Cubs Spring Training Stays In Mesa; Ballot Proposition Passes

Normally, politics and elections are a topic I prefer that BCB readers discuss elsewhere.

In the case of the proposition on the Mesa, Arizona ballot yesterday, however, since it concerns the Cubs and the future of the team's spring training complex, it's important to discuss here.

With 99.3% of precincts reporting, Proposition 420 has passed by a 63% to 37% margin. 80,706 votes were reported as of the time I posted this; the link above says all but one precinct of 148 had reported. 50,982 voted yes; 29,784 voted no. You should be able to see the final results whenever they are in at the link in this paragraph.

So the Cubs will go ahead with the plans to build a "Wrigleyville West" entertainment district as well as a new spring training complex which they also will use year-round as their "Western Baseball Headquarters". There are more details and renderings in this BCB post from October 4.

There's no firm timetable yet for construction, although I believe the Cubs would like to be in this new complex no later than 2014.