SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Arizona has been the Giants' Spring Training home for nearly 60 years, but they've never played in a nicer ballpark than newly renovated Scottsdale Stadium, their training site since 1982.

A $23 million offseason project has upgraded the facility, which includes more fan amenities and added playing fields on the east side.

The Giants have also revamped their team with the addition of powerman Steve Finley, veteran pitcher Matt Morris and relievers Tim Worrell and Steve Kline, while Barry Bonds -- who played only 14 games last season after knee surgeries -- is ready to play perhaps 120 games.

Although missing the playoffs in 2005 due to a multitude of injuries and inexplicable poor performances, the Giants still boast outfielders Moises Alou and Randy Winn, catcher Mike Matheny, infielders Ray Durham and Omar Vizquel along with Big Four starters Jason Schmidt, Morris, Noah Lowry and Matt Cain.

Felipe Alou is at the helm for his fourth season. His club finished third in the National League West with a 76-87 record, seven games behind San Diego.

When do the Giants arrive in camp?
San Francisco pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Feb. 15 and work out the following day. Position players are due Feb. 20, and the first full workout will be Feb. 21.

When do games start?
Cactus League competition on the Giants' 28-game slate begins Thursday, March 2, against Milwaukee in Maryvale, while the home opener at Scottsdale Stadium is the next day vs. the Brewers.

As an added treat, the Giants face the World Baseball Classic's USA squad in an exhibition duel in Scottsdale on Sunday, March 5, while tournament games will be at the ballpark March 7 (7 p.m. local time), with Canada vs. South Africa; March 8, 7 p.m., Mexico vs. South Africa; and March 10, 1 p.m., USA vs. South Africa.

The Arizona portion of Spring Training concludes with a March 28 game at Tucson vs. Colorado, and March 29 at Phoenix vs. the Oakland A's.

The Giants also have four games in the Bay Area: March 30 vs. the Angels at SBC Park (7:15 p.m. PT); March 31 vs. Oakland (7:15 p.m. PT); April 1 at McAfee Coliseum vs. Oakland (1:05 p.m. PT); and April 2 at SBC vs. the A's (1:05 p.m. PT).

How do I get tickets?
They are available at tickets.com outlets, at Giants Dugout Stores and the Giants box office at SBC Park. In the Phoenix area, tickets can be purchased at the Scottsdale Stadium box office and Sports Authority stores. Fans can also get tickets online at www.sfgiants.com or by phone at 1-800-225-2277.

Where is Scottsdale, and how do I get there?
Once called "The West's Most Western Town," this fast-growing city is a wonderful tourist spot about 15 minutes away (8.5 miles) from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Flight time from the San Francisco area is approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes.

Scottsdale Stadium, at 7408 East Osborn Rd., has been the Giants' training home since 1992 and has hosted San Francisco for the past 25 years. Last spring, the club and the City of Scottsdale announced the Giants will continue training there through 2025.

Fans can reach the ballpark by taking North Scottsdale Rd. to E. Drinkwater, then turning right on Osborn. You can also head north on Hayden Rd. and turn left on Osborne, or traveling on main thoroughfare E. Thomas Rd., turn north on N. Miller Rd. to Osborne.

Visitors will be pleased by the renovation of the facility, which includes new practice fields east of the stadium, where the grass parking lot used to be. This necessitated the closing of 75th St., which ran from Osborne along the east side of the ballpark.

There's a new main entrance on the north at the end of 75th St. coming south, which can be accessed from E. Second St.

Included in the revamping of the ballpark are expanded, tiered berms for fans beyond the outfield fences, a 2,000-square foot team store, four concession stands, four novelty stands and more ticket booths.

For Giants personnel, there are expanded home and visiting clubhouses to accommodate Minor Leaguers and non-roster players, new managers offices, larger dugouts, new training and treatment rooms, plus improved laundry and kitchen facilities.

Scottsdale Stadium boasts 11,200 seating capacity, including 3,688 stadium seats and 4,500 bleacher seats.

Workouts will also be at the Minor League facility at Indian School Park, 4289 Hayden Rd. at Camelback Rd., about five minutes from the stadium.

How can I watch the team work out?
With the new full field and half field just east of the stadium, there may be less action at Indian School Park this spring prior to games, although Minor League pitchers and catchers will report Feb. 28, and position players March 2.

At Scottsdale Stadium, gates open at 11 a.m. MST on game days. Giants' batting practice, however, runs from 10-11 a.m., with infield practice from noon to 12:15 p.m. Visitors' BP is from 12:15 to 12:30.

Where can I get some autographs?
The best bet before games is near the players' parking lot, which is south of the stadium off Osborn. Athletes may arrive as early as 7 or 7:30 a.m., but most get there around 8 a.m. They must be in uniform ready to practice by 9 a.m. Be considerate and polite when asking for autographs -- don't be pushy. Saying "please" and "thank you" is appreciated.

Even with road games, the players are required to report to Scottsdale Stadium initially before busing to other venues, so they'll still be available early. On game days, fans should stand behind or on either side of the dugouts, although anywhere close to the field is OK.

What else is there to do in Scottsdale?
Plenty. The stadium is in historic Old Town Scottsdale, surrounded by a variety of restaurants, boutiques and art galleries within walking distance. Don and Charlie's is a favorite eatery for sports fans and athletes, but there are myriad Mexican and American food restaurants nearby.

For the more adventurous, there are a multitude of golf courses, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West home, the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Out of Africa Wildlife Park, Rawhide 1880s Western Town and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.

Hotels and motels abound, but it's best to reserve accommodations early, as this is winter visitor time.

When do the Giants open the regular season?
The Giants start the 2006 campaign April 3 with a three-game set at PETCO Park against the San Diego Padres, last season's NL West champions. The season opener is set to start at 4:05 p.m. PT.

The home opener at SBC Park is Thursday, April 6, vs. the Atlanta Braves in a 1:05 p.m. PT contest, the first in a four-game series. The Houston Astros follow for three games.