So city officials, we're told, are abandoning talk of a HoHoKam Park renovation in favor of a new spring facility, probably on the west side closer to the airport. There, the Cubs can pursue additional development and finally unite the training camp with the spring ballpark (currently the Cubs train at Finch Field and play games at HoHoKam Park).
Okay, so they got the name of the training/minor league facility wrong (it's Fitch Park, not "Finch Field"). There's more....
Pursuant to this new strategy the city is putting together a list of possible training sites within the city, but father away from downtown Mesa.
One thing is for certain, we're told by insiders: there's very little chance of the Cubs moving to Florida, no matter how bad Naples officials covet the team. And give the Cubs some credit: they're not out (yet, anyway) playing cities against cities for the best spring-training deal.
This is all good news for the Cubs and Cubs fans; Arizona has been the Cubs' spring-training home since 1952 (except for one year in Long Beach, California in 1966). Spring training weather is consistently better in Arizona than in Florida and by 2011, all 15 teams in the Cactus League will be in the Phoenix metropolitan area, all within less than an hour's drive from each other.
Wanted to post this right away; hope to find corroboration of this at other sites soon, or from the Cubs.
0 recs | 27 comments
That's good news
I am looking at a satellite map and i don’t see anything west of their present loacation available. Where they built up around the Bass Pro Shops is pretty much filled in. West of there is Riverview Park and Golf Course. Maybe there if they bulldoze the course. North of the 202 is Native American land.
I had always heard that Mesa was thinking of the old GM proving grounds, which is southeast of HHK, almost due east of me. Lots of open land there.
I read that the Gila River Tribe was also interested, if they had won the Cubs and put them near the 202/101 junction, that would be a good spot. There are 2 Casinos within 5 minute drives and hotels and shopping.
BigJohnAZ - October 17, 2009
In regards to the Gila River location
The most important thing-10 minutes from me ;)
BigJohnAZ - October 17, 2009
OT - Big John, ever been up Flagstaff way?
or next door up around the Albq/Santa Fe area? If you have, drop me an e-mail when you get a chance – had a few questions about those areas. Thanks.
ballhawk - October 17, 2009
I'm a native of New Mexico
Lived in ABQ my entire life and still here, be willing to help if you need info.
StevenABQ - October 19, 2009
Can you send me an e-mail (see link above) so I can reply with my questions?
Thanks.
ballhawk - October 19, 2009
It may very well wind up being on Native American land.
That seems to be the way things are going now (the new Dbacks/Rockies complex will be on native land).
Southeast of Ho Ho Kam would still be considered “west Mesa”, right?
Al Yellon - October 17, 2009
Not really
To me, andything east of Val Vista is East Mesa, and the proving grounds are about 5 miles east of that.
BigJohnAZ - October 18, 2009
Also...
… the GM proving grounds area IS near the “airport” — if they mean Williams Airport and not PHX.
Al Yellon - October 17, 2009
Spring Training Online is a great source of information...
…but it’s extremely frustrating when they don’t “date” their stories. I saw the story you linked to several days ago but seeing as how they don’t include a date anywhere on the page, it was hard to tell if this was old news or not.
About the only thing I can figure, based on their nomenclature for their URLs, is this story was posted on Sept. 29 (the 20090929 part of the URL).
ballhawk - October 17, 2009
Yeah, I saw that.
But I still have not seen this anywhere else.
Al Yellon - October 17, 2009
how does a place dedicated to spring training
not know the name of every spring training field?
Nunyabidness - October 17, 2009
I looked to see if anyone had posted this link
Jaramillo update
I can’t find anything though, so take a look. Nothing to seal the deal, just that the Cubs have received permission to talk to him. At least they are not taking any hesitation in contacting him and you would think the article would mention if other teams received permission.
Kind of funny that it says Jaramillo wants to go a team that can compete right away. The Rangers and the Cubs finished in almost identical places in the standings to finish the season. I guess you could make the argument that the Rangers pitching staff pitched way over their heads but hopefully if they can lock up Jaramillo that means they laid out their plans to come back with avengence in 2010.
