Brewers Plan to Renovate Phoenix Spring Training Home

Expect 2019 spring training in Phoenix to look a lot different for the Brewers. Located at Maryvale Baseball Park since 1998, the team has partnered with architect HKS to renovate the facility with new locker rooms, concession stands, restrooms and retail, ticketing and support areas. 

With construction scheduled to begin in late March and substantially completed by the start of the 2019 spring training, the Brewers will invest up to $60 million in the construction phase of the program and assume the operation and maintenance costs of the facility. The city of Phoenix is chipping in $2 million per year for the next five years as part of the renovations. The Arizona sports and Tourism Authority will add another $5.7 million.

“This is an exciting time for the Milwaukee Brewers as we build a world-class, year-round facility in Arizona for our operations,” said Rick Schlesinger, the Brewers chief operating officer. “We are grateful for the support of all stakeholders of this project, including the city of Phoenix, civic and community leaders and private-sector partners. It is through this collaboration that we are able to bring the plan to life.”

 

The facility sits on more than 60 acres of originally donated land. A new stand-alone, two-story building will run the length of the area from the updated home plate gate plaza to a connection with the existing clubhouse building. This clubhouse building will undergo a complete overhaul that includes training upgrades for the team. The home plate area receives a new entry plaza, a new retail sales store, primary ticket office, concession stands and restrooms. 

A new eight-lane batting tunnel will take shape next to the renovated clubhouse, coming fully enclosed and air conditioned. A high-performance agility field of mainly natural grass will form south of the new clubhouse. Along with a natural-turf practice field to match the dimensions of Miller Park in Milwaukee, a set of eight covered pitching and catching mounds provide shade for additional training.

Expect a litany of other improvements, such as refurbished parking lots, new signage, a new visiting clubhouse, a completely resurfaced field, an updated press box and suites and a new scoreboard in left field. 

As part of the plan, the Brewers will partner with Grand Canyon University on a “Learning Lounge” at Maryvale Baseball Park, allowing local students access to free tutoring. In addition, the Brewers allocated a front office position to the Maryvale facility to manage team-funded events with community schools and local community groups. Besides spring training baseball, community activities will continue at the Maryvale facility throughout the year, including the city’s annual Independence Day celebration. 

Tim Newcomb covers gear and business for Baseball America. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.