Mesa Still Undecided on How to Finance Cubs Training Project

As is often the case, especially when it comes to spending money you do not have, the devil is in the details. Although the City of Mesa says it is 100% committed to funding the Chicago Cubs spring training facility within the timeframe that will be set in a final agreement with the baseball team, it is uncertain how that will be accomplished. The mayor recently said selling bonds was one possible solution, but there are other possibilities. Unfortunately, just about all the options require big bucks up front to build the baseball stadium, practice fields, clubhouse, parking and required infrastructure.

Of course, without a specific location, without a final agreement between the parties and without any design it is really difficult to nail down the costs involved. The amount most often quoted by Mesa officials is $84 million. However, this is actually just the opening amount or “get in price” sold to the taxpayers. An example of what will really happen cost-wise can be found in the devilish financial details which swirled around the recently completed Glendale-owned spring training project on the western side of the metro area. At its inception, the City of Glendale issued a press release stating the cost to the city would be $81 million. A year later when the facility was under construction, the city upped the ante to $115 million. Upon completion, the City of Glendale said the actual cost to the city was somewhat more than $150 million. By way of explanation, Glendale officials said that $81 was never intended to be viewed as the total cost. For example, just like the Mesa estimate of $84 million, the $81 million did not include infrastructure and a few other things. Infrastructure alone ended up costing $37 million at Glendale. Obviously, details of this sort can add up fast.

In the end, Glendale borrowed $200 million which must now be paid back – with interest. Yet another detail which adds to the cost.