CACTUS LEAGUE BASEBALL–68 YEARS AND GROWING STRONG!

CACTUS LEAGUE BASEBALL–68 YEARS AND GROWING STRONG!
Baseball Booming in Arizona Desert
By Mark Coronado, President, Cactus League Baseball Association
T
he sixty eighth season of spring training baseball in Arizona be- 2007, the number of spring training fans going to games has grown 41
gins this year much like it has begun so many years before, fapercent. More people also are spending more time here when they visit
miliar but with an exciting twist.
with the average length of stay for Cactus League visitors now at 5.3
A new ballpark, this one for the Chicago Cubs, takes its place among nights up from 4.7 nights five years ago.
many new facilities that have opened reTwo-thirds of fans visiting games in
cently in the Cactus League. The winter’s
2012 said they came from one of 1,257
biggest free agent acquisition, Robinson
zip codes across the United States or
Cano, is in Peoria to warm up for the
abroad to attend a game.
Seattle Mariners. Renovations are going
So if you are here for the first time,
strong at the future home of the Oakwe hope you enjoy the tradition that is
land A’s. And our very own Arizona DiaCactus League baseball. If you are a remondbacks continue to draw sellout
turning fan, you too can count yourself
crowds at Salt River Fields and on the
part of the history that started shortly
road across the Valley.
after the end of World War II.
Indeed, the Cactus League is one of
Certainly, Bill Veeck, Jr. and Horace
Arizona’s oldest and most unique indusStoneham could never have imagined
tries.
their decision to move the Cleveland InTen communities host 15 teams
dians’ and New York Giants’ spring trainevery February and March. Together, Photo: Jim Poulin/Phoenix Business Journal
ing operations to Tucson and Phoenix in
they generate an annual economic impact of $422 million. Add to that 1947 would have ever had this kind of impact locally.
the spending that happens around the ballparks the rest of the year, and
But as we launch the 68th season of spring training baseball, we’re
the impact grows another $210 million, for a total year-round benefit of grateful for their vision and excited that you are part of this warm and
at least $632 million.
intimate experience that has done so much for tourism in Arizona and
Of course, the credit for this economic boom goes to the fans.
provided boundless joy to millions of dedicated and loyal baseball fans
Attendance proves the Cactus League’s growing popularity. Since that have come before you.
League Worth $632 Million a Year to State Economy
A
rizona’s spring training
baseball industry contributes $632 million to
the state’s economy each year, according to a pair of studies commissioned by the non-profit
Cactus League Baseball Association.
The studies considered the direct impact of spring training baseball when 15 Major League teams
are in the state preparing for their
upcoming regular seasons. For the
first time, the Association also
compiled the impact of the teams’
year-round use of their facilities
and the community activities that
occur at those facilities the remainder of the year after spring training ends.
The spring training study
conducted between March 11
and April 1 of 2012 by Tucson- based FMR Associates
estimates $422 million in direct economic benefit to
the state. The figure jumped $112
million from a
total of $310 million reported in the last study conducted
in
2007.
It
represents spending by
“out-of-area” fans only.
The second study, conducted
by Elliott D. Pollack & Company,
examined the impact of the teams’
use of facilities during the
regular and off-season periods, as well as other
tournaments and events
booked by host communities the remaining months
of the year. The impact is
estimated to be at least
$210 million a year,
based on 2011 data.
Other findings
in the study of
spring training fans
showed attendance
up almost 41 percent
from 2007 and the average length of stay for
Cactus League visitors now at 5.3
nights from 4.7 nights.
The study also revealed spring
1
training fans are getting older and
have a median income higher than
the U.S. average. The number of
fans visiting from outside the
Phoenix
metropolitan
area
dropped slightly, from 57% in 2007
to 56% in 2012, although the number of fans who said coming to a
spring training game was their primary reason for their visit held
see ECONOMY page 3
Cactus League Was and Always Should Be
W
hen the New York Giants and Cleveland Indians came to Arizona for the
first Cactus League season in 1947, it
was the tourism and the chance to lure new businesses and their employees to the state that drove
local leaders to support
baseball in the desert.
Since then, communities have made significant
investments in ballparks
and training facilities to
attract more economic development to the area.
And it has worked.
But don’t take our
word for it. Just start up a
conversation with a Cubs
fan in Mesa or a Giants fan
in Scottsdale. Chances are
they either own a business
or a home here in the Valley because of a love for
Arizona that started
thanks to spring training.
Cactus League pioneers
Dwight Patterson, Alice
and Ted Sliger, Hi Corbett
and Roy Drachman of Tucson and even local developer Del Webb saw what
baseball could do to build a local economy.
Mr. Webb was so convinced that he brought
his New York Yankees to Arizona in 1951 to train
for one year at Phoenix Municipal Stadium as a
way to coax his East Coast friends out for a look
ABOUT THE BUSINESS
at homes he was building in a new development
he called Sun City!
Over the past couple of decades, spring training communities have done a patchwork job of
leveraging the Cactus League to help achieve eco-
nomic development goals.
