Avoid traffic congestion and find free parking at Kino Sports Complex when the Arizona Diamondbacks play the San Diego Padres on Sunday, March 17, and the Chicago Cubs take on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, March 21.

Come early. The games start at 1:05 p.m. Gates will open at 11 a.m. The Will Call ticket window opens at 10 a.m.

Motorists need to know that they can access stadium parking from Country Club Road via Milber Street as well as from Ajo Way via Forgeus Avenue.

Pima County Sheriff’s deputies (and message boards on March 21) on main roadways and parking lot attendants will be directing motorists. Be alert. Pay attention.

Motorists headed to the University of Arizona Medical Center – South Campus should stay in the left lane on Ajo Way.

From northwest of Kino Sports Complex on Interstate 10, eastbound vehicles are encouraged to take:

• exit 262 onto Benson Highway and then left onto East Ajo Way.
• exit 264B onto South Palo Verde Road, then left onto Irvington Road and then right onto Country Club Road.

From southeast of Kino Sports Complex on I-10, westbound vehicles are encouraged to take:

• exit 264, turn left onto Irvington Road, then right onto northbound Palo Verde or Country Club.

From north or south of the complex, Park Avenue, Country Club and Palo Verde all connect to Ajo Way.

Consider carpooling or taking a bus to the game. Kino Sports Complex is on Sun Tran Route 11, which travels every 30 minutes weekdays on Ajo Way between South Sixth Avenue and Palo Verde Boulevard (visit www.suntran.com).

To purchase tickets, visit the Kino Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, call (520) 434-1367 or visit www.tucsonpadres.com.

For more information about Kino Sports Complex, please visit www.kinosportscomplex.com.

The Tucson Padres and the Pima County Sports & Tourism Authority announced today that the two teams will play a split-squad game at Sunday, March 17 at 1:05 pm. Both teams have a second Spring Training game that day in the Phoenix area.

The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers will play at 1:05 p.m. Thursday, March 21, in a game that will benefit the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation.

Tickets for both games go on sale Saturday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m. Visit www.tucsonpadres.com or stop by the Kino Stadium box office, which is open until 5 p.m. that Saturday only and otherwise is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. Tucson Padres season ticket holders, voucher plan holders and sponsors can purchase their spring training tickets starting Monday, Feb. 4, by calling 520-434-1367.

Tucson Spring Training Ticket Prices

March 17 – Padres vs. Diamondbacks –  Split Squad

Field Box: $20 per seat                               Bleacher: $10 per seat

Outfield Reserved: $15 per seat               Lawn: $6 per seat

Terrace: $15 per seat                                   Suites: $500 (Includes up to 20 people)

March 21 – Cubs vs. Dodgers – Charity Game Pricing

Field Box: $25 per seat                               Bleacher: $10 per seat

Outfield Reserved: $20 per seat               Lawn: $8 per seat

Terrace: $20 per seat                                   Suites: $1,500 (Includes up to 20 people)

Kino Sports Complex (www.kinosportscomplex.com), 2500 E. Ajo Way, is home to both the Triple-A Tucson Padres baseball team and the FC Tucson soccer club. It is the largest professional sports and entertainment venue of its kind in Pima County.  It includes the 11,000-seat Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, seven baseball fields (four with lights), lighted softball fields, a regulation Soccer Stadium (lighted) and four additional fields for soccer, field hockey, rugby, and lacrosse. It is a natural fit for youth, high school, collegiate, and professional sports; and makes a great setting for social gatherings, concerts, and community events.

For the third straight year, Pima County and the Pima County Sports and Tourism Authority are teaming up with the Tucson Padres and the Dodgers on a spring training game to raise funds for the Foundation.

General Manager Mike Feder also announced today that the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres have committed to playing a spring training game at Kino Stadium in March. Details are expected to be announced next week.

The Cubs vs. Dodgers game begins at 1:05 p.m. Tickets range from $8 to $25 and go on sale Saturday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m. Visit www.tucsonpadres.com, call 520-434-1367 or stop by the Kino Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Tucson Padres season ticket holders, voucher plan holders and sponsors can purchase their spring training tickets a week in advance by calling 520-434-1367.

“There will not be a ticket left on the day of the game,” Feder said. “It shows we’re still alive. We need to keep Major League Baseball involved in Tucson.”

Christina-Taylor Green, 9, was among the six people killed at then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ “Congress on Your Corner” in Tucson on Jan. 8, 2011. The Green family created the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation to receive gifts in her memory and support charitable and educational projects, including an indoor sports facility at Curtis Park and computers and laptops for local schools.

“We’re proud of the things she’s been able to accomplish even when she’s not here,” said Green’s father, John, who is a scout for the Dodgers. “This is our way of giving back to the community that’s given back to us.”

Green also said the Dodgers general manager told him that as long as he is general manager, “we’ll have a game in Tucson.”

