Hohokam

Nothing really newsworthy here, but the photo of people lined up to buy ST tickets is still mind boggling to me.

about 3 years ago azjazzman 31 comments 0 recs |

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I hope it's warmer...

by mid-March

If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.

by Clutche on Jan 31, 2009 12:28 PM CST reply actions

???

It’s been in the upper 70s every day for the past 2-3 weeks. How warm do you want it?

by azjazzman on Jan 31, 2009 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

I was refering to the weather the day the picture was taken..all wearing heavy coats

and my brother just came back and it was upper 60’s to low 70’s last week.
I prefer mid 80’s

If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.

by Clutche on Jan 31, 2009 1:07 PM CST up reply actions

Will be in March

by CUBFANINAZ on Jan 31, 2009 2:30 PM CST up reply actions

Today it’s about 74 Degrees out here . And very sunny .. well I am signing off now . Gonna sit by my pool to get my tan and have my wife get me a pina colada . Gotta have umbrella drinks by the pool .

by CUBFANINAZ on Jan 31, 2009 2:30 PM CST up reply actions

In January

CA and AZ aren’t Florida. It gets chilly at night, and early morning. I assume this pix was taken in the morning, as people may have assembled there before sunrise. It was 42- degrees in SD when I went to work at 3:30 this (Saturday) AM. The high was about 75 today.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jan 31, 2009 9:01 PM CST up reply actions

Quote from the article

Hohokam Stadium manager Dave Dunne said Mesa had just started to discuss improvements to the stadium and Fitch Park, where the team practices, for when the contract expires. Those improvements would include additional permanent seating.

Hohokam’s capacity was boosted this year to about 13,000 with the help of temporary seating, he said. It should be about the same size as the new Glendale stadium.

Dunne said the team already has sold 131,000 tickets after drawing 181,000 last year, selling out 11 of 15 games. The MLB spring-training record of 193,993 set in 2005 could be eclipsed this year.

I think any thought of the Cubs leaving Mesa (as the article suggested) should be negated by this. Where could the Cubs possibly do better in ST than they do in Mesa?

Yes, it’s true that they could improve the stadium and Fitch Park — amazing that they have to consider “improvements” to a ST park that’s only 12 years old. But I have no doubt that the Ho Ho Kams and the city of Mesa will do whatever they need to, to keep the Cubs there, with the millions of dollars the Cubs bring into Mesa.

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

by Al Yellon on Jan 31, 2009 2:03 PM CST reply actions

Also..

…. there’s no doubt the attendance record will be broken this year, but that’s largely because there are more games. With 19 home games this spring, the Cubs only have to average a little over 10,000 per game to break the record. They should do that easily.

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

by Al Yellon on Jan 31, 2009 2:04 PM CST up reply actions

I live out in AZ

Lot of new ballparks have been built recently here in Az . Reds and Indians are opening up a new park in which the both share .. in Goodyear Az .. southwest suburb of Phoenix . Checked it out already . Very nice .. Sox / Dodgers are opening up their new stadium for the pitchers on Feb 14 , . Construction is almost done . It will be called Camelback Ranch Park .. Located in Glendale Az . Also southwest burb of Phoenix . On the West side of Phoenix is Peoria . San Diego and Seattle share this same stadium . A newer stadium . Very clean and modern . Stood in line and bought my Cub tickets for a few games there . also stood in line at Surprise stadium in Surprise Az . Very nice park . Modern . clean , state of the art .. I think the best stadium out here. Stood in line last week in Surprise for a few games . 2 nd row behind Cubs dugout .. It was a balmy 60 degree that day . Should I complain ? What i am trying to say is most of the new ballparks are being built on the west side of town .. Glendale was trying to get the Cubs in their town last year . Haven’t read anything else about it lately in the local papers . Glendale is trying to be the sports capital out here in Az . Cardinal Stadium , Coyetes hockey stadium , Sox / Dodgers . March 1 touring all the stadiums out here for two weeks with a bunch of Chicago people . Lets go Cubs . Oh for the Cub fans who haven’t been out here HoHoKam park is nice but one of the older stadiums .

by CUBFANINAZ on Jan 31, 2009 2:26 PM CST up reply actions

There are a lot of parks in AZ I like better than Ho Ho Kam.

They’re trying to make some improvements in Mesa to keep up with the new parks.

Amazing to think it’s one of the “older” ones even though it’s only 12 years old.

