City of Mesa Claims Big Savings by Abandoning Hohokam Stadium

According to those in favor of building a new Chicago Cubs spring training facility, an important money-saving element of the new agreement between the City of Mesa and the baseball team is a clause wherein the Cubs pay all operating expenses at the new stadium. This is listed as one of the top ten reasons to vote yes on Proposition 420. The city says it presently loses $2 million per year operating Hohokam Stadium and Fitch Park where the Cubs presently conduct spring training.

While it is true the City of Mesa is not responsible for operating the proposed new stadium, it is responsible for maintaining four major league-sized practice fields and a parking lot for thousands of cars at the new site. In addition, Hohokam Stadium and Fitch Park will still exist and will need to be maintained or demolished. Since the stadium is only 14 years old, it would seem likely the city will continue to maintain the improvements.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for these savings to appear on the bottom line. There is every reason to think the combined cost of keeping up all of the old training facilities and part of the new project will cost just as much as in the past.