He added that his wife and teen-age daughter agreed only when promised they'd get plenty of pool time. While the fans spend every moment they can at the ball park or practice field, the rest of the gang can shop, laze by the pool, visit a theme park, play tennis or golf. The Selcraigs don't even bring the female members of their family along. That's what tourism officials like to hear. Spring training has become big business both in Florida, where the Grapefruit League numbers 20 ball clubs, and in Arizona, with its 10-club Cactus League.
Fans stream into Phoenix from Chicago, Seattle and Denver, among other places.
More than 1.5 million people attended spring-training games last year in Florida, coming from New York and Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston and St. Louis. The good news is the teams seem to be paying more attention to their young fans. Many clubs sponsor special clinics for kids. In Florida, the Houston Astros built a playground and staffed it so parents can watch the games while their kids happily play in the enclosed area. In Arizona, the San Francisco Giants make sure kids get to take home some foul balls, said director of Arizona operations Bob Quinn.