A Deep Look into the Indians 2017 Spring Training Schedule

The Indians released their full schedule for Spring Training in late November and individual tickets went on sale December 1st for games at Goodyear Ballpark in Arizona. We knew going into this year that it would be a little different because of the World Baseball Classic returning, but this year’s schedule has even more wrinkles that last time that happened.

The first effect of the WBC is that the Indians will open camp extremely early with pitchers and catchers reporting on February 12th and games beginning on February 25th. This will almost certainly spawn multiple weeks of Ohio vacationers saying “I thought it was supposed to be hot here.” In early February in Goodyear you can expect highs in the high 60’s, low 70’s and with no humidity, that can feel pretty cool in the shade. If you are coming to see the early practices (which I always recommend), it’s the kind of weather where you leave the hotel wearing jeans and a jacket and wish you had worn shorts instead by noon. Luckily, practices generally end around noon so you can go back to the hotel and get some more appropriate clothes.

Less than two weeks after players arrive (officially, because many players spend much of Winter in Goodyear working out), the Indians will begin games on the last Saturday in February. Unlike previous seasons, the Indians and Reds will not open with a three game series alternating home and away. Instead, the two denizens of Goodyear Ballpark will play just one (with the Indians officially home) and play only three times total all Spring.

This will seem weird to those used to frequenting Goodyear Ballpark and will cost the Indians a couple games at their home park. Instead, they play the Cubs, Rockies, A’s and Giants three times each instead of two and play the Rangers four times.

The games against Texas are the second twist of this Spring. On March 17th and 18th the Indians will play the Rangers in two games at the Alamodome in San Antonio. While this is great news for Indians fans exiled to the Lone Star State, for those on vacation in Arizona, it’s less exciting. The good news is, however, that those games will be split squad and the Indians will still be playing games in Arizona each day. The Cubs will be performing a similar activity when they play the Cubs in Las Vegas the following weekend.

Speaking of split squads, which everyone hates, they have just one more besides that weekend, on Monday March 9th. The team will be on the road against the Giants and at home against Milwaukee.

For some important dates this Spring:

• 3/7 & 3/21: The Indians have two off-days this Spring instead of the normal one due to the elongated (WBC) season. Generally, these are whole days off so there is no practice or game.
• 3/27 & 3/29: Game times are subject to change, but in general all games start at 1:05 PM Arizona time. These two games are the exception however, with 3/27 scheduled for 6:05 PM against the Cubs and 3/29 for 12:05 PM against Cincinnati. This will be a get away game as it is the last of the Spring for Cleveland.
• 3/11: For the past two seasons, the Indians and Reds have given out bobble heads during one weekend of the season. This year, the Indians have a Corey Kluber bobble head being given away against the Royals on 3/11 while the Reds will give away a Raisel Iglesias version on 3/10 against the Rockies.

For those looking for tickets, expect an increase in overall attendance this year as the Indians should get at least a slight World Series bump. In addition, attendance generally increases as the season progresses and we get closer to actual regular season games, so if you want tickets to mid-late March games, getting them early would be a good idea.

Outside of that generalization, games against the Dodgers, Giants and Cubs are usually all near sell-outs while games against the Royals, Rockies and Diamondbacks sell better than average. All these factors could combine to make Goodyear Ballpark a tough ticket for the final five home games as they play the DBacks on 3/19, the Dodgers on 3/20, the Rockies on 3/23, White Sox on 3/25 and Cubs on 3/27. Because this Cubs game is a night game as well and the last time the two teams will play in 2017 barring a World Series rematch, it very well could set a new record for attendance at Goodyear Ballpark.

If you are looking for a deal rather than a big crowd, there are discounts on berm tickets for each of the three games against Cincinnati (2/25, 3/17 and 3/29). There is also a Senior Citizens discount for the games on 3/1 vs Marines, 3/19 vs Angels, 3/14 vs Giants, 3/16 vs A’s, 3/23 vs Rockies and 3/29 vs Reds. If you are active duty military, make sure to tell them that as well as Goodyear Ballpark has offered a pretty incredible deal for those in the armed forces for the past few seasons.

In all, it should be a pretty incredible Spring. The World Baseball Classic, an early start to get 2016 off our minds and get started with the next World Series run and three games against the Cubs to get some revenge in case we’re not quite ready to forget about 2016.