Cubs To Seek New Spring Training Complex In Mesa

by Al on Oct 17, 2009 4:15 PM CDT in News Comment 27 comments

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

Derrek Lee signs autographs at Ho Ho Kam Park in Mesa. By 2012, the Cubs could be training at a new facility in Mesa.

The good folks at Spring Training Online have broken this story -- I haven't seen it anywhere else -- that Mesa officials returned from a meeting with Cubs management in Chicago with the message that the Cubs do want to stay in Mesa, but with a new complex, not at Ho Ho Kam Park:

So city officials, we're told, are abandoning talk of a HoHoKam Park renovation in favor of a new spring facility, probably on the west side closer to the airport. There, the Cubs can pursue additional development and finally unite the training camp with the spring ballpark (currently the Cubs train at Finch Field and play games at HoHoKam Park).

Okay, so they got the name of the training/minor league facility wrong (it's Fitch Park, not "Finch Field"). There's more....

Pursuant to this new strategy the city is putting together a list of possible training sites within the city, but father away from downtown Mesa.

One thing is for certain, we're told by insiders: there's very little chance of the Cubs moving to Florida, no matter how bad Naples officials covet the team. And give the Cubs some credit: they're not out (yet, anyway) playing cities against cities for the best spring-training deal.

This is all good news for the Cubs and Cubs fans; Arizona has been the Cubs' spring-training home since 1952 (except for one year in Long Beach, California in 1966). Spring training weather is consistently better in Arizona than in Florida and by 2011, all 15 teams in the Cactus League will be in the Phoenix metropolitan area, all within less than an hour's drive from each other.

Wanted to post this right away; hope to find corroboration of this at other sites soon, or from the Cubs.

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That's good news

I am looking at a satellite map and i don’t see anything west of their present loacation available. Where they built up around the Bass Pro Shops is pretty much filled in. West of there is Riverview Park and Golf Course. Maybe there if they bulldoze the course. North of the 202 is Native American land.

I had always heard that Mesa was thinking of the old GM proving grounds, which is southeast of HHK, almost due east of me. Lots of open land there.

I read that the Gila River Tribe was also interested, if they had won the Cubs and put them near the 202/101 junction, that would be a good spot. There are 2 Casinos within 5 minute drives and hotels and shopping.

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Oct 17, 2009 4:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

In regards to the Gila River location

The most important thing-10 minutes from me ;)

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Oct 17, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OT - Big John, ever been up Flagstaff way?

or next door up around the Albq/Santa Fe area? If you have, drop me an e-mail when you get a chance – had a few questions about those areas. Thanks.

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

by ballhawk on Oct 17, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a native of New Mexico

Lived in ABQ my entire life and still here, be willing to help if you need info.

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on Oct 19, 2009 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can you send me an e-mail (see link above) so I can reply with my questions?

Thanks.

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

by ballhawk on Oct 19, 2009 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It may very well wind up being on Native American land.

That seems to be the way things are going now (the new Dbacks/Rockies complex will be on native land).

Southeast of Ho Ho Kam would still be considered “west Mesa”, right?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 17, 2009 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not really

To me, andything east of Val Vista is East Mesa, and the proving grounds are about 5 miles east of that.

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Oct 18, 2009 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

… the GM proving grounds area IS near the “airport” — if they mean Williams Airport and not PHX.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 17, 2009 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spring Training Online is a great source of information...

…but it’s extremely frustrating when they don’t “date” their stories. I saw the story you linked to several days ago but seeing as how they don’t include a date anywhere on the page, it was hard to tell if this was old news or not.

About the only thing I can figure, based on their nomenclature for their URLs, is this story was posted on Sept. 29 (the 20090929 part of the URL).

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

by ballhawk on Oct 17, 2009 5:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I saw that.

But I still have not seen this anywhere else.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 17, 2009 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

how does a place dedicated to spring training

not know the name of every spring training field?

I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers

by Nunyabidness on Oct 17, 2009 9:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I looked to see if anyone had posted this link

Jaramillo update

I can’t find anything though, so take a look. Nothing to seal the deal, just that the Cubs have received permission to talk to him. At least they are not taking any hesitation in contacting him and you would think the article would mention if other teams received permission.

