Setting up for Spring Training Baseball Season at Tempe Diablo Stadium

Tempe Diablo Stadium

Baseball fans know that Spring Training Season doesn't start for another 3 weeks, and so I get plenty of questions about why I'm here so early.

Well, those hot dogs and peanuts don't just magically appear at the stands on Opening Day.  In fact, the stands themselves need to be set up, including the tents, coolers, grills, utensils, signage, work areas, cash registers, credit card machines, beer taps, ........ and the electricity and water to run all of it. Even a food and supplies warehouse tent is erected to store the product that is ordered for future use.

All the people that run the concession stands need to be hired, and trained. (This process starts while most of you are doing your last-minute Christmas shopping.)

All the food needs to be ordered, stored, and distributed accordingly.  Did you know that last year, over 15 games we sold 35,000 hot dogs alone???  That doesn't include all the rest of the food options -- hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, chips, nachos, italian ice, hot pretzels, even portabello mushroom sandwiches and pizza just to name a few. That's a lot of food!

Besides what the fans see, there's all the paperwork that needs to be completed prior to game day: liquor licenses, health department inspections, ordering supplies, studying what was sold where last year so that we are properly prepared for the fans this year.

The amount of work and preparation that goes into pulling off a successful season is huge. And the fact that it is so unrecognized is part of our success.

It's a lot of work, and a lot of fun.  I'll keep you posted on the progress and let you know when the team arrives!