Bleed Cubbie Blue: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
Around SBN: Iron Bowl Thoughts... Right Now

More Cubs-Sox Games to come?

Well, it appears likely... in spring training. According to the tribune, Pima County has accepted the White Sox offer of $5M to break their spring training lease. The Sox will move from Tucson Electric Park and share a facility in Glendale with the Dodgers

The Sox will now be in a facility that is about 40 minutes from HoHoKam whereas they used to be about 2 hours away. Along with the Dodgers move to AZ the Indians will move to a new facility in Goodyear, AZ, also about 40 minutes away from HoHoKam.

This move makes spring training in Tucson, AZ more difficult. In years past quite a few of the Diamondbacks games were against the Sox and Rockies, the other Tucson area team. The Rockies are rumored to want out of their facility, which is not nearly as nice as Electric Park and other newer AZ facilities. The two new teams means more teams from the valley to travel to Tucson, but this will mean much more traveling for the Dbacks and Rockies. Unless MLB does something to get a team down to Tucson then spring baseball in Tucson is on the endangered list.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

0 recs  |  Comment 66 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Tuscon Baseball

The city lost its AAA Pacific Coast League team to Reno. Well, Tuscon still has the University of Arizona Wildcats baseball team.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Nov 18, 2008 2:56 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Wait

When did the Sidewinders leave? I lived in Tucson when I went to the U of A and I remember thirsty thursdays at Tucson Electric…good times.

by shastamasta on Nov 18, 2008 3:52 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Can't Blame the Rockies

Hi-Corbett Field is not nearly as nice as Tucson Electric..although it is closer to the city. I think a good solution would be to build complexes south of the Phoenix area as those areas develop so the distance to Tucson won’t be that great. There are too many people in Tucson to not have any spring training teams.

by shastamasta on Nov 18, 2008 3:59 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Yup

The overall complex at Hi Corbett is nice (practice fields, etc) but the main ball field is nothing special. The location is great but for fans looking to enjoy spring baseball, you’d be foolish not to drive the extra ten minutes to go to TEP.

With more teams in Phoenix and fewer teams in Tucson, half of this problem is offset. But still, teams are going to play half their games on the road and for the Rockies and Dbacks, this means more travel. I do not imagine that the players on these two teams want additional games that require the long drive. I also imagine that the front office of these two teams do not want more games against each other seeing as they are in the same division and more and more, teams seem to be keeping their top notch starters from facing divisional opponents during the spring.

by dmlichte on Nov 18, 2008 4:06 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I agree Hi Corbett is nice

and it’s a classic spring training type park but the parking area is really too small. Most people have to park at a near by mall and be bussed to the park. It’s a nice walk from the mall to the park but most people take the bus. TEP is newer and a great park for baseball as far as I’m concerned and plenty of parking. The complaints I hear about TEP is that there is nothing around the park to keep you there such as restaurants and bars. It’s a lame complaint to me but that is what people say.

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson

by tucsoncubsfan on Nov 18, 2008 4:17 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

High Corbett Field

from a fan’s perspective, to me, is one of the nicest stadiums to catch a SpringTraining game in the Cactus League. You are very close to the field, and you practically feel like you are in the dugout.

The problem with Hi Corbett, and what has the Rockies wanting to upgrade, is that, similar to Wrigley, the player accommodations are severely out of date. The Clubhouse is strictly 1950s. You would be surprised at the amenities at some of these newer ST parks, spacious lockers, Player’s Lounges, etc, etc. Let’s face it, today’s ballplayers are mostly a pampered lot.

by azjazzman on Nov 18, 2008 4:52 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I agree

I enjoyed watching games at Hi Corbett Field…but I could see why the Rockies would want to upgrade. Those facilities have been around awhile. Next time you watch “Major League,” pay attention to when the Indians show up for Spring Training and you can see the sign for Hi Corbett in the background.

by shastamasta on Nov 18, 2008 5:13 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Yup

and if you listen to the commentary track on the DVD, the director and screenwriter tell you exactly which scenes were shot in Tucson. Of course, the Indians trained at High Corbett for years.

by azjazzman on Nov 18, 2008 5:25 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

ya...