Kino Sports Complex (www.kinosportscomplex.com), 2500 E. Ajo Way, is home to both the Triple-A Tucson Padres baseball team and the FC Tucson soccer club. It is the largest professional sports and entertainment venue of its kind in Pima County.  It includes the 11,000-seat Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, seven baseball fields (four with lights), lighted softball fields, a regulation Soccer Stadium (lighted) and four additional fields for soccer, field hockey, rugby, and lacrosse. It is a natural fit for youth, high school, collegiate, and professional sports; and makes a great setting for social gatherings, concerts, and community events.

Tickets purchased for Sunday’s game between the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres can be used for the rescheduled date on Thursday, March 22.  Seat locations will remain the same.

The game at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium will begin at 1:05 p.m. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m.

Refunds are available.  Tickets may also be exchanged for Tucson Padres regular season vouchers.  For every $20 spent on Rockies vs. Padres tickets, fans can receive $30 worth of Tucson Padres box seat vouchers, good for any game except July 3.  Refunds or exchanges must be obtained before Thursday by emailing info@tucsonpadres.com, calling the stadium box office at (520) 434-1367 or visiting the box office in person between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays at 2500 W. Ajo Way.

Tickets are still available for the Rockies vs. Padres game and for the Chicago White Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game at Kino Stadium on Friday, March 23, with proceeds of that game benefiting the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation.  The game will start at 1:05 p.m.  Gates will open at 11:30 a.m.

Kino Sports Complex is the largest professional sports and entertainment venue of its kind in Pima County.  It includes the 11,000-seat Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, 12 baseball fields (five with lights) and lighted softball and soccer fields.  With its panoramic view of the Santa Catalina Mountains, it is a natural fit for youth, high school and collegiate sports. Plus, it makes a great setting for social gatherings, concerts, and community events. To learn more, or to schedule an event, go to www.kinosportscomplex.com.

The Pima County Sports and Tourism Authority, Pima County, the Tucson Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox have committed the proceeds from the second game to the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation.  Christina-Taylor’s passing on January 8, 2011, affected the Dodgers organization closely; her father, John Green, is a scout for the Dodgers.

Tickets

 Wednesday, February 15 – Tickets to both games go on sale online via www.tucsonpadres.com.

 Tuesday, March 6 - Tickets to both games go on sale by phone.  Call (520) 434-1367 or visit the Kino Stadium box office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Kino Stadium’s address is 2500 E. Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ 85713. 

Ticket Prices

 Field Box: $20 per seat                                               Bleacher: $10 per seat

Outfield: $15 per seat                                                 Lawn: $6 per seat

Terrace: $15 per seat                                                  Suites: $500 (Includes up to 20 people)

San Diego Padres vs. Colorado Rockies: The Tucson Padres Major League affiliate, the San Diego Padres, will play their National League West rival Colorado Rockies at Kino Stadium on Sunday, March 18, at 1:05 p.m. “This is a great chance for our fans to get a preseason look at the young and talented San Diego Padres. We may even see some familiar faces from last year’s Tucson team,” said Mike Feder, Tucson Padres Vice President and General Manager.

The game also marks a return to Tucson for the Colorado Rockies, who held their Major League Spring Training in the Old Pueblo from 1993 to 2010. “The Rockies were great friends to Tucson for many years,” said Feder. “I know baseball fans here are thrilled to see the Rockies again.”

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago White Sox: The Chicago White Sox are hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, March 23, at 1:05 p.m. All proceeds from the game are being donated to the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation. “These games represent the essence of the mission of the Pima County Sports and Tourism Authority.  They benefit the charities and youth of the community, utilize Kino Stadium for events and feature Major League Baseball,” said Tom Tracy, Chairman of the Pima County Sports and Tourism Authority. “We are grateful to the teams for including Tucson in their Spring Training plans.”

The Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation was established by the Green family to receive gifts in memory of Christina-Taylor. The mission of the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation is to honor the life and memory of Christina-Taylor through charitable and educational projects that reflect and embody her interests, values and dreams.

Christina-Taylor was a proud 9-year-old student leader, ballet dancer and Little League Baseball player. The proceeds are supporting Tucson youth in her name. “On behalf of the Green Family, we would like to thank the Tucson Padres for providing the venue and their expertise. We would also like to thank the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox for playing Major League Baseball in Tucson once again,” said John Green, Christina-Taylor’s father. “Also, the beneficiary for the game, the CTG Memorial Foundation, will give back to the local community that gave so much to us. Christina-Taylor’s wishes and our mission statement are to help those less fortunate in the areas of education, the arts, sports and leadership programs to enrich our children’s lives.”

Tucson Padres Opening Night is Thursday, April 5.  Season tickets, weekend plans and voucher packages are now available by calling (520) 434-1367. For more information, you can visit www.tucsonpadres.com or the team’s official Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Tucson-Padres.