How to Actually Find and Watch the Cubs Spring Training Games
Most people search for Cubs Spring Training Tv Schedule and end up on a page that just lists blacked-out games or dead links. The situation is messier than it should be because the Cubs hold their spring training in the Cactus League in Florida, which means regional sports networks and local blackouts are involved. I've been tracking these broadcasts for years, and the basic process is straightforward once you know where to look. Games during spring training are typically broadcast on NBC Sports Chicago for locals and the Cactus League Network for national or out-of-market viewers. WGN occasionally picks up select contests. The bulk of the schedule runs from late February through mid-March at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona. For any given game, you can check NBC Sports Chicago's app or website, or look at the Cactus League schedule posted by MLB itself. Here's something most guides don't mention: many Cactus League broadcasts rotate between regional networks depending on the opponent. A game against the Dodgers might air on a different regional sports network than a game against the Royals, even if both are Cubs home games. The rotation shifts year to year based on cable carriage agreements, which is why you need to confirm the broadcaster a day or two before each game rather than trusting a static list.
I spent the 2024 spring training cycle dealing with a blackout issue where my subscription carried NBC Sports Chicago but the game was still geo-blocked because I was traveling outside the Chicago DMA. The workaround was running a legitimate VPN server based in the Chicago area through my home router setup before leaving town. It's not a perfect solution, but it kept me from missing about four games that season. MLB.TV works in reverse during spring training, though — out-of-market games are generally not blacked out, which makes it one of the few times the service is actually useful without geographic headaches.
What You Need to Know Before You Tune In
Spring training television coverage has a different set of constraints than the regular season. Game start times are less consistent. Weather delays in Arizona are real and common, especially in March when temperatures can swing wildly. The broadcast often starts 90 minutes before first pitch, but games get pushed back regularly, so the actual airtime is unpredictable. The biggest pitfall I see people hit is assuming that streaming through their cable provider will work seamlessly. Many providers use separate authentication systems for spring training content. Sling TV, for example, carries NBC Sports Chicago but you may need to verify your location during setup or re-authenticate between games. I've had to redo the login process mid-spring training twice because the session token expired and the provider didn't send any notification. Just keep your credentials handy and be prepared to re-enter them if the stream drops unexpectedly. Another detail that matters: the Cactus League Network carries many non-Cubs games that you can use as backup if the main broadcast cuts out or if you're trying to catch a game involving a different team on the same day. It's available through most major streaming bundles and traditional cable packages, but you have to actively search for it. The channel isn't always listed in the default grid because different providers slot it in different positions.
Get the Full Details
For fans who want every game, MLB.TV is the most reliable single source, but the local blackout rule still applies to in-market viewers watching Cubs home games. If you live in the Chicago area, your options narrow to NBC Sports Chicago or over-the-air broadcasts of select games. Out-of-market subscribers through MLB.TV have access to roughly 75 percent of spring training games without blackout issues, though some Cactus League broadcasts are left off the platform entirely due to regional network exclusive deals. The schedule itself changes throughout camp. Exhibition games get rearranged for TV time slots, and sometimes a game announced for afternoon delivery gets moved to evening. Always check the day-before confirmation before committing your schedule. The Cubs' official website posts the updated television info about 24 hours in advance, and it's the most accurate source available. Third-party aggregation sites often have outdated listings because nobody updates them in real time during spring training.