… I went to a few of those games when I lived in Tucson (several years ago). I remember going to several games of a Sidewinders-ICubs series. Ed Lynch and a few others from the front office were sitting a few rows behind home plate, as was ICub Kevin Orie, who must have been hurt. There must have been no more than a few hundred in attendance, even on dollar beer or dollar hot dog night. Its not a surprise that minor league baseball in Tucson didn’t last.

by dmlichte on Nov 18, 2008 4:01 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

The Sidewinders left at the end of this summer

for Reno like memphiscub said. I went to the last thirsty Thursday this summer and they had a pretty good crowd. They will have an independent league team playing at Hi Corbett Field this summer. This is the same field that the Rockies spring train at and they do want Tucson to spend some big bucks to keep them here. But now that the White Sox are definitely leaving Tucson, this opens the door in their contract to leave too. Same with the Diamondbacks. I really think both teams will eventually leave. Not at all happy about this.

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson

by tucsoncubsfan on Nov 18, 2008 4:01 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I thought the Dbacks and the Florida teams had to have their spring training in Alaska.

Tommie Agee was out.
"This field, this game, is a part of our past. It reminds us of all that was once good, and it could be good again." TM

by Weeghman Park on Nov 18, 2008 3:05 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

I was just asking about this the other day

Hopefully, we should see the Spring Training schedule come out in the next few days.

Old Style is the nectar of life.

by Mordecai on Nov 18, 2008 3:16 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Also makes this picture funny

Old Style is the nectar of life.

by Mordecai on Nov 18, 2008 3:40 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Not to be selfish

But I rarely got down to Tucson for games, always enough Cubs games to see in 8 days. And when they did go down to Tucson we’d just see another team at another park. For my vacation plans this just means more frequency to see teams like the Sox play the Cubs. I’m OK with it, but it probably sucks for Tucson.

by StevenABQ on Nov 18, 2008 3:50 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

It’s better for fans to have one centralized place to watch games.

Old Style is the nectar of life.

by Mordecai on Nov 18, 2008 4:06 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It won't mean more Cubs/Sox games.

When the Reds move to Arizona in 2010 that’ll make 15 teams for the Cactus League — untenable, because with an odd number of teams you either have to have more off days or more split squads, and teams want neither of those.

Someone’s going to be enticed to move to Arizona. When there are 16 teams in the Cactus League, you’ll be lucky to see any team more than twice in a spring.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 18, 2008 4:16 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Looks like there could be 17 teams

once the Diamondbacks and Rockies move there. I really doubt Tucson will be able to get another team here to keep the D’backs and Rockies happy here.

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson

by tucsoncubsfan on Nov 18, 2008 4:21 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

No...

… it’s 15. The D’backs and Rockies are included in that total.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 18, 2008 4:23 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Right, misread it

Thought you meant the Phoenix area.

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson

by tucsoncubsfan on Nov 18, 2008 4:27 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I've heard this before

…and I didn’t get it then, and I still don’t get it. If you have 15 teams, that means 7 games and one team has an off day every day. You rotate who gets the off day until everybody has had one and then you start over again. After a month (30 Days) all teams have had 2 off days. Of course, you can adjust this and fill in with split squad games or whatever, but I must be stupid, because I just don’t get why having an odd number of teams is a problem. I could design a workable schedule in an evening, with as many or as few off days/split squad games as you want…if the Cactus League wants to pay me to do it.

by azjazzman on Nov 18, 2008 4:46 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Hey, contact them.

Why not? You could do just as good a job as they do.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 18, 2008 4:50 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Who else would move?

Probably the only teams geographically wise that would make sense are the Twins, Astros and Cardinals and I don’t know what their lease agreements are like.

