Surprise Stadium, the spring training home of the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals, is the farthest northwest stop on the Cactus League circuit, about 25 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix. Fans rate it one of the most fan-friendly parks in Arizona, with an open concourse, easy practice viewing, and free parking that most Valley stadiums gave up years ago. Here is what to know before you go, including where the stadium sits, how practice viewing works, and the drive in from Phoenix Sky Harbor. Phoenix spring training 2027 travel guide
Surprise Stadium at a Glance
The stadium opened in 2002 inside the 124-acre Surprise Recreation Campus and seats about 10,500 fans. It anchors a complex with six full practice fields plus a half field and separate clubhouse facilities for its two tenants. Key details:
- Address: 15850 N. Bullard Avenue, Surprise, AZ 85374. You will see the light towers from Bell Road.
- Teams: Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals, sharing the complex since it opened.
- Box office: 623-222-2222.
- Concourses: the main concourse encircles the field and stays open to the playing field, with batting cages for both clubs visible along the concourse.
Watching the Rangers and Royals Practice
One of Surprise Stadium's best features is how much of spring training happens in plain view. The Royals' practice fields sit at the far end of the main stadium parking lot along Buck O'Neil Way, and spectator parking for those workouts is in the main lot. Rangers practices and pre-game preparation are best viewed from the lot near the intersection of Bullard Avenue and Tierra Buena Lane, where the club's covered batting cage building sits behind the merchandise tent. Gates for morning practices have historically opened mid-morning, so check the daily schedule when you arrive.
Parking at Surprise Stadium
Parking is free, which is increasingly rare in the Cactus League. The main paved lot sits behind left field with a grass overflow field beyond it, and additional overflow parking is across the street at the Surprise Aquatic Center. Both are a short walk to the gates. Review the stadium's bag policy before you go, since spring training venues enforce bag rules at the gate, and arrive 45 minutes to an hour before first pitch on weekend games when the lots fill fastest.
Getting There from Phoenix Sky Harbor
Sky Harbor sits roughly 36 miles southeast of the stadium, a drive of about 50 minutes in normal traffic, mostly up the Loop 101 or I-17 to the Loop 303 corridor. On game days the last stretch along Bell Road and Grand Avenue slows considerably, and the trip can stretch past an hour from mid-afternoon onward. Rideshare availability in far northwest Surprise thins out after evening games too, which catches visiting fans off guard every March.
The reliable play is a pre-booked private shuttle from PHX straight to the stadium or your Surprise-area hotel. Your driver tracks the flight, handles the gear, and takes the game-day traffic off your plate both ways, which matters more at Surprise than at any park closer to the airport. The stadium is also a common first stop for winter visitors arriving for the season who base themselves in the northwest Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Surprise Stadium located?
Surprise Stadium is at 15850 N. Bullard Avenue, Surprise, AZ 85374, in the northwest Phoenix metro area, about 25 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix and visible from Bell Road.
How far is Surprise Stadium from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport?
Roughly 36 miles, about a 50-minute drive in normal traffic via the Loop 101 or I-17 and Loop 303 corridors. Game-day traffic on Bell Road and Grand Avenue can push the trip past an hour.
Is parking free at Surprise Stadium?
Yes. The main paved lot behind left field, the grass overflow field, and the Surprise Aquatic Center lot across the street are all free during spring training games.
Which teams play at Surprise Stadium?
The Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals share Surprise Stadium as their Cactus League spring training home, with separate practice facilities on the same 124-acre campus.
