Desert Sun Stadium
is a converted
soccer-specific stadium
in
Yuma, Arizona
, originally built for
baseball
. It was the spring training home of the
San Diego Padres
from 1970 through 1993, the
North American League
's
Yuma Scorpions
minor league
baseball team, the
Arizona Winter League
, and the
Arizona Summer League
. The stadium serves as the main field of the Ray Kroc Baseball Complex.
The stadium was built for the 1970 spring training season using a 2% hospitality tax and $100,000 in bonds. The Padres started training in Yuma in 1969 but trained at
Keegan Field
, on 24th Street, while the new ballpark was being built.
[2]
The first game was March 6, 1970, with Arizona Governor
Jack Williams
throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
[3]
The stadium was expanded again in 1984.
[4]
In 2015, Desert Sun Stadium was converted to a soccer stadium by OneGoal LLC, an organization that paid for the $15,000 conversion fee.
[5]
Frontera United
had played at Desert Sun Stadium from 2015 to 2017.
WWE Wrestling
occasionally makes a stop at the complex.
- ^
O’Reilly, Charles (January 24, 2011).
"Desert Sun Stadium, Yuma, Ariz"
.
Charlie's Big Baseball Parks Page
. Archived from
the original
on April 18, 2011
. Retrieved
July 30,
2011
.
- ^
Patrick, Jim (February 8, 2016).
"San Diego Padres in Yuma?Spring Training 1969"
.
yumalibrary.org
.
Yuma County Library District
. Retrieved
January 3,
2019
.
- ^
"Kelly keys San Diego 6?1 victory"
.
The Arizona Republic
.
United Press International
. March 7, 1970. p.?119.
- ^
Cobbs, Chris (February 24, 1985).
"Penant Pays Off For Yuma, Ariz.?: Desert Town Rallies' Round Padres' Flag"
.
Los Angeles Times
.
- ^
Sweet, Holly (March 4, 2015).
"Yuma City Council to approve Desert Sun Stadium contract"
.
KYMA-DT
KSWT
KECY
News
. Archived from
the original
on April 2, 2015
. Retrieved
March 12,
2015
.