10 Parks in 10 Days: Hohokam Park

Nathan McWhortor
Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Take your local Little League field. Now put a few thousand seats around it and add a few souvenir shops. That's the essence of Hohokam Park also known (and written right outside the stadium) as the "winter home of the Chicago Cubs". Dwight W. Patterson Field at Hohokam park is tucked away inside a humble Mesa neighborhood and if it weren't for the two miles of signs from the Loop 202 freeway pointing you to the stadium, this would be the last place a person would look for the most populated spring training facility.

Hohokam park is so ingrained in the neighborhood that there is a large cemetery directly across the street. Of course for fans the cemetery provides for a large array of jokes usually having to do with the Cubs amazing knack for not winning a World Series. Perhaps one of the reasons Hohokam is such a fixture within the Cactus League is because of the Cubs history. The resilience of Cubs fans symbolizes the hopeful nature of spring training perhaps not better than other teams, but definitely more often.

When it comes to lodging with Cubs fans while in Mesa the Best Western Mezona Inn is the place to stay for Cubs fans. Located in Downtown mesa it is only a five minute drive from the Stadium. The Arizona Museum of Natural History is only a two blocks away and the Mesa Arts Center is just a short walk past the museum. Another hotel Cubs fans should consider is the brand new Phoenix Marriott Mesa in downtown Mesa. The Marriott is located just a few blocks closer to the stadium but is right in the center of downtown. The great thing for Cubs fans is that when they come to Arizona there will always be Cubs fans around. Many former residents of Chicago and mid-western cities call the Phoenix area home, but the Cubs Arizona fan base also can be contributed to fans who live in Mesa and WGN broadcasts of Cubs games shown in Arizona. Cubs fans will hardly ever find themselves alone while in Arizona.

After the game Cubs fans can head to Diamonds Sports Grille (formerly Harry and Steve's Chicago Grill) which is a hot spot for Cubs fans before, during, and after games. Diamonds Sports Grille is located in downtown Mesa across the street from the Marriott and one things the fans really love about Diamonds is the that players and coaches can often be found eating at the establishment. Just as with the hotels though, eat anywhere in Mesa in March and you will find a Cubs fan.

If you are bringing your family to the ballpark then Hohokam is a great choice. Parking will cost five dollars if you are parking in the fields surrounding the stadium. Hohokam offers plenty of parking but neighbors also love to sit out and charge for driveway parking which adds to the neighborhood feel but also requires a little more walking. The Mesa Hohokams collect the revenue from the parking lots and the money all goes toward the organization's charities. The Mesa Hohokams (similar to a Lions Club or Kiwanis Club) are a vital part of the park's success. They do various jobs around the park and raise over $100 thousand a year for their community charities.

The connection between Mesa and the Cubs is a strong one and it really is the "winter home of the Chicago Cubs". Cubs fans will find several similarities between Chicago and Hohokam. Hohokam serves Old Stlye Beer which is popular among people in the mid-west and Chicago in particular. Also the fact that Hohokam is a long established part of the neighborhood reminds fans of Wrigley, as opposed to modern era mega-structures. As far as food inside the park goes Southwestern flair is the name of the game at Hohokam. A downside to the park is that if you are getting a snack from the concourse you cannot see the action on the field but sometimes sacrifices can be made.

Hohokam mixes the old with the new. As you walk along the concourse you notice plaques with messages from long time fans on the pillars. Cubs greats have their numbers painted on the sidewalk outside the stadium. But Hohokam also understands the needs of the modern fan and they have installed a new video scoreboard. With lots of lawn seating families will find Hohokam a welcoming destination. Fans can also check out rookie and minor league action for free at Fitch park just a half mile down the road when they don't feel like dealing with large crowds at Hohokam.

For those who have not experienced Hohokam, let this be a warning: get to the game early! If you plan on attending a Cubs game at Hohokam or anywhere else in the Valley you better get to the game early if you want a good seat or if you want a ticket at all. Cubs fans show up in droves and that is one of the signatures of the Cactus League. During my single hour at the park in February there must have been ten different parties walking up to purchase tickets. Also a warning for anyone who is thinking of passing up an opportunity to attend a game at Hohokam: hurry up, it will not be around much longer! The Cubs and Mesa have agreed to build a new stadium for the Cubs' "winter home". The Cubs will remain at Hohokam for the 2010 and 2011 seasons but after that the future at Hohokam is not certain.

Attending Hohokam is a great Cactus League experience and should be a destination for all baseball fans because where else will you find a bunch of sun-baked Chicagoan people in March?

Cost: Parking + 2 Lawn seats + 2 regular hot dogs and two 16 oz. beers = $41

Special thanks to Mark Gallo