{"id":2526,"date":"2026-03-03T22:56:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T20:56:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.ticketmaster.com\/?p=64845"},"modified":"2026-03-03T22:56:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T20:56:26","slug":"play-ball-mlb-spring-training-opening-day-ticket-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myza.co.za\/events\/play-ball-mlb-spring-training-opening-day-ticket-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Play Ball: MLB Spring Training & Opening Day Ticket Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Baseball season swings early every year with MLB Spring Training<\/a> and Opening Day lined up. Beginning in February, fans can catch their favorite players up close for preseason practices and games as they prepare for Opening Day in March. Below, learn more about Major League Baseball\u2019s treasured preseason experience and find your team\u2019s Spring Training schedule and Opening Day tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s the Difference: Spring Training, Preseason, Opening Night vs Opening Day<\/h2>\n

Following the World Series in October, fans and teams alike set their sights on the next race to the pennant. The MLB preseason formally begins in February with Spring Training, when players report to their teams for the first time. Spring Training splits teams into two leagues: the Cactus League in Arizona and the Grapefruit League in Florida. Typically, Spring Training ends shortly before Opening Day.<\/p>\n

As the annual season kickoff, Opening Day remains one of the most cherished MLB traditions. Often held in late March or early April, Opening Day becomes an all-day baseball event as nearly every team takes the field. While the league has presented several variations on the opening game, including international matchups in Japan, South Korea and Australia, Opening Night has become a common alternative to Opening Day. Hosted during primetime just hours before Opening Day, Opening Night makes the ballpark lights shine a little brighter for the first game of the MLB season.<\/p>\n

What to Expect on Opening Night & Opening Day<\/h2>\n

Opening Day serves as an unofficial holiday to many sports fans, so expect a celebration no matter which team is hosting. While all 30 teams don\u2019t normally play on Opening Day, and events like Opening Night and MLB international games have moved up the season\u2019s first pitch, Opening Day still holds all the prestige and pageantry of the regular season\u2019s league-wide launch.<\/p>\n

The 2026 MLB season opens on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, with an Opening Night matchup between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants at San Francisco\u2019s Oracle Park. The game will be streamed globally at 8:05 p.m. ET \/ 5:05 p.m. PT via Netflix. MLB Opening Day 2026 follows on March 26 with a full, 14-game slate.<\/p>\n

MLB Spring Training<\/h2>\n

Ahead of the MLB regular season, all 30 teams participate in Spring Training. Each team plays about 30 games during the month-long, preseason period designated for player conditioning, team practice and roster adjustments. However, for fans, Spring Training lets fans take in the game and scout their favorite players from up close in smaller, intimate ballpark settings. Spring Training splits Major League Baseball into two divisions: the Cactus League in Phoenix, Arizona and its surrounding cities and the Grapefruit League in central and southern Florida.<\/p>\n

Cactus League (Arizona)<\/h3>\n

Spring Training descends on the Valley of the Sun as 15 MLB teams head to the Cactus League in the Phoenix metropolitan area. With 10 ballparks all within approximately 45 to 75 minutes from each other, fans have the opportunity to enjoy multiple games and teams in one trip to Phoenix. The Cactus League runs from mid-February to late March.<\/p>\n

Which Teams Play in the Cactus League?<\/h4>\n

The following MLB teams compete in the Cactus League:<\/p>\n