Spring Training Leaving Tucson? (Phoenix, Glendale: 2010, leases, houses)

[Dbacksfan1]

I just posted another related message on the Phoenix Board - not sure why it didn't occur to me to ask here first. Does anyone know if one of the Tucson teams is leaving for Phoenix/Laveen?

I work for a firm that is developing offices and amenities for the new hospital there, and I learned recently that one of the MLB teams is relocating its Spring Training stadium to Laveen. One of the other members thought it was one of the Tucson teams (aside from the White Sox). Has anyone heard about this?

[Clnconcpts]

Yes, one is leaving.And cause of the clause in the contact i suspect the others to be leaving.Clause states there must be 3 teams in town at all times.One gone the rest to follow.

This town counsel members are idiots

[Clnconcpts]

Some more info


The Colorado Rockies are in talks with the city of Goodyear about moving there, a prospect that could potentially kill spring ball in Tucson.
Goodyear wants a second spring training team, and the city has talked with the Rockies in the last two months.
The Phoenix suburb is building a new stadium for the Cleveland Indians for the 2009 season, but room could be made for another team.
"Certainly, two teams make sense here," Goodyear Mayor Jim Cavanaugh said.
It's unclear just how serious the conversations are. The Rockies declined to comment, and Cavanaugh downplayed the talks, saying Goodyear officials have not "been making overt efforts" to lure the Rockies.
Rather, he said, talks were brokered by a consultant Goodyear hired to help lure the Indians. But he acknowledged the consultant and Rockies recently talked, and that spring training in Tucson is vulnerable.
Meanwhile, the Rockies have said that if they are to stay in the Old Pueblo, they expect millions of dollars in improvements to Hi Corbett Field. And there is also the need to find a third team to replace the Chicago White Sox, who last year announced plans to move to Glendale for the 2009 season.
Whether that move happens so soon is debatable. The White Sox are contractually obligated to find a replacement team in order to break their lease at Tucson Electric Park, which runs through 2012. Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said the White Sox have assured him they will find a replacement team or honor their contract.
But no replacement team has been found; and the team potentially faces stiff penalties if it and Glendale's other spring training team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, don't combine to play at least 20 home games in Glendale in 2009.
If spring training in Tucson is reduced to two teams, the Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks can also break their leases.
"The Rockies have been very open about the fact that other communities in Arizona have approached them," Tucson City Manager Mike Hein said.
Those who aren't baseball fans would also feel the effects of a spring training exodus. Besides the loss of tourism dollars spring ball brings, Pima County still owes $26 million on TEP, meaning taxpayers would be paying the bill for a baseball park where baseball isn't played.
Millions in improvements
While the Rockies may be talking with Goodyear, they have also expressed interest in staying here — for a price.
Team officials sent the city of Tucson letters in May and August asking for millions of dollars in improvements to Hi Corbett.
The request included: a new minor league facility, office space, remodeled clubhouses, a new outfield wall, a grass berm beyond left field, more on-site parking and a patio and grassy knoll in right field.
The city has played ball with the idea to some degree. Officials and Rockies management took a tour of Tempe Diablo Stadium to look at how renovations were done there. But the cost looks prohibitive.
Hi Corbett Field was built in 1937, and Hein said the improvements would cost "tens of millions" of dollars. "There is no money sitting around" for the upgrades, he said.
But compared to the price of the new stadiums in Glendale and Goodyear — $76.8 and $74.5 million, respectively — the renovation costs are a bargain.
Regardless of whether the Rockies stay, many of the upgrades would be needed to stay in the spring training market, said Fred Gray, who heads the city's Parks and Recreation Department.
But just as important to keeping the Rockies is having at least three teams.
"It was clear the desire was to have three teams," Gray said of recent meetings with Rockies management.
And if the White Sox leave without finding a replacement, it will mean Tucson's other two teams will fall like dominoes.
Having only two teams in Tucson would put the Rockies and Diamondbacks at a competitive disadvantage, said Derrick Hall, president of the Diamondbacks.
Traveling to Tucson from Phoenix already costs more, and some of the better players already skip the trip here to play, hurting the level of competition.
"It's important to us to have our facilities south of Phoenix," Hall said. "Ideally there would be four teams there. We continue to reach out to other teams. We probably have made a dozen calls."
But so far, no one is answering.
The Diamondbacks have not approached other communities about moving, but if the Rockies leave Tucson, Hall said the Diamondbacks would certainly follow. And if a third team isn't found soon, the Diamondbacks will start looking for a new spring training home.
"We are coming to a point where we are going to have to start weighing our options proactively," he said.
Outside the box
In what could be viewed as a sign of desperation to lure a third team here, former Sidewinders owner Jay Zucker has suggested city officials consider bringing in the Monterrey Sultans, champions of Mexico's equivalent of the major leagues.
The idea has been met with tepid interest by both team and government officials.
"If there is not an available major league team, let's look out of the box for a second here," Zucker said.
Zucker, who is also a state baseball commissioner, is hoping to bring the Sultans to Tucson and Phoenix next year for exhibition games against Cactus League teams. But if the games are competitive and fans turn out, Zucker says the Sultans should be considered as a White Sox replacement.
"We know there is a huge baseball market for the Hispanic teams with baseball here in Arizona," he said.
Last month, Zucker gave José Maiz, president of the Monterrey Sultans, a tour of Hi Corbett Field; and the two also met with Mayor Bob Walkup for dinner.
"All of the facilities, the installations are really very good," Maiz said.
The Mexican League's spring training starts earlier than spring training here, so the idea would be to arrive toward the end of the Mexican League's training season and the beginning of Major League training.
City Manager Hein, however, dismissed the idea.
"The mayor is a great mayor as far as meeting with anybody," Hein said. "But I don't make much of that visit."
Hall said the Diamondbacks would not be interested in such an arrangement, and that their spring training contract explicitly calls for Major League Baseball teams to ensure a standard level of play.
"The problem is with these international teams is that the level of play is not to the caliber of Major League Baseball," he said. "I wouldn't classify the idea as desperation as much as creativeness. I think people are trying anything right now to make it fit and make it last."

