Salt River Fields at Talking Stick

Rockies and D-backs move spring training to Phoenix area

By Babette HerrmannThis coming spring, the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks baseball teams will move spring training to the newly constructed and recently named, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

The name of the stadium and logo was unveiled to the public June 4, more than six months after the tribe broke ground on the $100 million project. Both teams, part of the Cactus League, were training in Tucson.

SRPMIC Vice President Martin Harvier said coming up with a name was a collaborative effort, shaped by community members. “It was very important to work on coming up with a name and a lot of work went into it, and everybody’s really pleased so far with the naming of the stadium.”

The name “Salt River Fields” reflects the tribe and lets visitors to the stadium know they are in the Pima-Maricopa community. “Talking Stick” represents Pima tradition. Carvers used a calendar stick to record important events and milestones.Comment:  Perhaps coincidentally, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community also operates the Talking Stick Resort & Spa. It's nice that they named the stadium for their calendar stick and not for their casino.

For more on the subject, see Gila River Woos Cubs and Spring-Training Stadium at Salt River.