Old Style is the nectar of life.

by Mordecai on Nov 18, 2008 4:50 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Well, the Reds and Indians...

… are hardly “geographically” suited to Arizona, yet they’re both moving there.

Oddly, the team that might wind up in AZ is Baltimore; the Orioles’ lease at Sarasota expires soon. You can bet the AZ folks will be after them.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 18, 2008 4:51 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Baltimore, huh?

It would seem to me that they wouldn’t want to upset their fan base and lose those games against the rest of their AL East foes. They would be the only team from an East division to move to Arizona.

Old Style is the nectar of life.

by Mordecai on Nov 18, 2008 4:58 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Baltimore

Actually did train in Arizona for a few years in the 1950s. Most likely, they would use the threat of going to AZ to get a new/upgraded ball park in FL. Truth is, there are no teams close to moving to AZ at this time. The White Sox could have broken their contract with Tucson if they were able to recruit a team to replace them and the fact that they were unable to do so speaks volumes. I think that once the Reds move, the Cactus League and Grapefruit Leagues will stay the way they are for awhile.

The wild card is Las Vegas, who wants in on the ST bonanza in the worst way, and they have the money to make it happen.

by azjazzman on Nov 18, 2008 5:06 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

What kind of money?

They’d probably have to attract at least four teams to Vegas to make it worthwhile. Most AZ teams are locked into long term deals for their complexes, so none of them are going to move.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 18, 2008 5:46 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Tucson

thought they had locked the White Sox into a long term deal when they built Tucson Electric Park. D’oh!

by azjazzman on Nov 18, 2008 6:31 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Vegas

I cannot see this happening (a base in AZ) with any less than four teams making the jump). While the Rockies would likely be willing to move, I cannot see any other team from the Cactus League who can and will move. All the teams in the valley have new stadiums with the exception of the Angles and Giants. The Giants are having their facility upgraded and agreed to a 20 year pact with Scottsdale. All of these teams have a great situation, having to drive less than an hour to every non-Tucson game. Many of these players call the valley their home. The Diamondbacks are not going to leave their home state.

And as for the Sox being unable to find a replacement team for their Tucson lease, that means that no one wants to move to Tucson. It doesn’t mean that a team wouldn’t want to move to the Phoenix area. Not sure who would move and I don’t see an east coast team making the move, but perhaps Houston, St. Louis or the Twins would make the move.

by dmlichte on Nov 18, 2008 5:50 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

sorry...

should say “A base in Las Vegas”, not AZ

by dmlichte on Nov 18, 2008 5:51 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Actually

I was thinking more along the lines of Vegas being able to attract teams from Florida. You are quite right, all the White Sox scenario proved was that teams don’t want to train in Tucson (like you Dan, I am an ex-Tucsonian…I am always glad to meet someone who knows the c goes before the s and not the other way around).

I really don’t think the travel is as big a deal as you guys are making it. What I keep hearing is that it is the lack of a nightlife in Tucson that is the big problem (and you and I both know that is a legitimate comment).

No matter how you slice it, busing all over Florida to play ST games has to be worse than a relatively quick jaunt between Phoenix and Tucson.

by azjazzman on Nov 18, 2008 6:45 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

But what Florida teams are left...

… that would want to train in the West? Most of the East Coast teams aren’t going to do that, even with the added attraction of their fans coming to Vegas. It’s a long flight and expensive from NYC, Boston, Baltimore, Philly, Washington, etc.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 18, 2008 9:37 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I believe

the Orioles train at Ft. Lauderdale (where the Yankees used to train). The Reds are in Sarasota.

by azjazzman on Nov 18, 2008 5:17 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

You're right.

Sarasota is trying to get the Orioles to move FROM Ft. Lauderdale. My mistake.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 18, 2008 5:47 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

woah woah woah

did anyone run this thread by Crawdad?

by DartmouthCubsFan on Nov 18, 2008 5:21 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Tuscon may be on its last legs

I’m pretty sure one of the remaining two teams in Tucson has an escape clause in their contract that can be triggered if there are less than three teams training in the Tucson area. I think it was the Rockies but not sure. I’ll try to find out and post.

