Surprisingly enough, 2006 marks the Royals' fourth Spring Training in Surprise, Ariz. Time flies when you're working in what arguably could be the best training base in the Major Leagues.

The citizens of Surprise did it right, with a sparkling stadium in the center of a two-team complex, with the Royals on the left-field side and the Rangers on the right. Practice fields cut into the desert, with the White Tank Mountains on the horizon providing plenty of wide-open vistas for the athletes and strolling fans.

It's easy to get a closeup view of slugger Mike Sweeney or Hall of Fame batting instructor George Brett. And you can glimpse such newcomers as Scott Elarton, Mark Redman, Mark Grudzielanek and Doug Mientkiewicz, all keys to the still-building Royals.

When do the Royals arrive at camp?
The pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Feb. 17 with their first workout the next day. Positional players check in on Feb. 23, and the first full-squad workout will be Feb. 24.

When do the games start?
The Royals meet their neighbors, the Rangers, in the first three games at Surprise Stadium on March 2-3-4, with each game beginning at 1:05 p.m. MT. The Rangers are the "home" team for the opener, and the Royals are "home" for the next two games.

Except for three jaunts to Tucson on March 5, 16 and 26 and an open date on March 21, the Royals will play daily in the Phoenix area through March 30. Two games at Houston March 31 and April 1 finish the exhibition schedule.

How do I get tickets?
Tickets are on sale at the Surprise Stadium box office, 15960 N. Bullard Ave., Surprise, Ariz., 85374. They can be obtained by mail or phone (623-594-5600).

Single-game tickets can be obtained through the Royals Web site.

Various packages are available. Prices and other information can be found at Royals' Spring Training Tickets page.

Where is Surprise, and how do I get there?
Surprise is a fast-growing community northwest of Phoenix. The training complex is about a 45-minute drive from the Phoenix airport.

From the airport, take I-10 West to Loop 101 and head north. Take exit 9 at Grand Ave. (Route 60) and go west to Bell Road. Take a left turn on Bell to Bullard Avenue, and the complex is on your left. Parking is free.

Warning: There are relatively few hotels in Surprise, so you might have to stay outside the city limits.

How can I watch the team work out?
It's easy. Most workouts begin at 10 a.m., and fans can cruise sidewalks through the various practice fields or eyeball the batting cages near the clubhouse.

For the three night games at Surprise, the official pregame work begins mid-afternoon, but there are usually players on the field most of the day.

Where can I get some autographs?
If you hang out between the practice fields and the clubhouse around noon, when the players are finished with their work, you can catch them before they head inside for lunch. When the games start, many players will stop along the left-field stands to sign as they enter the stadium or leave afterward.

What else is there to do in Surprise?
There are plenty of golf courses in the area. Surprise is still catching up with the rest of the Phoenix area, but new restaurants are popping up along Bell Road near the stadium. The White Tank Mountain Regional Park offers various activities. For more information, check out www.surpriseaz.com.

About 10 miles away, at Bell Road and Loop 101, the city of Peoria is home to a shopping area called Arrowhead. If it's upscale dining or entertainment you want, Scottsdale offers both about a 45-minute drive away.

When do the Royals open the regular season?
The opener will be against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium at 3:10 p.m. CT on Monday, April 3.