Deadlines Loom for Cubs Spring Training Deal

In order for development of a new spring training facility to proceed, two critical terms of the memorandum between the City of Mesa and the Chicago Cubs baseball team must be met by Monday, July 12th. The first of these elements concerns public financing for the project while the second involves the signing of a final binding agreement which will set forth the specific responsibilities of both parties over the 25-year anticipated life of the relationship.

With regard to public financing, the deadline pertained to the passage of State of Arizona funding legislation. Although this has not happened, the city has likely complied with the spirit of the memo by committing to finance the entire amount of the development if no other public resources come available over the next year or so. The precise details are somewhat immaterial as long as the final agreement spells out the city’s willingness to raise all construction monies which may be involved.

The signing of a final agreement will likely be a little more complicated with lawyers from both sides wrangling over the final wording. The largest remaining piece of the development puzzle which has not yet been publicly announced concerns the design and specific site location for the spring training facilities. Would you sign a binding long-term agreement without knowing where the project will be built or how it will look? Having had extensive experience in dealings within the business world, the Cubs likely will know exactly where the project will be located and how it will appear in finished form prior to inking any final agreement.