Some of us are using the draw of a game to
talk business relocation with visiting CEOs, but
we could do more. What we really need is a partnership with the State, perhaps the Arizona Com-
Clockwise, from left: Members of the New York Giants pose
outside the Buckhorn Baths in Mesa; a window display in
downtown Mesa; Pink Pony Restaurant Owner Charlie Briley and Hall of Fame Pitcher Dizzy Dean in Scottsdale.
See BUSINESS page 10
Future of Spring Training Depends on Local Commitment to a Homegrown Industry
E
very few years, a crisis over
how to pay for upgrades to
a local spring training baseball facility draws attention to the
way cities pay for ballparks that
host Major League Baseball teams.
In 2010, it was Mesa’s turn
to figure out how to fund improvements needed to keep the
Chicago Cubs from leaving for
Florida.
Today, the Oakland A’s are
preparing to move from Phoenix
to Mesa, while the Milwaukee
Brewers contemplate the team’s
future at Phoenix’s Maryvale
baseball complex.
It seems the story of spring
training baseball is always a little
unsettled. But why does it need
to be forever on edge, constantly
in jeopardy of coming apart at
the seams?
We probably wouldn’t take the
Cactus League for granted if we
could all start thinking about it as
an industry. And a homegrown
one at that!
Annually, spring training baseball facilities generate more than
$632 million in economic activity
for the area. That number is certainly fitting of “industry” status.
Yet when we are faced with
questions about how to fund
maintenance and upgrades of
baseball facilities, there is always a
fight. It is as if the community
doesn’t really understand how
many thousands of jobs or how
many millions of dollars in rev-
enues would fall. The Valley would
feel the loss.
Would we be battling each
other if Arizona’s aerospace or
biotech industries decided to pull
up stakes and leave town?
do with the current funding mechanism that provides the bulk of
dollars for ballpark improvements
but is already over-extended in its
promises of funding for facilities
now open for games and other activities.
We should begin soon to
come together as a community to
begin exploring solutions and
mapping a strategy to make sure
we never again reach the edge of
the cliff like we did in the late
1980’s. That’s when the League
and all its teams almost moved
entirely to Florida.
Based on the schedule of
work committed to keep ballparks modern and baseball
teams in place, a new storm is
brewing even if the sun is shining
on the situation today.
A sunset on ballpark funding
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (center), Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts and Mesa Mayor Scott Smith managed by the Arizona Sports
launch effort to keep the Cubs in Mesa, 2010.
and Tourism Authority would
enue each year are the result of
Those are industries that can leave host cities with almost no
these ballparks.
change Arizona’s economic his- hope of retaining teams once curRest assured everyone would tory. And so is the Cactus League. rent leases expire.
notice the Cactus League if it were
Over the next few years, the fuMesa was able to float ballpark
gone. Hotels would be empty in ture of the Cactus League will bonds by selling water properties
some parts of the year and people begin to face a challenge that will in Pinal County. That’s a great
would be out of work. Restaurants test our commitment to the jobs idea, but likely a one-time fix. Few
that make their yearly numbers and revenues it brings twelve if any other Cactus League cities
each season off our baseball months each year.
See COMMITMENT page 3
tourists would close down. Tax revWe will have to decide what to
2
were conducted previously in 1993,
1998, 2003 and 2007.
steady at 67%. Out-of-town fans
The Pollack
surveyed came from 1,257 zip report considcodes across the United States and ered the operafive foreign countries.
tional impacts of
The FMR study was based on each of the ten
more than 3000 interviews with Cactus League
spring training fans at games ballparks, spendacross the Cactus League in 2012. ing impacts by
This is the fifth study of Cactus Major League Baseball teams (inLeague economic impacts. Studies cluding the additional visitors they
generate throughout the remainder
of the year), and additional out-ofstate visitation
created by other
events held at
Cactus League
stadiums. This
analysis was designed to estimate the impact
on the economy and governmental
revenues generated from each of
ECONOMY from page 1
these categories. A survey was
conducted of each of the stadiums regarding operations, team
spending and out-of-state visitors
generated.
The studies were funded with
contributions from the Arizona
Commerce Authority, Arizona
Office of Tourism, Arizona
Sports and Tourism Authority,
and Valley cities that host spring
training baseball.
COMMITMENT from page 2
have land to sell as a way to finance
ballpark upgrades.
The good news is we have a few
years to figure this out. The bad
news is we have historically waited
until the mob was at the door to
fix the problem.
The Cactus League industry is
a vital piece of the Arizona economy. It is an original industry, as
much as cotton farming and cattle
ranching. It is worth too much to
leave to chance or a late-inning solution forged in the middle of a crisis. It is an industry that we know
needs a permanent solution. What
we don’t know yet is who will step
up to help us lead the conversation
that will solve this problem once
and for all.
Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame Third Baseman George Brett tells Cactus League lunch crowd in Surprise he prefers Arizona over Florida.
For exhibit details,
go to www.AZspringtrainingexperience.com.
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experience
cactus league
hall of fame
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3
Baseball’s Impact Felt All Year Long
Young baseball players practice hitting at a youth clinic on a field in Surprise while Goodyear Ballpark mascot Zizzy entertains at a Goodyear community event.
