Mesa and Cubs: “Starting From Scratch” On New Facility

Mesa’s plans to build the Cubs a new facility to replace Hohokam Park appear to have fallen through. The East Valley Tribune said, “Support has died for funding a new Chicago Cubs complex in Mesa by charging a ticket surcharge at every Valley stadium that hosts Cactus League games.” That was a central plank of the plan proposed by Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, who admitted on Monday, “In many ways, we’re starting from scratch.” Commissioner Bud Selig told reporters at HoHoKam that Major League Baseball has taken over the negotiations.

↵The original proposal drew fire, not only from Selig, but the other teams in the Cactus League, who objected to plans that would “tax” their fans. Other opponents criticized the need to replace a venue which only opened in 1997, and the desire to raise taxes for a pro baseball facility, when the state, deep in debt, is cutting services in almost every other area. It seems the level of dissent may have been under-estimated by Smith and the Cubs; the latter’s threats to move to Florida if a new facility was not approved, certainly won them few friends locally.

↵This is not likely the end of the saga. There is agreement that the funding mechanism used previously is irreparably broken, with the Spring Training authority projected to be $230m in debt by the time the current tax expires in 2031. If I had to guess, I expect the idea of a new facility to be shelved, and some renovation work done on Hohokam instead. When the economic climate improves, an agreement can be thrashed out to fund all parks, as needed - rather than, as this was perceived (fairly or not), for the Cubs first, and the other fourteen teams left with the scraps.

↵The Cubs don’t want to leave Arizona. Arizona doesn’t want to lose the Cubs. Given that, something will be worked out - but in a less dictatorial fashion, and with the agreement of all parties, which singularly failed to happen this time around.