Also, last I heard, the O’s were seriously considering moving to Vero Beach and taking over Dodgertown. I’ll see what I can find out about that too.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Nov 18, 2008 5:38 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Actually

BOTH of the teams in Tucson have escape clauses. The Rockies are grumbling about needing a renovation of Hi Corbett (I apologize for misspelling it before!). I’m sure the D’backs are happy with their facility, but as Dan says, Tucson could be out of the spring training business altogether before very long.

by azjazzman on Nov 18, 2008 6:36 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks for the confirmation - and my apologies for misspelling Tucson in the title

though I did get it right in the body. Well, actually, my browser got it right for me… ;-)

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Nov 18, 2008 8:30 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

My apologies for mispelling Tucson as well, I have found in my life I make many mistakes. Shows you how much I went down there for ST games!

by StevenABQ on Nov 19, 2008 9:34 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

No worries

Tucson gets spelled Tuscon all the time, even by MSM, and even by my son, who was born there and should know better!

by azjazzman on Nov 19, 2008 9:38 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

some florida gossip...

Red Sox signed a long-term lease in Ft. Myers area – guess Lee County is going to build them a new complex somewhere close to where they are now. Sarasota had been wooing the Red Sox pretty hard but couldn’t close the deal. As Al pointed out, the O’s are still in the picture for Sarasota. Vero Beach doesn’t sound like an option any more – too tough to get to and revenue potential is limited.

Sarasota makes a lot of sense for Baltimore as their minor league complex is there. Yes, the big club has been in Ft. Lauderdale and the minors are in Sarasota – strange but true. Also, O’s could replace Red Sox in Ft. Myers once Boston gets their new digs. But they’d still have to go somewhere for a couple years – Ft. Lauderdale ends in 2009, and Ft. Myers wouldn’t be open until 2012 (scheduled). Winter Haven (Indians) might be a possibility, although I thought city had already approved other use for that land.

And obviously, Arizona (or Las Vegas) could always come calling, waving a bunch of money. I’m sure that would get Angelos’ attention.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Nov 18, 2008 8:44 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm not sure how many organizations

want their minor league players to spend 6 weeks in Las Vegas. Seems like there’s more trouble they can get into in Las Vegas as opposed to Arizona.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Nov 18, 2008 11:50 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I just read

the report in the Tucson Citizen about the Pima County Board Of Supervisors decision to accept the $5M buyout from the White Sox and I learned the following:

The D’Backs are already talking about a move. Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall said Tuesday. “We would rather just stay there, But there has to be more than two teams. That’s our issue.” He then went on to say that in reality three teams doesn’t cut it. They really need four.

Bottom line, the D’Backs are gone as soon as somebody steps up to the plate to build a stadium. Where? Chuck Huckleberry, the lead official in Tucson says: “We are hearing Chandler”. This actually makes sense. The Brewers used to train in Chandler and it is the largest and most financially strong city in the valley that doesn’t have a team. Book it, this will happen.

That leaves the Rockies. They want to leave too as Tucson has no money to renovate Hi Corbett. They have talked to Marana (Makes no sense, Marana is right outside Tucson…besides they don’t have money, either) The mechanism to finance new ballparks is a Maricopa County thing.

So, put the D’Baclks in Chandler as early as 2011 and who knows where the Rockies wind up, but probably somewhere in Maricopa County.

by azjazzman on Nov 18, 2008 7:11 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Whatever happened to the Chandler complex where the Brewers used to train?

It was a nice facility — kind of out of the way, but nice. Is it still in use?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 18, 2008 9:38 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It's still there

Don’t know if you remember, but there was a tragic accident there in 1986 when a gas heater in the clubhouse exploded. General Manager Harry Dalton and manager George Bamberger were burned and coach Tony Muser was seriously burned.