E
veryone knows what happens at spring training
baseball parks around the
Valley in March. Few residents
know how much happens at these
same facilities the rest of the year.
A recent survey of the Valley’s
ten ballparks showed together they
generate more than $210 million a
The Major League teams keep
them buzzing in the spring, late
summer and in the fall, with spring
training, rookie league games and
the Arizona Fall League.
But between those “seasons,”
hundreds of adult and youth baseball leagues use the facilities paying rent in the form of tournament
year in economic activity not directly related to spring training.
That’s on top of the $422 million
contributed by Cactus League activities in February and March.
Those who work at the ballparks or help drive events to the facilities know most of them are
busy twelve months of the year.
registrations. Thousands of
players and their families fly or
drive here from across the
United States, staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants
and shopping in our stores.
Some ballparks host concerts, July 4th celebrations, high
school and college graduations,
and even car shows. All of these
events generate revenue for the
Cactus League communities and
return value to the taxpayers
who’ve invested in the ballparks
and training facilities.
Indeed, spring training gets
most of the attention when casual
observers think about any of the
ten ballparks around the Valley.
But as we see from the latest economic impact data, they are hard
at work all year long generating a
solid return on our investment as
one of Arizona’s original and most
important components of the
tourism industry.
Attracting Younger Fans Critical to Cactus League Outlook
A
recent survey of Cactus
League fans shows they are
getting older, not just by a
little, but by a lot. Today, that’s ok
because truly the older fan spends
more money than the
A young fan celebrates a foul ball in Goodyear.
younger fan. But it’s not good
news for the future of spring training baseball in Arizona. Without
question it is a challenge for the
host cities and the Major League
Baseball teams that train here.
The survey found the average
age of the Cactus League fan traveling here from out of state in 2012
was 52.5 years old. That’s “older”
than the average local fan and up a
couple of years on average since the
last survey was done in 2007.
Data compiled for the Cactus
League Association by FMR Associates in Tucson also shows that 77
percent of the visiting baseball fans
did not bring kids in 2012!
It makes sense to start growing
new fans now. If you believe the
data it appears we have a big
mountain to climb. Nevertheless,
Cactus League ballparks around
the Valley are doing more to encourage adults to bring their kids
to the games.
Most Major and Minor League
teams offer kids clubs to
families in their home cities,
but Peoria is the first to do
it here in the Cactus League.
Members get a special Club
backpack,
personalized
membership card, discounts at both the Team
Shop and concession
stands and even a private
meet-and-greet with select
San Diego Padres and
Seattle Mariners players.
Many ballparks, including
Goodyear, Surprise, Peoria, Salt
River Fields and Mesa have kids’
zone areas or kid-size baseball
fields where young fans can have
some spring training fun too.
Of course, kids come to the
games, but they are most often
boys and girls from around the
Valley. We can boost our local
numbers by working more with
Little Leagues and youth baseball
travel teams, to build excitement
and educate younger fans.
But if the Cactus League is to
continue to grow attendance each
season, we’ve got to get more kids
on planes with their parents and
grandparents when they come here
from out of state.
So far finding the answer to
that question seems almost as
tough as getting a solid hit off an
accomplished knuckle ball pitcher.
Kids get autographs, throw ceremonial first pitches and
sign up for prizes at Scottsdale, Camelback Ranch, Peoria and in Cincinnati.
4
What’s New Around the League this Year?
Comings and Goings
A
s is the case almost every season,
the 2014 Cactus League campaign features a dugout full of
improvements at ballparks around the
Phoenix metropolitan area.
S
ince the beginning of the Cactus League in 1947, twenty
Major League teams have played in communities all over Arizona. The Milwaukee Brewers have made the most moves
within the state, and Scottsdale Stadium has hosted the most teams–
Orioles, Red Sox, Cubs, A’s, and Giants.
 The Chicago Cubs moved into their
new training facility in Mesa just in
time for the 2014 season. The one-team
headquarters features a ballpark with hints of Wrigley Field, 15,000 seats,
a kid-sized field beyond the outfield berm, and seating reminiscent of
the Wrigley rooftops in left field.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1998–2010 ..............................Tucson Electric Park
2011–present ............................Salt River Fields
Baltimore Orioles
1954 ........................................Yuma
1955 .........................................Daytona Beach, Florida
1956–1958 ..............................Scottsdale Stadium
 Just north, in Scottsdale, fans of the
San Francisco Giants will find brand
new green seats awaiting them in several
sections. The City of Scottsdale spent
the winter replacing 1,222 seats, a change
that will improve fan comfort and upgrade the look of the ballpark as fans
enter the 200 Level seating areas.
Boston Red Sox
1959–1965 ...............................Scottsdale Stadium
Chicago Cubs
1952–1965 ..............................Mesa Rendezvous Park
1966 ........................................Long Beach, California
1967–1978 ..............................Scottsdale Stadium
1979–2013 ...............................Mesa HoHoKam Park
2014 .........................................Mesa Cubs Park
 Across the Valley, in Surprise, a new
video board welcomes fans of the Texas
Rangers and Kansas City Royals. The
new video board features 868 square
feet of image space and uses the latest
technology to show stats, video and
photos.
