Everything changed in 2022. If you walk around Goodyear Ballpark today, you’ll see "Guardians" plastered on every dugout, jersey, and souvenir cup. But for decades, Cleveland Indians spring training was the pulse of the preseason for fans traveling from the snowy streets of Northeast Ohio to the dry heat of the desert. It’s weird, honestly. You still see the old Chief Wahoo hats in the stands. You see the 1990s jerseys. People don't just flip a switch on sixty years of branding because a front office says so.
The transition wasn't just about a logo; it was about a century of habit.
Spring training is basically a pilgrimage. For the Cleveland faithful, that journey has shifted geographically and culturally over the years. Before the team settled into their current home in Goodyear, Arizona, they were staples of the Florida Grapefruit League. If you're old enough, you remember Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven. It was old. It was gritty. It felt like baseball should feel. But then came the Cactus League boom, and the Cleveland Indians moved West in 2009, seeking better weather and state-of-the-art facilities. They found it, but they also found a much more crowded market.
The Goodyear Shift: Why Arizona?
Why leave Florida? Money. Facilities. Proximity to other teams. In Winter Haven, the Indians were practically on an island. In Arizona’s Cactus League, everything is a thirty-minute drive. The Cleveland Indians spring training experience became part of a shared ecosystem with the Cincinnati Reds. They share the Goodyear complex, which cost roughly $108 million to build. It’s a massive footprint.
The complex features six full-size practice fields for each team, plus two infield-only diamonds. It’s a factory. When you watch a morning practice in Goodyear, you’re seeing the sausage get made. You’ll see guys like Jose Ramirez taking grounders on Field 1 while a bunch of non-roster invitees—kids you’ve never heard of who might be selling insurance by July—are sprinting through agility drills on Field 4.
The "Cleveland Indians" name technically died at the end of the 2021 season, but the ghost of that identity still haunts the spring training grounds. You can’t just erase the history of guys like Bob Feller or Sandy Alomar Jr. who spent their Februarys in this organization.
What Fans Get Wrong About the Cactus League
Most people think spring training is about the games. It’s not. Not really. The games are for the fans to drink overpriced beer and for the veterans to get their three at-bats before heading to the golf course by the fifth inning. The real Cleveland spring training happens at 9:00 AM on the back fields.
That's where the roster battles actually settle.
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Take the 2016 season. People forget how much of that World Series run was forged in the Arizona dirt. You had a young Francisco Lindor finding his rhythm and a pitching staff led by Corey Kluber that was beginning to look elite. If you were there, you saw the intensity. It wasn't "exhibition" energy. It was "we have something to prove" energy.
The altitude in Arizona—about 1,000 feet above sea level in Goodyear—actually matters too. The ball carries differently than it does back at Progressive Field. Pitchers hate it. They struggle to get the same bite on their breaking balls in the dry air. So, when you see a Cleveland pitcher get shelled for six runs in March, don't panic. He’s probably just working on a specific grip in a climate that refuses to cooperate with him.
The Financials of the Preseason
Let’s talk numbers because the business of Cleveland baseball in the spring is fascinating. The city of Goodyear took a massive gamble on the Cleveland Indians and the Reds. They used municipal bonds to fund the stadium. The hope was that the "economic impact" would pay it back.
Does it? Sort of.
During a typical spring, thousands of Ohioans fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor. They rent cars. They stay in hotels in Avondale and Goodyear. They eat at the local spots. According to a study by the Seidman Research Institute at Arizona State University, the Cactus League generates over $600 million in total economic activity annually. Cleveland is a huge part of that. Fans of this team are loyal to a fault. They travel well. Even during the lean years, the "Tribe" fans (as many still call themselves) showed up.
The Morning Routine: A Fan’s Reality
If you’re heading down there, you’ve gotta do it right.
- The Back Fields: Arrive at 8:30 AM. Don't go to the stadium. Go to the practice complex. It's free. You can stand right against the chain-link fence and hear the ball hitting the catcher's mitt. It sounds like a gunshot.
