Mesa officials makes pitch to keep Cubs
Officials from the Arizona city of Mesa and the Cactus League sounded confident Wednesday they could keep the Cubs as the cornerstone team of spring training.
New Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and members of his family will attend the team's annual organization meetings next week in Mesa, and while there, they'll get the fullcourt press from the city, which is hoping to build a new spring training stadium and complex.
The Cubs' current lease in Mesa expires in 2016, but by next spring, they can exercise an opt-out clause and leave in 2012.
Arizona has supplanted Florida in recent years as the preferred destination for major-league clubs in spring training, but the Cubs have spoken with officials in Naples, Fla., about a possible move there.
The Cubs have significant leverage as the top-drawing team in Arizona. Officials in Mesa say they recognize that, but they also flashed some civic pride.
"In reality, Chicago is already here," said Mesa city manager Chris Brady. "Chicago lives among us, if you would. We'll demonstrate to them (the Cubs) that the fan base that already exists here in transplants from Chicago is significant in this area.
"Major-league teams continue to choose Arizona as the preferred location for spring training-The proximity of teams together in this area is a significant difference. The average travel time is probably less than 30 minutes among the Cactus League teams here. If you go to that other league (Florida's Grapefruit League), you'll travel distances in excess of three hours."
The Cubs have been at the "new" HoHoKam Park since 1997. They've trained in Mesa since 1979 after having spent springs there from 1952-65.
Officials have talked of "5-10 sites" in the Mesa area that can house a new stadium as well as practice fields and clubhouses. The White Sox and Dodgers share a new facility just west of Phoenix. The Indians moved to the Phoenix this past spring, and the Cincinnati Reds will move to the area next spring.
Mesa Mayor Scott Smith expressed confidence the Cubs will stay.
"You're sitting in the third stadium the Chicago Cubs have played in Mesa, Ariz.," Smith said. "I'd venture to guess no other community in spring training, on either coast, has that same track record of providing those types of facilities for over 60 years. We would hope that 60 years means more than tradition, more than nostalgia.
"This is a two-way street. The Cubs brand is very powerful. We know that. Let's not discount the Arizona brand, the Mesa brand. It's also very powerful-This is a no-brainer. Mesa is the place to be. Arizona is the place to be."