Chicago White Sox
1998–2008 ...............................Tucson Electric Park
2009–present ............................Glendale Camelback Ranch
Cincinnati Reds
2010–present ............................Goodyear Ballpark
 Behind the scenes, the Peoria Sports
Complex has been busy with construction workers remodeling the clubhouses for the Seattle Mariners and
San Diego Padres. The clubhouses are
vital to player training and preparation
and after twenty years were in need of a
facelift.
Cleveland Indians
1947–1992 ...............................Tucson Hi Corbett Field
1993–2008 ..............................Winter Haven, Florida
2009–present ............................Goodyear Ballpark
Colorado Rockies
1993–2010 ..............................Tucson Hi Corbett Field
2011–present ............................Salt River Fields
Houston Colt 45’s (became the Astros in 1965)
1962–1963 ..............................Apache Junction Geronimo Park
Kansas City Royals
2003-present .............................Surprise Stadium
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
1961–1991 ..............................Palm Springs, California
1992–present ............................Tempe Diablo Stadium
Los Angeles Dodgers
2009–present ............................Glendale Camelback Ranch
Milwaukee Brewers
1970–1972 ...............................Tempe Diablo Stadium
1973–1985 ..............................Sun City Stadium
1986–1997 ..............................Chandler Compadre Stadium
1998–present ............................Phoenix Maryvale Stadium
New York/San Francisco Giants
1947–1950 ..............................Phoenix Municipal Stadium
1951 ........................................St.Petersburg, Florida
1952–1983 ..............................Phoenix Municipal Stadium
1984–present ............................Scottsdale Stadium
New York Yankees
1951 ........................................Phoenix Municipal Stadium
Oakland Athletics
1969–1978 ..............................Mesa Rendezvous Park
1979–1983 ...............................Scottsdale Stadium
1984–present ............................Phoenix Municipal Stadium
San Diego Padres
1969–1993 ...............................Yuma Desert Sun Stadium
1994–present ............................Peoria Sports Complex
Seattle Mariners
1977–1993 ...............................Tempe Diablo Stadium
1994–present ............................Peoria Sports Complex
Seattle Pilots (became the Milwaukee Brewers in1970)
1969–1970 ...............................Tempe Diablo Stadium
Texas Rangers
2003–present ............................Surprise Stadium
5
2014 CACTUS LEAGUE SCHEDULE UNVEILED
232 Games Planned, 25 at Night!
7:05 p.m. A total of 232 games are on the Cactus League docket,
including a weekend road trip for the Chicago Cubs to play the
New York Mets in Las Vegas and spring season-ending series’ at
Chase Field, Petco Park and AT&T Park.
he 2014 Cactus League season opens Wednesday, Feb.
26 with three games, building quickly to a full slate of
contests just two days later. The new schedule also includes 25 night games starting at either 6:05 p.m. or
T
ARI
CHC
CIN
CLE
COL
Arizona Diamondbacks
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
Cleveland Indians
Colorado Rockies
CWS
KC
LAA
LAD
MIL
Chicago White Sox
Kansas City Royals
Angels Baseball
Los Angeles Dodgers
Milwaukee Brewers
Games start at 1:05 pm Arizona time unless
otherwise indicated.
Dates, times, and teams are subject to change.
* = Split Squad Game
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Visit CactusLeague.com for Latest
Spring Training Info, Tickets
More than 1.2 million people each year visit CactusLeague.com to buy spring training tickets and get
information about their favorite Cactus League teams.
The site features links to all 15 Major League teams with
spring operations in Arizona, and allows fans one-stop
shopping for tickets.