The Chandler Ballpark (Compadre Stadium) is a nice little facility (used by City Leagues now) but nowhere near the standards of a major league spring training facility now.

by azjazzman on Nov 18, 2008 9:48 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I remember the Muser accident.

Could that facility be upgraded to major league quality again?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 19, 2008 9:06 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Don't know

the answer to that. The ballpark is owned by the City Of Chandler. Whether they would want to upgrade is doubtful, whether the TSA would want to fund an upgrade is unknown. All of these newer parks (Surprise, Glendale, Goodyear) are a part of an overall development plan that includes retail, offices, hotels, etc, and the Gila River Indian proposal and anything Chandler might do would likely be the same. Compadre is no longer out in the middle of nowhere…it is smack dab in the middle of the Ocotillo part of Chandler. Don’t know if there is much vacant land there now, but there is all sorts of land in or adjacent to the Indian Reservation.

by azjazzman on Nov 19, 2008 9:37 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Marana

I had heard years ago about a possible site in Marana. Had someone in the cactus league been wise to the impending doom facing spring baseball in Tucson they would have gotten two of the teams that eventually moved to the Phoenix area (KC, Texas, LA, Cleveland….) and built a complex for them in Marana. The Sox were destined to leave for the valley. Jerry Reinsdorf has a home in Scottsdale (IIRC). Let the Rockies move to Tucson Electric Park and then have four teams in the Tucson area. The teams in Marana would have been 30 minutes closer to the Phoenix area.

Instead we’re likely to no teams training in Tucson within a few years. I’m shocked that Pima County let the Sox out of their lease.

by dmlichte on Nov 18, 2008 11:46 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

The problem is

Pima County has no funding mechanism. Maricopa County created the Tourism And Sports Authority which gets money from hotel and rental car taxes (surcharges). It was created to help fund Bank One Ballpark and UOPS and also spring training facilities.

Pima County cannot create such an authority because it was a one shot deal passed by the voters to approve funding for BOB. A town like Marana would have a very difficult time coming up with the money to build a ballpark on their own. Ain’t gonna happen.

As far as accepting the deal that the Sox offered; Pima County has looked at this every which way for a year now and they concluded this was the best they could do. The Sox had made it clear that they were more than willing to try all sorts of shenanigans to break the contract. They discussed letting a Mexican League team use the ballpark as a “replacement team” (apparently the contract was not specific that it had to be a US major league team). They also said they were going to have players train in Tucson, but bus them up to Glendale to play their home games. It became a big pissing match and Pima County realized that getting something was better than nothing, because the White Sox were going to leave no matter what.

by azjazzman on Nov 19, 2008 12:46 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

This certainly makes sense

It just seems like the powers that be missed the boat on this one. I feel like this topic has been addressed for years, well before complexes sprouted up in places like Surprise, Goodyear and Glendale. It was obvious that Tucson needed another team and with the newer facilities the Rockies were going to want an upgrade. I understand the funding issues but one would have thought that the powers that be in the Cactus League would have been proactive and done something. Two teams training in Tucson is not good for anyone and two empty facilities is even worse. With a little foresight Pima county likely could have acted to get something passed. Who knows… but the fact of the matter is that the Dbacks and Rockies should be sharing TEP and two teams should be sharing a facility, be it in Marana or somewhere near Tucson.

by dmlichte on Nov 19, 2008 10:34 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It's really unlikely that will happen now...

… given that the Dbacks and Rockies have escape clauses since there are only two teams left in Tucson, and are likely to exercise them before 2010 spring training.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 19, 2008 12:05 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Again

There is no funding mechanism for a new stadium, and Tucson, unlike Phoenix, has always been sort of meh about the whole Spring Training thing. It has been that way ever since Cleveland left. The games in Tucson do not draw as well as the games in Phoenix. Of course, that is partly due to the fact that Phoenix teams frequently do not bring their best players to Tucson, but it is even true when two Tucson teams play.