[Marcy1210]

Important Information : Support Spring Training! Keep Our Bases Loaded!

This is a site about how we fans can help keep Spring Training in Tucson. What Clnconcpts wrote is true. However, at one point, there was talk of the town of Marana building a stadium for the Rockies. How feasible or practical that is, I don't know. But, as the web site above mentions, write all the City Council members and the Mayor to let them know you want Spring Training to stay in Tucson. The revenue from Spring Training is such a boon for Tucson, without it, many $$$ that Tucson receives now, will be gone. And the city still has to pay off TEP. The powers that be in Tucson City Government will be shooting themselves in the foot if they let the Rockies go. The D-Backs will probably stay, only because they play in Phoenix, and probably don't want their Spring Training in the town where they play. As a HUGE Rockie's fan, I know that thousands of fans that come down from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nebraska, Montana, etc., to see the Rockies will NOT go to Phoenix, so it'll be a lose/lose situation for the Rockies. Most of us feel Phoenix is too impersonal, whereas Hi Corbett is so warm and welcoming. I know it needs tons of money to fix it up, but that's a small price for the powers that be to pay as opposed to losing the team altogether.

[actinic]

It's official, the White Sox are leaving. Who still remains, and for how long?

Tucson simply hasn't the fan draw or resources to keep a decent major league team apparantly, not only for spring training but summer too, as witness to the Sidewinders departure.

[actinic]

Oh oh, doesn't look good.

'While the D-Backs' lease in Tucson does not expire until 2012, the team already has explored relocating to the Valley.'

and

'Colorado is now free to move, since its lease stipulates that it can move if there are only two teams in Tucson'.

White Sox leaving Tucson; are D-Backs next? - East Valley Tribune- msnbc.com

[BillyBaroo]

I think almost everyone in Tucson agrees that it was a huge mistake building TEP in such a poor location.

[Marcy1210]

Being from Colorado, I still subscribe to the Denver and Colorado Springs newspapers online (we spend 6 months in OV and 6 months in CO). The Rockies DO NOT want to leave Tucson, they want to stay, but travel is a consideration. With the Sox buying out their own contract at TEP for $5M they are free to go, but will most likely play at TEP in 2009, relocating to the Phoenix area for 2010. The D'Backs don't want to go to Phoenix as that's where they play their regular ball. There's talk of building a stadium for the Rockies in Marana, but that's way out there. But, Kelli MacGregor of the Rockies has said that if the Tucson Sports Authority doesn't step up and renovate Hi Corbett to the Rockies needs, they'll have no choice but to relocate. Right now, the ball, so to speak, is with the Arizona Legislature who refused to act on the moves last session, and because of a lot of petty issues this session, probably won't address the moves this year. Too many people who could step up and save Spring Training just aren't doing it. And what will happen is that the three majors will end up in the Phoenix area and fall ball and youth ball will take over which may be good for the kids, but will not bring any revenue to Tucson. I have a feeling there's a lot of denial going on that the teams won't leave, but when they do, Tucson's legislators are going to wonder how that happened. All of it too little, too late.
How You Can Help : Support Spring Training! Keep Our Bases Loaded!

[Marcy1210]

New facility a top priority - The Denver Post

This is from today's Denver Post.

[PFisher]

This is no surprise. When was the last time you saw something new coming to Tucson vs. something leaving? Tucson is a dying city, much like the rust belt of the Midwest. I grew up here and I love Tucson, but I can't see staying here at this point. I have to think of my kids future and I can't imagine sending them to TUSD or any other Tucson school to be honest. Not to mention the fact that when they finish college they won't have anyplace to work if they stay here in town.

In 20 years, Tucson will be a criminal haven surrounded by gated retirement communities. And it seems to me that almost every year our city council takes at least one more step to ensure that outcome.