Outside Hohokam Park, the Cubs' current spring training stadium in Mesa. (Phil Velasquez/Tribune)
By Dave van Dyck
The Cubs and the city of Mesa are close to a final agreement on a new Arizona spring-training home for the next 25 years that would include a new stadium, for which the Cubs would have naming rights.
The city released a lengthy proposal to the media and the city council is expected to approve its end of the deal Monday, with the Cubs' board of directors then reviewing it. That approval is expected to be a formality, as reported last weekend in the Tribune.
"The Cubs are interested in reading through Mesa's proposal and having our board take it under review," the Cubs said in a statement.
Cubs officials had been in negotiations with Mesa and a Naples, Fla.,
group about a new home, but tentatively settled on Mesa last week,
although no announcement had been made pending final approval.
The city council is expected to approve plans for the massive undertaking, which would include a new state-of-the-art stadium that wlould seat up to 15,000 fans, offices and year-round facilities. The Cubs would be the only tenants instead of sharing their site with another team, as do the White Sox and several other teams in Arizona do.
The city council is expected to approve plans for the massive undertaking, which would include a new state-of-the-art stadium that wlould seat up to 15,000 fans, offices and year-round facilities. The Cubs would be the only tenants instead of sharing their site with another team, as do the White Sox and several other teams in Arizona do.
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Boooooo!!!
They can have the losers all summer.
So the Cubs get a new stadium in Arizona. Big deal. How about a new stadium in Chicago?
Bravo to the City of Mesa, Mayor Scott Smith, and all members of the city council who dedicated their time and effort toward achieving this happy outcome. The Cubs and Mesa are a wonderful partnership. Any fan living in the Midwest simply must visit Mesa in March. There is nothing like kicking back in the brilliant sunshine as the sights & sounds of Cub baseball fill your senses. One trip and I promise you will be hooked for a lifetime.
I can't wait to see the new stadium!!!
Brilliant move Ricketts...does Naples Florida get anything for being the "tease" in your chess game with Mesa?????
Ricketts Family Slogan - Give us more money!
The cubs bring a ton of tourism money into Mesa every year. It is a worthwhile investment by the city. I'm glad they are staying in the cactus league.
Yes! I live in AZ and love goign to the games. Mesa makes a ton of money off of the Cubs so they were wise to invest in keeping them in AZ.
Well, another case of detestable sports franchises milking municipalities of money that should be going to teaching kids and improving transit.
If the Cubs are going to build a new stadium I hope they build it to mimic the angles of Wrigley. Perhaps Soriano would know where in the heck the wells in the outfield were by now if he had to get used to them in spring training.
Too bad!! florida is where the World Champions have their spring training it looks like the CUBS are not interested to be one for the next 25 years.