There is a significant and vocal group that opposed the construction of Tucson Electric Park (paid for by the County) and even moreso now that the Tucson AAA team is gone. They would go bonkers if asked to build another park.

The creation of the TSA (which Pima County cannot do without approval of the Maricopa County dominated legislature and that is not going to happen) means the Phoenix ballparks were largely paid for by tourists and business people who visit the area. Of course, this becomes self fulfilling, Phoenix has a lot more tourists, partly because of Spring Training, than Tucson.

It is truly a case of the haves and the have nots, or the strong vs the weak and unfortunately, Tucson just doesn’t have the resources.

by azjazzman on Nov 19, 2008 8:50 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

BTW

It’s interesting that the Pima County officials are not mad at the White Sox, they are mad at the way, in their words, “Phoenix and Glendale have abused the TSA. It was intended to fund new facilities to keep teams in the area and to lure teams from Florida, not to cannibalize teams from Tucson.”

No question they have a point.

by azjazzman on Nov 19, 2008 12:58 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Wow, I just heard

that later this week it will be announced that a future Final Four will be coming to Phoenix. This has got to be the sports capital of the U.S. How many cities can say that in the last 15 years they have hosted the Super Bowl twice, a World Series, an NBA Finals, a couple of BCS Football Championship games, and now the Final Four. Not mention two NASCAR races annually, a PGA golf tournament, college bowl games, and on and on.

For somebody who can remember when Phoenix didn’t even have ONE top level professional sport franchise, it is really quite amazing.

by azjazzman on Nov 18, 2008 9:02 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

That's what Chicago could have had...

… if they had approved the retractable-dome refit of Soldier Field that had been proposed in the early 1990’s. Instead, Gov. Edgar said no and the events that could have come there instead wound up, primarily, in Atlanta when they built the Georgia Dome.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 18, 2008 9:39 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

If you want to play woulda coulda shoulda, the news about the Final Four bid was contained in an article in the East Valley Tribune that was bemoaning the fact the University Of Phoenix Stadium, where most of these events have/are taking pace, was originally to be built in Mesa..about a mile from Hohokam Park.

But the wise city leaders of Mesa decried that the Stadium would cause too much traffic and congestion. Meanwhile, the city of Glendale said “build it here!”. They seem to be managing the traffic/congestion just fine, along with enjoying all the new jobs, and revenue from retail, hotels and other businesses that now surround the Stadium.

by azjazzman on Nov 18, 2008 9:54 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

could weather possibly have something to do with that

Phx is Chi-SW just like Fla is NYC/Bos-South.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Nov 19, 2008 9:55 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Not sure what

you are saying, but if you mean does weather play into the fact that Phoenix gets all these mega sporting events, the answer is absolutely. When I was trying to think of another city that has hosted all these different events, I immediately thought of Miami. They have had Super Bowls, World Series, NBA FInals, BCS Championships, etc. The only thing they haven’t had is a Final Four and I’m not sure they have a facility that would work for that.

by azjazzman on Nov 19, 2008 10:02 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Atlanta has hosted most of these events in the last 15 years or so.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 19, 2008 12:06 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Atlanta

No BCS Championship or NBA FInals for Atlanta, but that is offset by the Olympics, so yes, Atlanta would have to be near the top.

by azjazzman on Nov 19, 2008 9:02 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

TUSCON ELECTRIC PARK........

Tuscon Park was nice enough and the drive from Mesa wasn’t that bad …But there wasn’t anything to do if you got there early….You could only tailgate so much in the sun .A restaurant within walking distance would have been nice . We even ran into Sox fans that were great guys …Go figure……….

by cubs north on Nov 18, 2008 11:51 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Today's Arizona Republic...

… has a front-page article on the Diamondbacks investigating the possibility of moving spring training to the Phoenix area.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 19, 2008 9:08 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

This is essentially

the same article I read yesterday in the Tucson Citizen.

