Center Field''' – {{Convert|410|ft|0}} |'''Right-Center''' – {{Convert|390|ft|0}} |'''Right Field''' – {{Convert|345|ft|0}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Design of Arizona Diamondbacks' new spring stadium seeks to immerse fans in baseball|last=Corbett |first=Peter |newspaper=Arizona Republic|date=2010-08-16|url=http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2010/08/15/20100815arizona-diamondbacks-spring-training-stadium.html}}</ref> }} | acreage = 140 acres | tenant = {{ubl |Colorado Rockies (MLB) (spring training) (2011–present) |Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB) (spring training) (2011–present) |Salt River Rafters (AFL) (2011–present) |Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (NPB) (spring training) (2018–present) }} | website = [https://saltriverfields.com saltriverfields.com] | public_transit = Valley Metro Bus: 81 }}
'''Salt River Fields at Talking Stick''' is a stadium complex located in the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community near Scottsdale, Arizona, United States, at the former site of the Pavilion Lakes Golf Club. It serves as the Major League Baseball spring-training facility for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies, replacing Tucson Electric Park for the Diamondbacks and Hi Corbett Field for the Rockies. The complex represents the first MLB park to be built on Native American Indian land.<ref>[http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/02/salt-river-fields-to-host-mlb-spring-training/ "Salt River Fields to Host MLB Spring Training." Laskaris February 14, 2011.]</ref>
==History== thumb|left|Batting cages and bullpens for the Colorado Rockies
In 2009, after the Chicago White Sox moved their spring-training facilities from Tucson to Phoenix, the Diamondbacks and Rockies expressed their desire to leave Tucson. The teams began negotiations with multiple valley cities and Indian communities, with the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community coming out on top with a 20-year commitment from the teams to the facility. Construction began on November 17, 2009, with a ground-breaking ceremony by Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Help Center - the Arizona Republic |url=http://archive.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2009/11/17/20091117sr-ballpark1118.html |website=archive.azcentral.com}}</ref> as an aggressive, fast-tracked schedule—to get the stadium done by the 2011 spring-training season—began.<ref>{{cite news |last=Corbett |first=Peter |date=2009-03-06 |title=Tribe making pitch for D-Backs facility |url=http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/03/06/20090306dbacksrfp06-ON.html |newspaper=Arizona Republic}}</ref>
The field turf is made up of a specially engineered Tifway 419 Bermuda Grass grown in Eloy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Grass grows, lights up at Salt River Fields|last=Corbett |first=Peter |newspaper=Arizona Republic|date=2010-07-02|url=http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/07/02/20100702arizona-diamondbacks-salt-river-practice-fields.html}}</ref> There are 7,000 fixed seats in the grandstand and 4,000 lawn seats for a total estimated seating capacity of 11,000, but a game on March 24, 2013, drew a crowd given as 12,864. Luxury suites, three party pavilions, and a kids zone are further amenities. Each team has an {{convert|85000|ft2|adj=on}} clubhouse (with offices, fitness, and locker rooms), six full-size practice fields (one with the same dimensions as the respective team's home stadium), two infield-only practice diamonds, and batting cages.<ref>{{cite news |title=Salt River Fields by the numbers |newspaper=Arizona Republic|date=2011-01-19|url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2011/01/19/20110119salt-river-fields-by-numbers.html}}</ref> The Diamondbacks occupy the facilities along the left field and the Rockies are in the right-field area. Several points of access to the stadium bring visitors in through the middle of the practice fields and batting facilities. The complex also has two lit soccer fields and a three-acre man-made lake which is home to 17,000 fish.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-06-24 |title=Thousands of Fish Find Home at Salt River Fields |url=http://www.saltriverfields.com/media/news-archive/10-06-24/Thousands_of_Fish_Find_Home_at_Salt_River_Fields.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715233850/http://www.saltriverfields.com/media/news-archive/10-06-24/Thousands_of_Fish_Find_Home_at_Salt_River_Fields.aspx |archive-date=2011-07-15 |work=saltriverfields.com}}</ref>
thumb|left|The stream leading to the lake at Salt River Fields
The stadium was completed on time, with the first game being played between the Diamondbacks and Rockies on February 26, 2011. The ceremonial first pitch was delivered by Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Tribal President Diane Enos and Vice President Martin Harvier. The national anthem was performed by the Salt River Elementary School choir. The Rockies won the first game, 8–7, after 10 innings of play.<ref name="C 02 27 11">{{cite news |title=Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies break in new park|last=Corbett |first=Peter |newspaper=Arizona Republic|date=2011-02-27|url=http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/cactus/articles/2011/02/27/20110227diamondbacks-salt-river-fields-cactus-league.html}}</ref> It has opened to rave reviews from the athletes, fans, and critics.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bordow |first=Scott |date=2011-02-26 |title=Bordow: Salt River Fields lives up to billing |url=http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/cactus/articles/2011/02/26/20110226bordow-salt-river-fields-lives-up-billing.html |newspaper=Arizona Republic}}</ref> Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig said, "Everyone told me it was remarkable. It's even better than that."<ref name="C 02 27 11"/>
According to a 2011 report by ''The Arizona Republic'', the Cactus League generated more than $300 million a year in economic impact to the greater Phoenix metropolitan area economy. The Salt River Fields at Talking Stick complex was the latest of eight new stadiums built in the Valley of the Sun during a 20-year span. ''The Arizona Republic'' also reported that more than $500 million was spent on "building eight new stadiums and renovating two others for the 15 teams in the Valley."<ref name="C 02 27 11"/>
The 2011 Cactus League games set a new attendance record, with 1.59 million attending games at the various stadiums in the Phoenix metro area. Much of the attendance surge was attributed to the Salt Rivers Fields at Talking Stick venue that accounted for 22% of the Cactus League attendance.<ref>{{cite news |title=New venue helps Cactus League set attendance mark|last=Corbett |first=Peter |newspaper=Arizona Republic|date=2011-03-30|url=http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2011/03/30/20110330cactus-league-attendance-record.html}}</ref> In the inaugural spring-training season at the park, the Arizona Diamondbacks enjoyed a record-breaking 189,737 spectators at 17 spring-training games, with an average of 11,161 spectators per game, up more than 90% from 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last=McManaman |first=Bob |date=2011-03-29 |title=Arizona Diamondbacks wrap up record spring at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick |url=http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2011/03/29/20110329arizona-diamondbacks-record-spring-salt-river-fields.html |newspaper=Arizona Republic}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{stack| {{Commons category|Salt River Fields at Talking Stick}} }} * [http://www.saltriverfields.com Official Site] * [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/spring_training/y2011/scottsdale.jsp Tickets] * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20020124171050/http://www.digitalballparks.com/ Digitalballparks.com 33 page gallery review]}}
{{s-start}} {{succession box | title = Home of the<br/>Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training | years = 2011–present | before = Tucson Electric Park | after = Current }} {{succession box | title = Home of the<br/>Colorado Rockies Spring Training | years = 2011–present | before = Hi Corbett Field | after = Current }} {{s-end}}
{{Colorado Rockies}} {{Arizona Diamondbacks}} {{Stadiums of the Cactus League}} {{Arizona League ballparks}} {{AFL Ballparks}} {{2013 World Baseball Classic Stadiums}} {{Music venues of Arizona}}
Category:Baseball venues in Arizona Category:Cactus League venues Category:Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold certified buildings Category:Minor league baseball venues Category:Sports venues in Maricopa County, Arizona Category:2011 establishments in Arizona Category:Sports venues completed in 2011 Category:Arizona Complex League ballparks Category:Sports complexes in the United States Category:Arizona Fall League ballparks Category:Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community