Cubs and Mesa Narrow Spring Training Site Search - Sort Of

After seven months of effort, the City of Mesa and the Chicago Cubs have yet to name a specific location for the proposed new spring training facility to be constructed somewhere in Mesa. The latest word from city officials is that there are three potential sites under consideration. According to the mayor, this is one more than four months ago, but several less than last month. In March, both the Cubs and city officials said they expected a site to be named by the end that month.

The front-running locations identified by the mayor on July 30, included the Riverview area near where the yet-to-be-started Waveyard project was to be developed, an area close to downtown Mesa and one remaining site in northeast Mesa. Apparently, another area previously considered to be on a short list was near the Gateway Airport. This site has now been rejected. Some skeptics believe the delay involved in the decision-making process is merely a ruse to deflect attention away from the Cubs preferred site near Red Mountain Ranch at Thomas and Recker Roads.