But by far, the most perplexing sentence to me is the last one. “Hall also said talks are under way with private developers to build a new facility in Tucson for the Diamondbacks.”

Huh? Is this a typo? This is entirely in conflict with the information in the rest of the article and if that is what the author of the article meant to say, it is bizarre that he would throw that in there without further explanation. There is nothing wrong with Tucson Electric Park. The D’backs are considering moving up to Phoenix because two teams in Tucson are not enough. How does building a new park in Tucson address that?

by azjazzman on Nov 19, 2008 9:31 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It doesn't.

That quote makes no sense. Maybe they meant “Phoenix” instead of “Tucson”.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 19, 2008 9:41 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

For those who are interested

here is the article from today’s Arizona Daily Star regarding the Sox settlement.
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/267857

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson

by tucsoncubsfan on Nov 19, 2008 11:24 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

I'm interested!

Thanks. REALLY interesting article and it more than answers the question: Why did Pima County accept the Sox offer to buy out the contract?

by azjazzman on Nov 19, 2008 12:22 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

You're welcome.

I’m really afraid that this is the beginning of the end for spring training here in Tucson. Don’t see how we can entice another team to come here in order to keep the D’backs and Rockies from leaving.

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson

by tucsoncubsfan on Nov 19, 2008 2:10 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Bleed Cubbie Blue, the Chicago Cubs blog for the SB Nation, created on February 9, 2005 by Al Yellon
Start posting about the Cubs »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Sb_small
Ask BCB - Wacky Trade Proposals
Bucky_small
OT: Annual Thanksgiving  Thread
Small
Reversal of opinion...Bradley will not be moved
Yelloncard_small
Baseball Picture Puzzles Overflow 1

Recent FanPosts

Goodhawkdawson_pic_small
Dawson '88
Self-portrait-4_small
Tell Me About Mr. Cub
Small
What to do with Marshall?
Small
Time to get yelled at...
Cubs_small
Cubs HR Over/Under
Cubs_ying_yang_small
OT Aged Stadiums
Small
Here's a thought
Jake_fox_small
25th Annual Cubs Convention

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recommended FanShots

Would you blow up the farm system for Halladay?
FanGraphs calls Grabow a "waste of cash."
Fangraphs hasn't given up on Geo, should you?
Baseball America's Top 10 Cubs Prospects
An animated tribute to the no-hitter that Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis threw on June 12, 1970. Simply...

Recent FanShots

OT: Andruw Jones a White Sox
How Kosuke Fukudome Spends His Offseason
Miguel Cabrera Available, which leads me to ask if Granderson really is available
Keith Moreland On How The Cubs Can Win It All
Marlins Considering Moving June Series Vs. Mets To Puerto Rico
Mike Kiley insults Wrigley and Cubs fans
Muskat on Fuld : even DUMBER than usual
Free Agency Blunders
"I Want Mark DeRosa"
White Sox Sign Vizquel To One-Year Deal

+ New FanShot All FanShots >

It Is Only...

Cubs By The Numbers

Cubs By The Numbers is a history of the ballclub by uniform number, but the biographies help trace the history of our beloved team in a new way. For everyone who's a Cubs fan, anyone who ever wore the uniform is like family. Cubs By The Numbers reintroduces readers to some of their long-lost ancestors, even ones they think they already know.

Click here to order your copy, available now!

SPONSORS

Recent Stories in Ticket Exchanges

Yelloncard_small
Ticket Exchanges: Cubs Convention 2010
Yelloncard_small
Ticket Exchanges: General 2009 Ticket Exchange
Yelloncard_small
Ticket Exchanges: September 29-October 4 Homestand

Managing Editor

Yelloncard_small Al

Editorial Cartoonist

Toonmike_small toonmike

Contributors

Dsc_0139_small holy mackerel

100px-boisehawkscaplogo_small Josh77

Small shawndgoldman