Spring Training 2010

[rok]

In case you guys haven't been following the recent drama over the Cubs deal to keep ST in AZ, our good friend Jerry Reinsdorf, in rare form, is leading the opposition for public funding of our new facilities.

I guess these bozos have forgotten that ALL of their stadiums were supported by public funds, and no one tried to stop them. Also, take the Cubs out of the equation, and I'd love to see how overall attendance and revenues would plummet across the Cactus league. Sounds like a load of BS to me.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Cactus League president Robert Brinton is supportive of efforts to keep the Chicago Cubs spring training, but he stressed Saturday that he's not yet taken stance on a plan being put crafted at the Arizona Legislature to finance an $84 mllion stadium for the Cubs in Mesa.

State lawmakers are putting together a financing plan that could include a new, first-of-its-kind surcharges on all Cactus League game tickets as well as a Maricopa Countywide increase to rental car taxes to pay for the new stadium.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox are among those panning the idea of charging their fans and other Cactus League fans new fees to pay for the Cubs spring training facility. Brinton said he won't take a stance on the Cubs plan until he sees the details of the package, which could be introduced next week. <b>The Cubs are the biggest draw in the Cactus League</b>, and the team has threatened to move to Naples, Fla., unless a new stadium is built.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/...not-their-issue

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->The Chicago Cubs' response to critical comments made by White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf about a possible Cactus League tax on all baseball tickets sold is no response at all.

<b>"This is not our issue," Cubs president Crane Kenney said. "This is an issue for the state of Arizona to represent."</b>

Arizona at this point has committed to a ticket amusement charge, however they are considering that as part of the way to fund the $85 million needed to build a new Cubs compex in east Mesa. The state is looking at many ways to try to raise funds, including adding a rental car tax. The Cubs as well as the other 14 teams training in Arizona would be subject to a ticket tariff if that is the direction the state decides to go.

Reinsdorf told the Phoenix Business Journal that the White Sox are opposed to a tariff on Cactus League games.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/...o-cubs-tax.html

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->In an interview with the Arizona Republic, Mesa Mayor Scott Smith criticized White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf for his opposition to the proposed surcharge, which is expected to be introduced into legislation Monday.

Smith said the proposed surcharge -- the "Cubs tax" -- would not affect "current revenue streams" for the other 13 teams that train in the Cactus League. He then noted that Reinsdorf's Sox left Tucson for a publicly funded spring training complex in Glendale, Ariz.

<b>"Is this the same Jerry Reinsdorf that skipped out on Pima County taxpayers who had spent tens of millions of dollars to provide him with a taxpayer-funded stadium, to come to Glendale, where Maricopa County taxpayers provided him a Taj Mahal spring-training facility?" Smith said.

Smith also said Reinsdorf's White Sox play in a publicly funded ballpark in Chicago, and that Reinsdorf looked into buying the Phoenix Coyotoes, who play in a publicly funded facility in Glendale.

"The irony is delicious," Smith said.</b>

Arizona president Derrick Hall told the Republic that the other 13 teams in the Cactus League "feel the same way" about helping to subsidize the Cubs' ballpark in Mesa.

Both Reinsdorf and Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts declined interview requests by the Tribune on Friday.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->