Dodgers, oh Dodgers. Why has your name become synonymous with frustration? What happened to the team I grew up with that got everything right? Is it because your owner somehow manages to get everything wrong?
Okay, not everything. Camelback Ranch-the new spring training facility in Arizona-has plenty of delightful little details. Yet Frank McCourt somehow manages to miss seeing the big picture in everything he does and his latest venture is no exception.
Spring training used to be a low-cost venture for fans who wanted to get a head start on the baseball season. Especially those in cold weather climates who needed a break from the snow. The ballparks in Florida and Arizona were small and so were the ticket prices. When I made my first visit to Vero Beach over 20 years ago I think the top price was $20 and you could sit on the grass for $5. I'm not going to wax nostalgic about that wonderful place called Dodgertown. I suppose it was the right move for the team to move closer to their fans in Los Angeles.
Suffice to say the Vero Beach experience exceeded my life-long expectations. Camelback Ranch did not. First off, its not in Phoenix but in far-flung Glendale, one of those depressing suburbs full of tract houses waiting to be sold. No one is going to want to spend their spring break there so it means a half-hour drive from downtown, or even longer from the vibrant towns of Scottsdale, Mesa and Tempe. Considering the 400 mile drive from LA, I can't imagine anyone wanting to jump back in their car upon arrival.
Then there's the parking fetish, a phenomenon wholly unique to Mr. McCourt. This guy employs more attendants outside the ballpark than he does inside, but they don't make up for the fact it costs $5 to park in a dirt lot. At Dodger Stadium there's the strange penchant of funneling more lanes into less, and unfortunately that trend continues in Arizona.
And the micro-managing doesn't stop outside. I guess the Dodgers must have the most violent fans in sports because I saw more security personnel at Camelback Ranch than I've ever seen at LAX! My small bag was checked twice! That second check-point resulted in long lines of ticket holders waiting to get inside the actual ballpark. Many of those fans had already waited in long lines at the ticket counter in the hot desert sun. Those lines are long because the ticket booth is squeezed between the ballpark and a large pond so instead of straight lines leading up to the ticket counter, there's more funneling going on.
The ballpark is a gem. Great sight lines, friendly atmosphere, and plenty of clean bathrooms. But what does it cost to get inside? Ten bucks for the lawn is not a bad deal, and I enjoyed spreading out my blanket and taking in the game. I found a beer for $5.50 which is around the going rate for spring games, but I did not pay $4 for a hot dog (and I never will)
which costs a dollar more if you want onions and relish! No kidding! The bar-b-que and mexican food booths smelled wonderful, but those prices approached ten dollars. I thought spring training was supposed to be cheaper than the regular season! They do have beer vendors that stroll the aisles-unlike Dodger Stadium-and fans are free to mill about the entire ballpark-
unlike Dodger Stadium. The earthy tones of the complex befit the desert surroundings but charging as much for a spring game as a regular season game is ridiculous. Which explains the numerous empty seats at what was supposed to be a sure sell out.
That's the worst aspect of Camelback Ranch. The ticket prices. They charge more for so-called "premier games" which is a joke since all the games are meaningless! $45 is the top price for those games, unless you want to pay $90 to sit in the home plate club. For that price, they better send a limo to pick you up!
When I left the ballpark there were countless security guys lining the long walkway back to the parking lot. One of them actually yelled at some kids to "stay off the landscaping!" I was just happy he didn't ask to check my bag.