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

by Al Yellon on Jan 31, 2009 3:01 PM CST up reply actions

True

The “A” and Giants and Angels are older too .. The Brewers Stadium is ok . I think it is 8 years old approx .. Excited to go see Cubs vs Sox in a month or so @ Sox / Dodgers new stadium .

by CUBFANINAZ on Jan 31, 2009 4:05 PM CST up reply actions

Well, Mesa

had to rebuild on the old ‘footprint’ of the first HoHoKam. All the new parks (save for a rebuilt Scottsdale Stadium, and Tempe Diablo) have been built in areas that were not really developed, with acres of land to work with. Mesa did a fine job with what was available.
But, I always thought that Fitch Park would eventually be a problem since it’s not attached to the ball park.

I still don’t understand why Tempe Diablo is so enjoyable. It’s very cramped during full houses, and access is worse than Ho Ho Kam. Besides, the freeway over the RF wall isn’t very scenic.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jan 31, 2009 9:06 PM CST up reply actions

Disagree about Diablo

I’ve been all over both ballparks and Hohokam is MUCH more cramped. There actually is more parking at Diablo than Hohokam, but most people don’t know where it is. I am surprised at how few people know that there is a very nice resort hotel right next to Diablo, too.

What you say about having to rebuild Hohokam in the existing footprint is not really true, either. In 1996, there was available land to the North and East.

I really don’t see the 3/4s of a mile distance between Hohokam and Fitch Park as much of an issue.

One thing that is different this year is that there is now light rail service from North Central Phoenix to downtown Phoenix to downtown Tempe to Downtown Mesa. I would imagine there will be shuttle buses and vans going to take fans the short distances from the light rail stations to the various ballparks.

There a

by azjazzman on Feb 1, 2009 2:43 PM CST up reply actions

The distance between Fitch and Ho Ho Kam ...

… is a bit of an issue; I’ll bet the Cubs would love to have a single complex where players could walk back and forth between major and minor league fields, like the Mariners and Padres have, or the Brewers. I’d bet management would like that, too.

Whether that’s feasible or not is another story.

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

by Al Yellon on Feb 1, 2009 3:12 PM CST up reply actions

It's nice but...

HoHoHum compared to the newer parks

If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.

by Clutche on Jan 31, 2009 3:10 PM CST up reply actions

In spite of....

a crappy economy

If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.

by Clutche on Jan 31, 2009 3:03 PM CST up reply actions

A's Diablo...

is a nice stadium

If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.

by Clutche on Jan 31, 2009 3:06 PM CST reply actions

LAA that is

If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.

by Clutche on Jan 31, 2009 3:08 PM CST up reply actions

Interesting

that you think that, since Diablo is one of the older stadiums. The ante has been raised dramatically the last 10 years. The parks are nicer for fans, but the major differences are in player amenities. The clubhouses, training and practice facilities in the new parks make the old ones seem like dinosaurs.

Hohokam has a 14,000 square foot clubhouse. The new Camelback Stadium in Glendale has a 118,000 square foot clubhouse,

When the Cubs and Hohokam officials get to talking about renovations to the ballpark, this will no doubt be a part of the conversation.

by azjazzman on Jan 31, 2009 3:35 PM CST up reply actions

Agree

If not I know Glendale wants them bad . Arizona sports Authority has more money earmarked for another stadium .. Also Arizona is giving sweet tax deals to move other teams from the grapefruit league to Az .

by CUBFANINAZ on Jan 31, 2009 4:09 PM CST up reply actions

Diablo's OK, except...

… traffic and parking are a nightmare.

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

by Al Yellon on Jan 31, 2009 4:20 PM CST up reply actions

When is the first ST game, btw?

by Tate491 on Jan 31, 2009 4:05 PM CST reply actions

Feb. 25th

3 weeks from this Wednesday!

by azjazzman on Jan 31, 2009 4:07 PM CST up reply actions

Cubs/Dodgers 2/25 at HoHoKam

If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.

by Clutche on Jan 31, 2009 4:08 PM CST up reply actions

Have 2 extra tickets

At peoria Stadium on March 1 st . Not sure who the Cubs are playing … Either San Diego or Seattle since they share the same park .. 2nd row behind on Cubs on deck circle on homeplate side of dugout .. you can have them ..

by CUBFANINAZ on Jan 31, 2009 4:13 PM CST reply actions