IllinoisCubs - October 17, 2009
He also wants a multi year contract and the Rangers only offered one year.
Doggie Stalker - October 18, 2009
A new facility
may well be what’s called for, but I guess I must just fear change. I’m nostalgic for the old school facilities—that’s why I love Wrigley so much and would love to eventually visit Fenway. The older facilities are more intimate and the experience of being closer to the action can’t really be beat and is only somewhat replicated in the minors. I understand the need and draw of new facilities I will just miss Ho Ho Kam. Such is life.
snowyman28 - October 17, 2009
HoHoKam....opened in 1997.
I hardly describe the facility as ‘old school.’
The ‘old’ HoHoKam looked as if it was built with an erector set.
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - October 17, 2009
And, it was more 'intimate'
than the current park. The park is still fine, but it’s not connected to practice facilities. That’s the fatal flaw, which didn’t seem to bother anybody 12 years ago.
With the template for Spring Training operations changing, Fitch Park — for workouts, is completely inadequate. That’s the big problem and that’s what is really pushing this.
But, you can’t do anything different at the current site. So, it’s off to Native lands…
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - October 17, 2009
I don't have a problem with them building a new complex.
As you note, the current HHK is only 12 years old. Not a tremendous amount of nostalgia. Now, the Cubs have been training on that site since 1979, but that’s still only 30 years.
Move if you must, and build a great new complex that can stand as the best for 50+ years.
Al Yellon - October 17, 2009
I have no problem, either
Whatever it takes. Anything that helps the effort. (And takes my mind of the crappy performance of Cristobel Huet of a few moments ago)
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - October 17, 2009
Mesa
Went to Spring Training in ‘07. Loved it! Great time! If there’s anyone out there that hasen’t been, every Cubs fan should go once! We went saw Billy Williams and Jim Hendry out to eat :)
As long as they stay in AZ, I’ll be fine with it.
cubbiefan07 - October 17, 2009
By the way, is there any info
on where the Cubs trained that bizarre year in Long Beach?
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - October 17, 2009
OK, found it
Blair Field, Long Beach
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - October 17, 2009
There is nearly a mile of housing tracts
between Fitch and Ho Ho Kam, so expanding either facility is a non starter. The GM proving grounds have excellent freeway access and lots of empty land. After seeing the White Sox/Dodgers facility last spring, I realize the Cubs’ version is at least a decade behind the times. They need a unified facility for major and minor league teams, because nearly everybody else has it already.
I don’t know much about the Indian site, but either one would be far superior to what they’ve got now.
Clark Addison - October 18, 2009
In reading about the GM proving grounds...
… I found some info that they had been sold two years ago to a real estate developer. Did that deal fall through? Are they for sale again? That might be the perfect location.
Al Yellon - October 18, 2009
Cubs are hopping on the bandwagon of gleaming new spring training facilities that generate extra revenue
It’s a sign of the times for baseball. Nothing at all wrong with Ho Ho Kam, but apparently there is more money to be milked otherwise.
BLou - October 18, 2009
It's not just the revenue
It’s having a complex all in one place, instead of having your minor league/practice facility a mile down the road.
Al Yellon - October 18, 2009
or across a whole state as the Orioles were in Florida for many years
They trained in Ft. Lauderdale while their minor leaguers were in Sarasota. Crazy… No longer an issue as they’ve agreed to take over for the Reds in Sarasota – not sure if that starts this year or next.
ballhawk - October 18, 2009
GM facility looks good
Lots of space, but it already has some infrastructure, and good accessability. I hope this is the kind of stuff we can expect more of as the Ricketts family takes over. Which, isn’t to say this is their baby. Just pointing out there are several areas the Cubs need to catch up in with the rest of the league. A unified complex being one of them.
Nibbles - October 18, 2009
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