The State of Arizona finds themselves in a bind as the Chicago Cubs, drawn to the idea by the revenue generating new parks of the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, and other Cactus League teams, are looking to upgrade their Spring Training facilities.
Arizona relies on Major League Baseball’s Spring Training as a source of revenue, estimating that each team is responsible for $15 to $20 million brought to the State. With the successes at Goodyear Park and Camelback Park, the Cubs are looking for their share and the state is already in a bitter battle with Florida, who recently lost the Los Angeles Dodgers and their famed Dodgertown.
The State of Arizona has passed a measure to tax spring training tickets to pay for a new park for the Cubs. The local teams and MLB are not happy to say the least.
These new parks are reliant on sponsorship as a revenue stream, opening up more opportunities for Corporate America to get involved in sports sponsorship. Will there be a return equivalent to the price? It will be interesting to see the numbers….