WEDNESDAY
OAK
SD
SEA
SF
TX
Oakland A’s
San Diego Padres
Seattle Mariners
San Francisco Giants
Texas Rangers
GAME LOCATION
^ LAS VEGAS
# PETCO PARK
• AT&T
** CHASE FIELD
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
FEB 26
FEB 27
FEB 28
MAR 01
OAK @ SF
LAD @ AZ
CIN @ CLE
CLE @ CIN
ARI* @ CHC
ARI* @ LAD
SD @ SEA
MIL @ OAK
TX @ KC
CIN @ CLE
CHC @ LAA
COL @ ARI
CWS @ LAD
SEA @ SD
MIL @ SF*
SF* @ OAK
KC @ TX
COL @ CIN
SF @ CHC*
CLE @ CWS
MIL* @ ARI*
LAA @ SEA
LAD @ MIL*
TX @ OAK
SD @ KC
CHC* @ ARI*(7:10 pm)
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
SEA @ CLE
OAK @ LAA
KC @ CHC
MIL @ COL
SD @ LAD
ARI @ SF
CWS @ TX
CIN @ SD
SEA* @ CIN
CHC @ MIL
CLE @ TX
LAA @ ARI*
KC @ CWS
COL @ SEA*
LAD @ OAK
SD @ SF
CLE @ TX
ARI* @ COL (7:05 pm)
CWS @ CLE
TX @ LAA
OAK* @ CHC
SF @ COL
SEA @ LAD
MIL* @ OAK*
CIN @ KC
ARI @ SD
COL* @ CHC
CLE @ SEA
KC @ ARI
SD @ CWS
OAK @ MIL
LAA @ SF
COL* @ TX
LAD @ CIN (7:05 pm)
CHC @ CLE
LAD @ LAA
OAK @ ARI
SEA @ CWS
COL @ MIL
CIN @ SF
CWS @ KC
TEX @ SD
CWS @ CIN*
CHC* @ LAA*
CLE @ CHC*
LAA* @ COL
TX @ LAD
CIN* @ SEA
SD @ MIL
ARI @ OAK
SF @ KC
CHC @ CIN
ARI* @ LAA
CLE @ SD
OAK @ COL
ARI* @ CWS
SEA* @ SF
KC @ MIL
LAD @ TX
SEA* @LAD (7:05 pm)
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
MIL* @ CLE
CIN @ LAA
MIL* @ CHC
SD @ ARI
SF* @ LAD
SF Futures @ SF
TX @ SEA
CWS @ OAK
COL @ KC
LAA @ CLE
CHC @ SF
SD @ COL
OAK @ LAD
KC @ SEA*
CWS @ MIL
CIN @ TX
SEA* @ ARI (7:05 pm)
SF @ CIN
SEA @ LAA
COL @ CHC
CLE @ ARI
TX @ CWS
OAK @ SD
LAD @ KC
SD @ CLE
MIL @ LAA
CIN @ COL*
ARI* @ LAD
KC @ OAK
CWS @ SF
LAA @ TX
ARI*@COL* (7:05 pm)
CHC @ SEA (7:05 pm)
KC @ CLE
CWS @ LAA
SEA @ ARI
CIN @ LAD
MIL @ SD
COL @ OAK (7:05 pm)
SF @ TX (6:05 pm)
LAD @ CHC
CLE @ CWS
ARI @ MIL
COL* @ SF
OAK @ KC
LAA @ SD
TX @ CIN (7:05 pm)
SEA @ COL* (7:05 pm)
ARI @ CLE
CHC* @ KC
NYM @ CHC*^
LAA @ COL
SD @ LAD*
SF* @ SEA
CIN @ MIL
TX @ OAK*
OAK @ SF*
CHC @ KC
LAD* @ CWS (7:05 pm)
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
OAK @ CIN
SEA @ LAA
CLE* @ CHC*
NYM @ CHC*^
CLE* @ SF
MIL @ ARI
COL @ LAD
CWS @ TX
KC @ SD
CLE @ CIN
SF @ LAA*
LAA* @ CHC
CWS @ MIL
CHC @ OAK
COL @ SD
TX @ KC (6:05 pm)
OAK @ CWS
TX* @ MIL
CHC @ TX* (7:05 pm)
SF @ CLE (7:05 pm)
SD @ SEA (7:05 pm)
OAK @ CLE
CHC @ COL*
LAA @ CWS
MIL @ SEA
CIN @ KC (6:05 pm)
CHC@ COL* (7:05 pm)
TX @ CIN
SEA @ CHC
MIL @ COL
LAA @ KC
SF @ SD (7:05 pm)
KC* @ CIN
KC* @ LAA
CHC @ CWS
CLE @ COL
SD @ SEA (7:05 pm)
OAK @ SF (7:05 pm)
MIL @ TX
COL* @ CLE
CIN @ CHC
SEA* @ COL*
SF @ CWS*
SEA* @ OAK
LAA @ MIL
TX @ KC
CWS* @ SD
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
MIL @ CIN
CLE @ LAA
CWS @ COL
OAK* @ SEA
CHC @ OAK*
KC @ SF
SD @ TX
CLE @ CIN
SF @ LAA*
KC @ COL
CWS @ SEA
OAK @ TX
SD @ CHC (7:05 pm)
TX @ CLE
LAA* @ CHC*
COL @ CWS
SF @ MIL
CIN @ OAK
SEA @ KC (6:05 pm)
CHC*@SD (7:05 pm)
MIL @ CLE
CHC @ ARI
CIN @ CWS
LAA @ OAK
COL @ SF
SEA@TX (12:05 pm)
KC @ SD (12:05 pm)
CWS @ CHC
CLE @ ARI*
OAK @ SF#
ARI*@CIN* (12:05 pm)
CIN*@MIL (12:05 pm)
CHC @ ARI**
CLE @ SD#
OAK @ SF•
COL@SEA (7:05 pm)
CHC @ ARI**
CLE @ SD#
SEA @ COL
OAK @ SF•
6
2014 CACTUS LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING
TEAM AND TICKET INFO
GLENDALE
GOODYEAR
CHICAGO WHITE SOX & LOS ANGELES DODGERS
CLEVELAND INDIANS & CINCINNATI REDS
CAMELBACK RANCH•GLENDALE
GOODYEAR BALLPARK
10710 W. Camelback Rd. Glendale
1933 S. Ballpark Way. Goodyear
623•302•5000|CamelbackRanchBaseball.com
623•882•3130 | www.goodyearbp.com
Ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000
Ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000
Dodgers.com/Spring or Whitesox.com/spring
Indians.com/Spring or Reds.com/Spring
/camelbackranch
@camelbackranch
/goodyearballpark1
@goodyearbp
MARYVALE
MESA
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
CHICAGO CUBS
MARYVALE BASEBALL PARK
CUBS PARK
3600 N. 51st Ave. Phoenix
2330 W. Rio Salado Parkway. Mesa
623•245•5500 | Phoenix.gov
800-THE-CUBS| Cubs.com/mesa
Brewers.com/Spring|800-933-7890
mesa@cubs.com
/brewers
@brewers
/cubs
@cubs
PEORIA
PHOENIX
SAN DIEGO PADRES & SEATTLE MARINERS
