Sports And Recreation

By Local Arizona Realtor Cody Sperber

Whether you are a participant or spectator, the Valley of the Sun offers a tremendous variety of activities. With year-round mild temperatures, the outdoors has a lot to offer from parks, hiking, mountain biking, golf, tennis, auto racing, horse racing, gambling, to watching sports...there is always something to do outdoors!

BASEBALL

Major League Baseball became a reality with the Arizona Diamondbacks which began play in 1998 in the downtown Bank One Park (newly named Chase Field) and won The World Series in the fall of 2001. 602/462-6000

Springtime brings several teams for the Cactus League baseball training season. See below:

CACTUS LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING

SURPRISE STADIUM 623/594-5600

Kansas City Royals Texas Rangers

PEORIA SPORTS COMPLEX 623/878-4337

San Diego Padres Seattle Mariners

MARYVALE BASEBALL PARK 623/245-5500

Milwaukee Brewers

SCOTTSDALE STADIUM 480/990-7972

San Francisco Giants

PHOENIX MUNICIPAL STADIUM 602/392-0074

Oakland A's

HOHOKAM PARK 480/964-4467

Chicago Cubs

TEMPE DIABLO STADIUM 480/796-4250

L. A. Angels of Anaheim

HI CORBETT FIELD 520/327-9467

Colorado Rockies

TUCSON ELECTRIC PARK 520/434-1111

Arizona Diamondbacks Chicago White Sox

FOR SPECTATORS

BASKETBALL

The US Airways Center in downtown Phoenix is the Home of the Phoenix Suns' NBA team. 602/379-7867. Part of the new WNBA, the Phoenix Mercury play from the end of June through August. 602/379-7878.

Arizona State University's Sun Devils Basketball Team is a member of the Pacific 10 Conference. 480/955-3482.

FOOTBALL

The Arizona Cardinals currently play at their new stadium in Glendale, Arizona! The stadium is amazing and one of my favorite places to tailgate.

Summertime is Arena football time at the America West Arena. From May to August, the Arizona Rattlers play ~n a 50-yard field with eight men on a Side. Goal posts are nine feet wide and punting is illegal. 602/514-8383.

Back to tradition, Phoenix's football classic is the Fiesta Bowl. This is one of the five largest college bowl games in the country, preceded by a month of events topped off with a magnificent parade. 480/350-0900.

The Arizona State University's Sun Devils Football Team is sometimes among the top powers. 480/ 965-3482.

SOCCER

The Arizona Sahuaros play at the Brazell Field on the campus of Grand Canyon University from April to August. 623/516-2133.

HOCKEY

The NHL Phoenix Coyotes play at the new Glendale Arena at the Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue. 480/563-7825.

HORSE RACING

Thoroughbreds can be seen in action at Turf Paradise, one of the Southwest's premier racing facilities, during September through May. The clubhouse provides dining, and there also is a picnic area with a playground. 602/942-1101.

GREYHOUND RACING

Year-round racing can be enjoyed at the Phoenix Greyhound Park. This track has clubhouse dining and several lounges where spectators can relax. A glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled grandstand provides a great view of the action. 602/772-2000.

AUTO RACING

The Phoenix International Raceway bristles with excitement during such events as the Indy Car Races and NASCAR Winston Cup. 623/463-5400.

Another race track is the Firebird International Raceway where National Hot Rod Association drag races take place. 602/268-0200.

Open Friday and Saturday nights, the Manzanita Speedway offers Stock Cars & modified run on 1/2 mile track. 602/276-7575

GOLF AND TENNIS

Scottsdale is the home of the FBR Open at the Tournament Players Club adjacent to the Scottsdale Princess Resort. This stadium course offers excellent viewing with a capacity for over 100,000 golf fans per day. 602/870-0163.

Other professional golf tournaments in the Valley are the PING LPGA, the Legends Classic, and Senior PGA The Tradition.

Tennis tournaments include the Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic held at the Scottsdale Princess Resort, 480-9220222. Other tournaments are the Open Tennis Championships and a Nabisco Grand Prix event.

FOR PARTICIPANTS

GOLF

The Valley of the Sun has over 150 golf courses - some of the best in the country. At the Relocation main page, under each East Valley City you will find the local private and public courses.

TENNIS

Tennis is also a popular pastime with over a thousand courts across the Valley. Call the city parks department in your area for the location of public, school and park courts. Listed below are a few of the top rated Tennis Clubs in the Valley.

CAREFREE RESORT & VILLAS Carefree, 480/595-3877

CHANDLER TENNIS CENTER Chandler, 480/963-5265

COPPERWOOD RESORT & CLUB Fountain Hills 480/333-1900

GENE AUTRY SPORT CENTER Gilbert/Mesa 480/644-2149

PASEO RAQUET CENTER Glendale, 623/979-1234

ULTRA FITNESS SPORT CLUB Goodyear, 480/464-4777

ROSE MOFFORD SOPRTS COMPLEX Phoenix, 602/261-8011

CITY CENTER COURTS Phoenix, 602/256-4120

SCOTTSDALE ATHLETIC CLUB Scottsdale, 480/595-3877

KIWANIS PARK REC CENTER Tempe, 480/350-5201

SOARING AND BALLOONING

Experience the thrill of soaring over the desert and mountains in a glider held up by the strong thermals that form in the Valley of the Sun. Or, sip champagne and enjoy the varied scenery while leisurely drifting across the Valley in a brightly colored hot air balloon. The Thunderbird Balloon Classic is held in March at the Glendale Municipal Airport. For information call 602/978-7330.

