Cactus League Has Recurring Funding Shortages

While it’s the Chicago Cubs on the front burner at the moment regarding the need for new spring training facilities, the Arizona Cactus League seems to have a financing crisis every 10 years or so. In 1991 the Maricopa County Stadium District was formed with a Cactus League funding mechanism and in 2000 this agency was superseded by the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority. In both cases, the concept was to provide an ongoing source of money for spring training capital improvements. Today, in 2010, these entities have outspent their revenue resources and the search is on for yet another source of money. Whatever may be cobbled together in the present instance, you can be assured it won’t be enough to stem additional begging for dollars campaigns in the future.