- Autograph Alley: There's a specific spot where players walk between the clubhouse and the diamonds. If you have a kid, put them at the front. If you're a 40-year-old man pushing a kid out of the way for a signature, everyone hates you. Just a heads up.
- The Sun: It’s brutal. People from Cleveland see 75 degrees and forget that the Arizona sun is a different beast. Use high-SPF sunscreen or you will look like a lobster by the third inning.
The vibe is just different. In Cleveland, the games feel heavy. There’s the weight of the championship drought. There’s the pressure of the AL Central race. In spring training, that weight is gone. It’s just grass and dirt and the hope that this is finally the year.
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The Legacy of the 1947 Move
Cleveland has a weirdly long history with the West. Back in 1947, Bill Veeck—the legendary and eccentric owner—moved the team’s spring training to Tucson, Arizona. This was revolutionary. Before that, everyone went to Florida. Veeck did it because he wanted to avoid the Jim Crow laws of Florida. He had Larry Doby, the first Black player in the American League, and he wanted a place where the whole team could actually stay and eat together without the disgusting segregation of the South.
Tucson was that place. The Cleveland Indians were pioneers of the Cactus League. So, when the team moved back to Arizona from Florida in 2009, it was actually a homecoming. It was a return to the roots Bill Veeck planted when he was trying to do the right thing for his players.
Why the Name Change Still Stings for Some
Look, we have to address the elephant in the room. The transition from "Indians" to "Guardians" was messy for a segment of the fan base. For many, Cleveland Indians spring training was a family tradition passed down through generations. Seeing the name change felt like a severance from their own childhood memories.
But here’s the reality: the team is the same. The player development pipeline—which is arguably the best in baseball—didn’t change. The way they develop late-round pitching prospects into Cy Young contenders? That still happens in the Goodyear dirt.
Whether you’re wearing a Chief Wahoo cap or a "Diamond C" Guardians hat, the mission is identical. The organization’s focus on "The Cleveland Way"—a philosophy built on hustle, smart baserunning, and elite pitching—remains the core of what happens every February and March.
Essential Logistics for Your Trip
If you're planning a trip to see the team formerly known as the Indians in their spring element, keep these specifics in mind. Goodyear Ballpark is located at 1933 S. Ballpark Way. It's a bit of a haul from downtown Phoenix, so stay on the West Valley side if you can.
The stadium itself is unique because it doesn't have a lot of shade. The "Right Field Pavilion" is great for groups, but you'll bake. The best seats are in the 100-level behind home plate, specifically under the press box overhang if you can snag them.
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Food-wise? You’re in Arizona. Eat Mexican food. There are some decent spots right near the stadium, but if you want the real deal, drive ten minutes into the local neighborhoods. Don't just settle for a stadium hot dog.
What to Watch for on the Field
When you’re at a game, watch the substitutions. In the 6th inning, a whole fleet of guys with numbers like 82, 91, and 74 will run out onto the field. These are the prospects. This is your chance to see the future of the franchise before they become stars.
Watch the middle infielders. Cleveland has a "type." They like high-contact, high-IQ players. You can see it in the way they approach their pre-game warmups. It's disciplined. It's methodical.
Also, keep an eye on the bullpen. Cleveland’s ability to find "random" guys and turn them into high-leverage relievers is legendary. Usually, those guys are the ones throwing 98 mph in a random Tuesday game against the Rockies in mid-March.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to experience this properly, don't just wing it.
- Book Early: Flights from CLE to PHX spike in March because every Clevelander has the same idea.
- Check the Schedule for Split-Squads: Sometimes the team plays two games at once in different cities. Make sure the "A" team is actually in Goodyear before you buy a ticket for that specific day.
- Follow the Beat Writers: People like Paul Hoynes or Zack Meisel. They are at the facility every single morning. If a pitcher feels a "twinge" in his elbow, they’ll tweet it before the team announces anything.
- Visit the Practice Fields First: I can't stress this enough. The stadium is for entertainment; the practice fields are for baseball.
The transition to the Guardians era is well underway, but the soul of Cleveland Indians spring training—the sun, the optimism, and the sound of the game—is still very much alive in the Arizona desert. Go see it for yourself. Just don't forget the water. You'll need it.