The Ballpark Digest award season continues, as we announce our first Editor's Choice citation for Camelback Ranch-Glendale, the spring-training home of the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. Camelback Ranch-Glendale is a bold re-imagining of the spring-training complex, bringing in the feel of a classic training camp with all the amenities of today.

One of the great joys of spring training is the informal nature of it all. Fans look forward to getting up closed and personal with players in a relaxed setting. Camelback Ranch-Glendale provides plenty of great memory-making moments for fans old and young.

In a design that turns spring-training design on its head, fans park on the opposite side of the complex from the ballpark. They then meander their way through the training complex before reaching the game, getting a chance to see multiple workouts on multiple diamonds. For fans, the experience is then topped with a game at one of the nicest ballparks in spring training.

Camelback Ranch-Glendale, designed by Dallas-based HKS, is designed to appear to rise from the flat Valley floor. A symmetrical two-building outpost in center field houses the main ticket office, the largest team store and other operations. The curved buildings immediately set the tone for the spring experience at Camelback Ranch-Glendale: the 14 buildings comprising the complex feature sloping roofs, asymmetrical designs and organic appearances.

But a spring-training complex must also fulfill all the needs of the main tenants, in this case the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. Both teams have state-of-the-art training facilities for both the major-league and minor-league squads, allowing both to smoothly run year-round operations. Fans don’t see what happens behind the scenes – and most won’t find things like weight rooms, aquatic treadmills and multiple clubhouses very sexy or interesting, but both teams had the chance to spec out their operations spaces for their specific needs. The White Sox chose to put minor- and major-league facilities in the same building, though there are some differences in each section. The Dodgers, meanwhile, chose to break out the minor-league operations in a three-building complex, with separate buildings for training, support, and clubhouses. As with any modern training facility, there’s video through the entire complex, giving coaches the chance to provide instant feedback to position players and pitchers.

"It is a tremendous honor for Camelback Ranch-Glendale to be recognized by Ballpark Digest with an Editor's Choice award," said Terry Savarise, senior vice president of stadium operations for the White Sox. "The goal of the White Sox, Dodgers and City of Glendale in designing and creating the facility was to marry the demands of preparing for a championship major-league baseball season with providing fans a first-class, intimate view of their heroes. Feedback from our fans and recognition such as this from Ballpark Digest are rewards for all of the hard work by everyone involved in making Camelback Ranch-Glendale a reality."

"The design for Camelback Ranch is about creating transparency at several levels: as you drive to the site, as you walk through the training complex, as you approach either of the two stadium entries, and as you enjoy a game, you are immersed in baseball, unlike any other Spring Training site,” said Mo Stein, Principal In Charge, HKS Architects. “Our design recognizes a unique opportunity for baseball players and coaches, for the fans and for the overall community.”

"For Dodger fans who have always wanted to take part in the Spring Training experience, last season was eye-opening and the positive feedback we’ve received validated the vision that was carried out in building the best Spring Training campus in all of baseball," said Dodger President Dennis Mannion. "We are honored that the hard work of those involved has been rewarded by Ballpark Digest and we look forward to another great year in 2010."

Mo Stein during the construction of Camelback Ranch-Glendale.

Ballpark Digest Awards are chosen by the editors of the website following nominations from teams and fans alike. Last year's Editor's Choice winners were MiLB Charities and the Texas League.

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