OAKLAND A’S
PEORIA SPORTS COMPLEX
PHOENIX MUNICIPAL STADIUM
16101 N. 83rd Ave. Peoria
5999 E. Van Buren St. Phoenix
623•773•8720 |SpringTrainingPeoria.com
602•392•0074 | Oaklandathletics.com/Spring
Tickets.com or 800-677-1227
Oakland Athletics at 877-493-2255
Padres.com/Spring or Mariners.com/Spring
/peoriasportscomplex
/athletics
@athletics
@peoriasportscom
SALT RIVER
SCOTTSDALE
Arizona Diamondbacks & Colorado Rockies
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
SALT RIVER FIELDS AT TALKING STICK
SCOTTSDALE STADIUM
Hwy. 101 at Indian Bend Rd. Scottsdale
7408 E. Osborn Rd. Scottsdale
888•490•0383 | 480•362•9467 |
480•990•7972 | Scottsdaleaz.gov/stadium
SaltRiverFields.com
Sanfranciscogiants.com/Spring |877-4SFGTIX
/giants
Dbacks.com/Spring or Coloradorockies.com/Spring
/saltriverfieldsattalkingstick
@sfgiants
@saltriverfields
SURPRISE
TEMPE
KANSAS CITY ROYALS & TEXAS RANGERS
ANGELS BASEBALL
SURPRISE RECREATION CAMPUS
TEMPE DIABLO STADIUM
15960 N. Bullard Ave. Surprise
2200 W. Alameda Dr. Tempe
623•222•2222 |SurpriseSpringTraining.com
480•350•5205 | tempe.gov/diablo
Ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000
Ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000
Royals.com/Spring or Texasrangers.com/Spring
LAAngels.com/Spring
/surprisereccampus
/laangels
@surpriserec
T I C K E T AG E N C I E S
@diablostadium
:
• Tickets.com: 800•905•3315
• Ticketmaster: 800•745•3000, or visit: Fry's Marketplace or Ticketmaster.com
• Ticket prices subject to change.
Follow us on our social media sites to keep up with all the up-to-date information on the
Cactus League Season!
/Cactusleague
@CactusleagueAZ
7
CACTUS LEAGUE HISTORY PROJECT READY FOR PERMANENT HOME
T
he nation’s only collection
of Cactus League history is
growing every day, and
after six years, local organizers of
the effort say they are beginning
negotiations with potential partners interested in building a home
for the history and a destination
tourist attraction for the Valley.
The history project sponsored
by the Mesa Historical Museum
began the new year with a new
name, the Arizona Spring Training
Experience and Cactus League Hall
of Fame, and a mission to
nail down a permanent location for the exhibition.
“We have a tremendous
opportunity to create the
off-field home of professional baseball in Arizona,”
said Robert Johnson, a
member of the Mesa Historical Museum board of
directors and leader of the
project.
“With the right partner, we can grow the collec-
tion even bigger than it is
today, create fun and exciting
programs to attract baseball
fans year-round, and generate
revenue that will more than
cover the cost to build, operate and maintain a facility,” he
said.
Johnson said the group
has three sites in mind, all
of them close to current
spring training ballparks. He
declined to identify them at
this time.
He also said that he is not
ruling out other groups with
8
interest. “We are open to talking
with anyone about this project and
the potential for creating a Worldclass tourist destination somewhere here in the Valley,” he said.
Phoenix architect Mo Stein
and his team at HKS developed
some rough concepts that Johnson
says show how the facility could
generate several revenue streams at
any given time.
“Selling tickets to see the collection is but one of about a dozen
ways to draw revenue from this
destination,” he said. “Our initial
concepts would allow people to atSee HOME page 12
S
even key figures in the history
and development of spring
training baseball in Arizona
have been honored as the first to
be inducted into the new Cactus
League Hall of Fame.
Cleveland Indians owner Bill
Veeck, Jr.; New York/San Francisco Giants owner Horace Stoneham; Mesa residents Dwight
Patterson and Ted and Alice Sliger;
former Tucson State Senator Hi
Corbett and former Arizona Governor Rose Mofford were inducted
during ceremonies in February at
the Chicago Cubs new training facility in Mesa. The architects at
HKS in Phoenix helped support the
event with a generous financial
contribution.
