Spring (training) is in the air

Judy Savage stood in line for spring training tickets at Surprise Stadium at 6 a.m. Saturday, two hours before the box office opened.

The Peoria resident thought she would have to wait until 8 a.m., but the line started moving 30 minutes early.

"I brought a lawn chair like other people, and I sat in it for a while, but to my surprise the line moved early," she said. "That's all right with me, though, as long as I get tickets to all the games I want."

Mark Coronado, community and recreation services director, said Savage was one of about 150 baseball fans - an increase over past years - who were waiting to purchase tickets Saturday morning.

And though he didn't expect to have official numbers until later this morning, Coronado speculated that walk-up sales were down, while Internet sales were up.

Coronado said the line dissipated by noon, much earlier than in the past.

The slower walk-up sales could have a number of contributing factors, Coronado said, including the economy, the holiday weekend or the Arizona Cardinals playoff game happening the same day.

"Historically we always opened on the first Saturday in January, and didn't want to open on Jan. 10, when Peoria Stadium tickets went on sale," Coronado said. "Many of our customers are their customers, and their customers are our customers."

Ruth Arzt of Sun City West and her friend Rina Andrea of Sun City said the early opening of the box office was a nice surprise.

The two friends and Wisconsin winter residents have waited in line for spring training tickets for the last five to six years. They would rather stand with the crowd than pay the extra fees through Ticketmaster.

"This is cheaper and the city staff accommodates those of us who are out here in the morning with coffee and doughnuts," Arzt said. "You just can't beat any of that at all."

The 34-game Cactus League season begins Feb. 25. Tickets are available through the Surprise Stadium box office, 623-222-2222, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, or through Ticketmaster at 480-784-4444 or www.ticketmaster.com.