Kind of funny that it says Jaramillo wants to go a team that can compete right away. The Rangers and the Cubs finished in almost identical places in the standings to finish the season. I guess you could make the argument that the Rangers pitching staff pitched way over their heads but hopefully if they can lock up Jaramillo that means they laid out their plans to come back with avengence in 2010.

by IllinoisCubs on Oct 17, 2009 6:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He also wants a multi year contract and the Rangers only offered one year.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim

by Doggie Stalker on Oct 18, 2009 1:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A new facility

may well be what’s called for, but I guess I must just fear change. I’m nostalgic for the old school facilities—that’s why I love Wrigley so much and would love to eventually visit Fenway. The older facilities are more intimate and the experience of being closer to the action can’t really be beat and is only somewhat replicated in the minors. I understand the need and draw of new facilities I will just miss Ho Ho Kam. Such is life.

"There is no tomorrow for you, and that makes you very dangerous people."--Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) The Replacements

Time is an illusion--lunch time doubly so.

by snowyman28 on Oct 17, 2009 8:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

HoHoKam....opened in 1997.

I hardly describe the facility as ‘old school.’

The ‘old’ HoHoKam looked as if it was built with an erector set.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Oct 17, 2009 9:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And, it was more 'intimate'

than the current park. The park is still fine, but it’s not connected to practice facilities. That’s the fatal flaw, which didn’t seem to bother anybody 12 years ago.

With the template for Spring Training operations changing, Fitch Park — for workouts, is completely inadequate. That’s the big problem and that’s what is really pushing this.

But, you can’t do anything different at the current site. So, it’s off to Native lands…

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Oct 17, 2009 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't have a problem with them building a new complex.

As you note, the current HHK is only 12 years old. Not a tremendous amount of nostalgia. Now, the Cubs have been training on that site since 1979, but that’s still only 30 years.

Move if you must, and build a great new complex that can stand as the best for 50+ years.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 17, 2009 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have no problem, either

Whatever it takes. Anything that helps the effort. (And takes my mind of the crappy performance of Cristobel Huet of a few moments ago)

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Oct 17, 2009 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mesa

Went to Spring Training in ‘07. Loved it! Great time! If there’s anyone out there that hasen’t been, every Cubs fan should go once! We went saw Billy Williams and Jim Hendry out to eat :)

As long as they stay in AZ, I’ll be fine with it.

by cubbiefan07 on Oct 17, 2009 9:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

By the way, is there any info

on where the Cubs trained that bizarre year in Long Beach?

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Oct 17, 2009 10:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

OK, found it

Blair Field, Long Beach

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Oct 17, 2009 10:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

There is nearly a mile of housing tracts

between Fitch and Ho Ho Kam, so expanding either facility is a non starter. The GM proving grounds have excellent freeway access and lots of empty land. After seeing the White Sox/Dodgers facility last spring, I realize the Cubs’ version is at least a decade behind the times. They need a unified facility for major and minor league teams, because nearly everybody else has it already.

I don’t know much about the Indian site, but either one would be far superior to what they’ve got now.

by Clark Addison on Oct 18, 2009 10:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

In reading about the GM proving grounds...

… I found some info that they had been sold two years ago to a real estate developer. Did that deal fall through? Are they for sale again? That might be the perfect location.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 18, 2009 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cubs are hopping on the bandwagon of gleaming new spring training facilities that generate extra revenue

It’s a sign of the times for baseball. Nothing at all wrong with Ho Ho Kam, but apparently there is more money to be milked otherwise.

"Cubs will win 79 to 83 games." BLou (7/21/09)

by BLou on Oct 18, 2009 4:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It's not just the revenue

It’s having a complex all in one place, instead of having your minor league/practice facility a mile down the road.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 18, 2009 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

or across a whole state as the Orioles were in Florida for many years

They trained in Ft. Lauderdale while their minor leaguers were in Sarasota. Crazy… No longer an issue as they’ve agreed to take over for the Reds in Sarasota – not sure if that starts this year or next.

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

by ballhawk on Oct 18, 2009 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

GM facility looks good

Lots of space, but it already has some infrastructure, and good accessability. I hope this is the kind of stuff we can expect more of as the Ricketts family takes over. Which, isn’t to say this is their baby. Just pointing out there are several areas the Cubs need to catch up in with the rest of the league. A unified complex being one of them.

by Nibbles on Oct 18, 2009 10:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs