The Phoenix airport feels laid back most days, but something about it on March 1st tells a different story. Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds – I’m talking hats, t-shirts, and jerseys everywhere. No hoodies for these snowbirds – even with a forecast showing some days in the high 50s and wind for the coming week. To fans escaping the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, this still counts as balmy spring weather.
I hop on the PHX Sky Train and I’m initially surprised by how quiet it seems, but then with each stop, more and more MLB hats and merchandise pile in. This is where people are flocking. Spring training baseball in March.
My son came here for college, and we immediately marked down spring training on the calendar. We’d be there. And every step of the way since arriving has whispered the same thing: this is such a good vibe. Every aspect subtly says “relax, no pressure.” Come and go as you want, for what you want. Heck, you can stroll the ballpark just to enjoy the atmosphere. Check out the different draft beers, stretch out on the lawn, collect some merch, or just admire the immaculate grass. All of it welcomes you.
What makes this all possible? Well, there’s a whole history there (check out our deeper dive on how the Cactus League came to be), but the short version is this: Bill Veeck and Horace Stoneham had a crazy idea back in 1947 to bring their teams—the Cleveland Indians and New York Giants—to train in the Arizona desert instead of Florida. Smart move. Now we’ve got 15 teams all within about a 45-minute drive of each other. Baseball paradise.
What games will we go to? I have no idea, and that’s not the point. There are so many different options, and that’s exactly what we’re gonna do—keep our options open. I’m buying tickets 30 minutes before game time, depending on where we end up. Feel like a drive? Don’t feel like a drive? Want to see the nicest stadium or the most intimate one? Does it even matter? Aren’t they all great in their own way?
That’s the beauty of spring training in Arizona. Your day might start with a morning hike in Papago Park, followed by a stroll down Mill Avenue in Tempe. Then you check your phone—Cubs versus Rockies at Sloan Park starts in an hour. Perfect. Grab tickets, park the car, and you’re watching baseball in what feels like the world’s most relaxed environment.
Or maybe you wake up and decide today’s the day to see the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium, right in the heart of Old Town. Grab lunch at one of the restaurants on the strip, stroll into the ballpark around the third inning, and nobody bats an eye. This isn’t regular season intensity—it’s baseball vacation mode.
The Cactus League isn’t just about baseball—it’s about options, freedom, and the casual joy of the game without the pressure. It’s about being in a place where everyone around you understands that sometimes the best experiences happen when you don’t overthink them.
So here’s my plan for the week: no plan at all. Just baseball, sunshine, and whatever feels right in the moment. I’ll report back with what I find, but something tells me I’ve already discovered the secret of spring training—it’s not about the games you see, but the experience you simply allow yourself to have. In the Cactus League, you don’t need to create anything. You just need to be.
More baseball content:
The Wonder of Sports and Entrepreneurialism
Enjoy the Journey
Championship or Bust. Or None of the Above
Want to Start a Podcast?
Turn your passion into a platform. Learn how to launch your own professional podcast: Get Started Now
Eric Kasimov is the founder of SportsEpreneur, part of the KazSource media network. Since launching the platform in 2015, he has hosted over 500 podcast episodes, written and published more than 1,500 articles, and advised business leaders, founders, and creators on building authority through media strategy.
Through his brands — KazSource, KazCM, SportsEpreneur, and QuietLoud Studios — Eric leads teams that produce podcasts, develop brand platforms, and help companies grow through modern content ecosystems. He also scaled KazSource Insurance into a seven-figure boutique agency, providing the foundation for the broader media network he operates today.
His work has been featured in Forbes, Axios, and Front Office Sports, and his podcasts have included conversations with top founders, investors, and athletes turned entrepreneurs.
Cactus League Freedom
The Phoenix airport feels laid back most days, but something about it on March 1st tells a different story. Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds – I’m talking hats, t-shirts, and jerseys everywhere. No hoodies for these snowbirds – even with a forecast showing some days in the high 50s and wind for the coming week. To fans escaping the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, this still counts as balmy spring weather.
I hop on the PHX Sky Train and I’m initially surprised by how quiet it seems, but then with each stop, more and more MLB hats and merchandise pile in. This is where people are flocking. Spring training baseball in March.
My son came here for college, and we immediately marked down spring training on the calendar. We’d be there. And every step of the way since arriving has whispered the same thing: this is such a good vibe. Every aspect subtly says “relax, no pressure.” Come and go as you want, for what you want. Heck, you can stroll the ballpark just to enjoy the atmosphere. Check out the different draft beers, stretch out on the lawn, collect some merch, or just admire the immaculate grass. All of it welcomes you.
What makes this all possible? Well, there’s a whole history there (check out our deeper dive on how the Cactus League came to be), but the short version is this: Bill Veeck and Horace Stoneham had a crazy idea back in 1947 to bring their teams—the Cleveland Indians and New York Giants—to train in the Arizona desert instead of Florida. Smart move. Now we’ve got 15 teams all within about a 45-minute drive of each other. Baseball paradise.
What games will we go to? I have no idea, and that’s not the point. There are so many different options, and that’s exactly what we’re gonna do—keep our options open. I’m buying tickets 30 minutes before game time, depending on where we end up. Feel like a drive? Don’t feel like a drive? Want to see the nicest stadium or the most intimate one? Does it even matter? Aren’t they all great in their own way?
That’s the beauty of spring training in Arizona. Your day might start with a morning hike in Papago Park, followed by a stroll down Mill Avenue in Tempe. Then you check your phone—Cubs versus Rockies at Sloan Park starts in an hour. Perfect. Grab tickets, park the car, and you’re watching baseball in what feels like the world’s most relaxed environment.
Or maybe you wake up and decide today’s the day to see the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium, right in the heart of Old Town. Grab lunch at one of the restaurants on the strip, stroll into the ballpark around the third inning, and nobody bats an eye. This isn’t regular season intensity—it’s baseball vacation mode.
The Cactus League isn’t just about baseball—it’s about options, freedom, and the casual joy of the game without the pressure. It’s about being in a place where everyone around you understands that sometimes the best experiences happen when you don’t overthink them.
So here’s my plan for the week: no plan at all. Just baseball, sunshine, and whatever feels right in the moment. I’ll report back with what I find, but something tells me I’ve already discovered the secret of spring training—it’s not about the games you see, but the experience you simply allow yourself to have. In the Cactus League, you don’t need to create anything. You just need to be.
More baseball content:
The Wonder of Sports and Entrepreneurialism
Enjoy the Journey
Championship or Bust. Or None of the Above
Want to Start a Podcast?
Turn your passion into a platform. Learn how to launch your own professional podcast: Get Started Now
Eric Kasimov is the founder of SportsEpreneur, part of the KazSource media network. Since launching the platform in 2015, he has hosted over 500 podcast episodes, written and published more than 1,500 articles, and advised business leaders, founders, and creators on building authority through media strategy.
Through his brands — KazSource, KazCM, SportsEpreneur, and QuietLoud Studios — Eric leads teams that produce podcasts, develop brand platforms, and help companies grow through modern content ecosystems. He also scaled KazSource Insurance into a seven-figure boutique agency, providing the foundation for the broader media network he operates today.
His work has been featured in Forbes, Axios, and Front Office Sports, and his podcasts have included conversations with top founders, investors, and athletes turned entrepreneurs.