The ceremony, hosted by the
Cactus League Baseball Association, was included as part of the
group’s annual spring training kickoff luncheon. The Cactus League
Hall of Fame is part of the Arizona
Spring Training Experience sponsored by the Mesa Historical Museum.
Bill Veeck, Jr. – Owner,
Cleveland Indians, 1946 1949
Bill Veeck, Jr. is credited with
helping to start the Cactus League
when he moved his team to Tucson
from Florida in 1947. Urged by
several Tucson leaders, Veeck
moved his newly acquired team to
be near his Southern Arizona guest
ranch. The Cactus League was
born when he found another owner
willing to join him in the desert,
NY/SF Giants owner Horace
Stoneham.
League. Corbett was an amateur
golfer who organized Tucson’s first
professional golf tournament, was
President of the Texas Baseball
League, and served his community
in the Arizona State Senate. The
ballpark that played host to the Indians and ultimately the expansion
Colorado Rockies, Hi Corbett
Field, was named for him in 1951.
Photo: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Horace Stoneham – Owner,
New York/ San Francisco
Giants, 1936 – 1976
Stoneham is credited with helping to start the Cactus League
when he moved his team to
Phoenix from Florida in 1947.
Himself the owner of a winter home
in Paradise Valley at the time,
Stoneham also swapped spring
camps with Del Webb in 1951.
Stoneham’s team spent more than
two decades visiting the Buckhorn
Baths and Mineral Springs in
Mesa, leaving a wealth of spring
training history and memories that
continues to amaze fans today.
Ted and Alice Sliger –
Owners of the Buckhorn
Baths, Mesa, 1935-2010
When their gas station burned
down in 1935, Ted and Alice
Sliger purchased ten acres of land
at the northwest corner of Apache
Trail and Recker Road, then located miles east of Mesa. While
digging a well, they discovered a
mineral spring that spurred the development of a series of small bathhouses, complete with a Roman
style bath and cooling room.
The resort quickly became a favorite pre-spring training ritual for
select members of the New York
and San Francisco Giants, as well
as other baseball celebrities over
the years. Alice’s lifelong commitment to saving the history of the
Buckhorn has resulted in the preservation of a rich collection of baseball memorabilia, with emphasis
on her friends in the Giants organization and also Mesa’s Chicago
Cubs.
Dwight Patterson – Mesa
Rancher and Businessman,
1912-1999
One of the Cactus League’s
biggest civic boosters, Dwight Patterson is credited with bringing the
Chicago Cubs to Mesa in 1952
and then bringing them back to
Mesa from Scottsdale in 1979. He
was the first chairman of the storied
Hohokams civic club, created to
pursue a spring training baseball
team in 1951, and was selected
by Governor Rose Mofford to lead
her task force to save spring training in the late 1980s.
Hi Corbett – Arizona State
Senator, Tucson, 1953-1964
Hi Corbett was a Tucson native
who is credited with working to
help bring the Cleveland Indians to
Southern Arizona for spring training, giving rise to the Cactus
9
Photo: John Antonoff – Boys of Spring
Hon. Rose Mofford –
Arizona Governor from
1988-1991
Former Arizona Governor Rose
Mofford was in the right place at
the right time when it came to the
task of saving spring training baseball in Arizona. Florida interests
were known to have contacted
every team that trained in Arizona
at the time, but it was the threat of
losing the Chicago Cubs and
Cleveland Indians that caused the
most concern.
In 1988, Governor Mofford,
herself a former All-American softball player with the Cantaloupe
Queens, appointed a task force to
study ways to keep teams training
in Arizona. The task force’s work
led to retention of the teams already here, the addition of new
teams and an explosion in fan attendance. Governor Mofford
saved spring training and cemented the Cactus League as a fixture in the state.
Cactus League is Tourism at its Best
C
actus League Spring Training
is a critical component of the
Valley’s tourism industry. Having
the teams and their fans visit from
across the country creates countless
jobs in our hotels, restaurants and retail outlets and generates much
needed revenues that provide a significant boost to many of our tourism businesses. The
Cactus League has built such a stellar reputation for qual
ity facilities, variety of teams and an overall positive experience for visitors that it has become one of our
industry’s top annual tourism drivers and an economic
is
staple for many of our Valley cities. Arizona tourism
proud to host Cactus League Baseball in our state and we
look forward to their continued growth and success.
Debbie Johnson
President & CEO
Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association
BUSINESS from page 2
merce Authority, to turn baseball games into grand
openings and job fairs.
We need a more aggressive marketing plan to
identify CEOs and get them out here for a game and
negotiations. And we need to make sure we know
who is visiting already. There are stories of CEOs
slipping into town as baseball fans, leaving without
a chance to talk business.
Cactus League founders knew the power of
spring baseball to develop lifelong fans of the warm
weather and friendly business climate. It is time to
channel their vision and our ballpark investments
into a driving force for new jobs and economic opportunities Valley wide.
