Desert Sun Stadium

Desert Sun Stadium
	Arizona Winter League on February 24, 2008
Location	1280 W Desert Sun Drive ; Yuma, AZ 85365
Owner	City of Yuma
Capacity	7,500
Field size	120 yards x 75 yards
Surface	Grass
Construction
Built	1970
Opened	1970
Renovated	1984, 2015
Tenants
	Frontera United ( UPSL ) 2015?2017 ; Arizona Strikers FC ( W-League ) 2015 ; Yuma Scorpions/Panthers ( NAL ) 2005?2013 ; San Diego Padres ( MLB ) (Spring Training) 1970?1993 ; Yakult Swallows ( NPB ) (Spring Training) 1979?1998

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.

References [ edit ]

^ 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 .

External links [ edit ]

"Stadium Information: Desert Sun Stadium" . Arizona Winter League . Golden Baseball League . Archived from the original on November 17, 2010.

32°39′47″N 114°38′11″W / 32.66306°N 114.63639°W / 32.66306; -114.63639

[1] 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 .

[2] Patrick, Jim (February 8, 2016). "San Diego Padres in Yuma?Spring Training 1969" . yumalibrary.org . Yuma County Library District . Retrieved January 3, 2019 .

[3] "Kelly keys San Diego 6?1 victory" . The Arizona Republic . United Press International . March 7, 1970. p. 119.

[4] Cobbs, Chris (February 24, 1985). "Penant Pays Off For Yuma, Ariz. : Desert Town Rallies' Round Padres' Flag" . Los Angeles Times .

[5] 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 .

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