HORSEBACK RIDING

Riding through the desert countryside is a sport enjoyed by many and is one of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of the area. Horse rentals and guided trail rides can be arranged through numerous stables.

WET RECREATION

Although much of Arizona is considered arid or semi-arid, the Metro Phoenix area has a 2.5-acre "ocean." Big Surf offers swimming, a 300-foot twisting surf slide, a rampageous water toboggan ride and rafting. 1500 N. McClintock, Tempe, 480/947-2477.

One of Arizona's largest water parks is Waterworld Safari situated on twenty acres featuring water slides with the biggest one, the Avalanche Slide, being 6.5 stories tall. There is also the Breaker Beach Wave Pool and Tom Sawyer's Landing. 4243 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Phoenix, 623/581-1947.

Another water complex is Sunsplash, a twelve-acre family action park. Water slides, a giant wave pool, a kiddie pool and a river for rafting and tubing provide a day of amusement along with three miniature golf courses. Bumper boats, race cars and a video arcade with 220 games are other diversions. 155 W. Hampton Avenue, Mesa, 480/834-8319.

Open year-round, the Kiwanis Recreation Center has an indoor heated wave pool with a giant water slide. Tennis courts and a gymnasium are also part of the complex. 6111 S. All America Way, Tempe, 480/350-5777.

To spend a relaxing day, enjoying the sun and floating down the Salt River, head for Salt River Tubing and Recreation in Mesa. Tube rentals and shuttle bus service are available in May. 480/984-3305.

PARKS

Every community in the area is enhanced by lovely municipal parks. While too numerous to list, there are some unique parks that bear mentioning.

The city of Phoenix maintains beautiful mountain parks. South Mountain Park/Preserve, the world's largest municipal park, contains 16,500 acres of vast, rugged mountain range. Historic and archaeological sites have been preserved and can be seen throughout the park. Some of the features include: Hidden Valley which can be entered through Fat Man's Pass, a fissure in rock which has been worn smooth by winds, or through the Natural Tunnel; the Chinese Wall, a large natural formation of rock resembling the Great Wall of China; and Dobbins Lookout which offers spectacular views of the city. There are also large picnic ramadas which can be reserved. 10919 S. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602/495-0222.

Phoenix Mountains Preserve covers over 7,000 acres and has three recreation areas: Dreamy Draw, North Mountain and Squaw Peak, all with tables and grills. Some of the areas can be reserved. Programs of desert awareness, guided nature hikes, outdoor survival workshops and horseback trail rides are available. Entrance off of Peoria Avenue, Phoenix, 602/390-6806.

The Margaret T. Hance Park is a 29-acre deck park located on top of the 1-10 tunnel between 3rd Street and 3rd Ave-nue near downtown Phoenix. Grills, rama-das, a playground, a sand volleyball court, a natural amphitheater and a plaza with fountains are in place. 602/534-2406.

Papago Park is another city of Phoenix park. This 1200-acre park is the site of the zoo, a botanical garden, museums and a golf course. There are numerous picnic sites with ramadas, tables and grills. Also, two of Phoenix' landmarks are here: Hole-In-The-Rock, a natural geologic formation, and Hunt's Tomb, a white pyramid burial place of Arizona's first governor. Van Buren Street and Galvin Parkway, 602/2563220.

One of Tempe's city parks is the 443-acre Tempe Papago Park. There are ramadas, tables, grills, a lighted softball field, a volleyball court, a la-goon plus a handicapped playground. College Avenue and Curry Road, 480/350-5200.

CASINOS

APACHE GOLD CASINO

Hwy. 70, 5 miles east of Globe

San Carlos 85550 800-272-2438

CASINO ARIZONA AT SALT RIVER

524 N. 92nd SI.

Scottsdale 85256 480-850-7777

CASINO ARIZONA AT TALKING STICK

9700 E. Indian Bend

Scottsdale 85256 480-850-7777

DESERT DIAMOND CASINO

7350 S. Nogales Hwy.

Tucson 85706 866-332-9467

DESERT DIAMOND II

1100 W. Pima Mine Road

Tucson 85629 866-332-9467

VEE QUIVA CASINO-GILA RIVER

6443 N. Komatke Lane

Laveen 85339 800-946-4452

WILD HORSE PASS CASINO-GILA RIVER

5550 W. Wild Horse Pass

Chandler 85226 800-946-4452

HON DAH CASINO

779 Highway 260

Pinetop 85935 800-929-8744

CLIFF CASTLE CASINO

555 Middle Verde Road

Campe Verde 56322 800-381-7568

COCOPAH CASINO

15136 S. Avenue B

Somerton 85350 800-237-5687

FORT MCDOWELL CASINO

Fort McDowell Road & Hwy. 87

Fountain Hills 85269 800-843-3678

HARRAH'S AK-CHIN CASINO

15406 Maricopa Road

Maricopa 85239 480-802-5000

PARADISE CASINO

450 Quechan Drive

Yuma 85364 888-777-4946

BLUE WATER CASINO

11222 Resort Drive

Parker 85344 888-243-3360

MAZATZAL CASINO

Hwy. 87, mile marker #252

Payson 85541 800-777-7529

BUCKY'S CASINO

1505 E. Hwy. 69

Prescott 86301 928-541-9482

YAVAPAI GAMING CENTER