ACROSS
1- Cactus rival
3- Setting records each year
4- New in Surprise
11-Industry that wins big thanks
to Cactus League
12-First class inducted in 2014
(three words)
13-Peoria features these, team HQ
14-Future home of the Oakland A’s
15-No sunscreen needed for these
contests (two words)
16-Fans came from 1,257 of these
in 2012 (two words)
17-Halos’ perch
18-Settled in the Old Pueblo
19-Saved spring training
20-Alice and Ted’s place (two
words)
DOWN
1- Home of Camelback Ranch
2- Superstar heading to Peoria
3- Number of teams
4- Spring training pioneer
5- Your ticket gets a new one of
these at a game in Scottsdale
6- Home team’s home turf
7- Landed the Cubs in 1952
8- Team divided in spring
9- Bronx bomber, homebuilder
(two words)
Fans’ Menu of Dining Choices
Rivals Menu of March Games
I
n terms of the baseball seas
on, Spring Training games
count minimally for record an
d playoff contention. However, the ceremony of Spring
Training has become as important to Arizona as the
game of baseball itself. In
February and March as the fie
lds are prepared, teams fly in
, and
cleats are donned for the bevy
of pre-season showdowns, res
taurants also prepare for the incre
dible opportunity to cater to
out
of town guests visiting Arizo
na’s mild climate to enjoy Am
erica’s favorite pastime. Just as
visitors expect the good weath
er
during their visit here, they als
o expect a unique culinary cu
lture
that comes along with the sta
te.
Spring Training has become
a vacation destination, not on
ly for
avid baseball fans, but for all
Americans who are excited to
be a
part of a cultural event. For
restaurants, this not only m
eans
business but also welcoming
old friends. It’s not just the sp
orts
bars and baseball-centric diners
that enjoy the added guests, bu
t
all restaurants from quick ser
vice to fine dining see the incre
dible impact Spring Training ha
s on business. With that incre
ase
in guests comes an increase
in staffing during this seas
onal
time, providing extra jobs to
Arizonans who want to be a
part
of the excitement. Baseball
will always be America’s spor
t and
Arizona is proud to host the
15 teams that make up the Ca
ctus
League. Enjoy the weather, en
joy the food and Play Ball!
Steve Chucri
President & CEO
Arizona Restaurant Associatio
n
CACTUS LEAGUE CROSSWORD (Answers on back page)
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CACTUS LEAGUE
OFFICERS
Mark A. Coronado
President
City of Surprise
Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers
Jeff Meyer
V.P. of Government Affairs
Scottsdale Charros
San Francisco Giants
Bridget Binsbacher
V.P. of Business Affairs
Peoria Diamond Club
San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners
Chris Calcaterra,
V.P. of Marketing & Promotions
City of Peoria
San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Nathan Torres
V.P. of Communications
City of Goodyear
Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland
Indians
Dave Dunne
Michael Bouscher
Aaron Studebaker
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
AZ Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies
Brad Curtis
Past President
Tempe Diablos
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
OPEN
City of Peoria
San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners
Marc Heirshberg
City of Mesa
Chicago Cubs
MEMBERS
Michael Bailey
City of Glendale
Chicago White Sox, LA Dodgers
Jerry Hall
City of Tempe
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Ryan Lantz
Cleveland Indians
Tom Moulton
Pima County
Jeff Overton
Jonathan Vasquez
Chicago White Sox, LA Dodgers
Justin Piper
Chicago Cubs
Jeff Cesaretti
City of Scottsdale
San Francisco Giants
Fernando Guerrero, Jr.
Mesa Hohokams
Chicago Cubs
Debbie Diveney
City of Goodyear
Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians
Les Glaser
Tempe Diablos
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Mike Saverino
Cincinnati Reds
James Vujs
Chris Shaheen
City of Phoenix
Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland A’s
Clockwise, from top left: Home Run King Hank Aaron stretches in Sun
City, 1975; Hall of Famer Ernie Banks and teammates take “aim” at Rendezvous Park’s outfield fences in Mesa; Houston Colt 45’s Manager Harry
Craft has fun with six-shooters while atop a burro in Apache Junction; and
a cowgirl gets ready for a spring training game in Scottsdale.
11
CACTUS LEAGUE CROSSWORD Answers
HOME from page 8
tend a reception, take part in a youth
baseball event, host a birthday party, walk
through the exhibits of history, or shop at
the museum store,” he said.
A destination property also would
provide baseball-themed space for weddings, corporate meetings, media broadcasts, and holiday-related events, Johnson
said.
“We understand there is an investment required to make this vision a reality,” he said. “That’s why we are working
hard to show how the story of the Cactus
League can become the centerpiece of a
very special tourism and event destination.”
Learn more by visiting www.AZspringtrainingexperience.com
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B U C K H O R N B A T H S
Clockwise, from top left: Cleveland Indians phenom pitcher
Herb Score in Tucson; Legendary Cubs Broadcaster Harry
Caray calls a game outside at Rendezvous Park in Mesa;
Chicago Cubs sluggers led by Ernie Banks on the field in
Mesa; California Governor Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy
in the stands in Scottsdale; and Hall of Fame Pitcher Gaylord
Perry and his daughter stretch on the field at Francisco
Grande in Casa Grande.
Historical photos courtesy of Arizona Spring Training Experience
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