July 25, 2003: Phoenix, Arizona

My trip to Arizona was not only an opportunity to attend an Arizona Diamondbacks game at Chase Field (formerly Bank One Ballpark aka the BOB), but also a chance to spent time with a part of my family that I do not see often. Over the past decade, many of my relatives have relocated to the Phoenix area, the first of which was my godmother Katharine, who enjoyed the dry air and open space the Arizona desert provides. Over the past decade, Arizona’s population has exploded. It attracts newly retired couples and young families looking for a change of pace. This surge in population, along with the success of Spring Training in Arizona, enabled Major League Baseball to award a franchise to the Grand Canyon State. The Arizona Diamondbacks made their debut on March 31, 1998; since that first game, nearly 45 million baseball fans have packed Chase Field, as the hometown Diamondbacks have enjoyed unprecedented success for a one-time expansion team, winning the 2001 World Series. [Read more…]