Mesa Mayor Scott Smith said his city has discovered several ways to meet a July deadline to keep the Chicago Cubs in Arizona despite a setback that seemingly doomed the effort.
The city is working with the team on various plans that could bypass the state Legislature, which failed to pass legislation this spring that was critical to funding a new spring training complex.
Lawmakers are unlikely to meet again by July, but Smith said Tuesday that some alternate plans show promise.
“I think the odds are very good that we will have a deal in place,” he said. “And when I say deal, I don’t know whether it will be the final deal, but I think it will be a deal that is significant and substantial enough that it would enable the Cubs to make a decision knowing that they have financing in place to build a stadium here.”
Smith wouldn’t reveal specifics of the latest plans in a year-long effort to keep the team.
Mesa and the Cubs have an agreement setting various deadlines as the two identify a 100-acre training site, a financial plan and other arrangements. If Mesa fails at any point, the Cubs can end exclusive negotiations and resume talks with investors trying to lure the team to Naples, Fla.
Mesa has made progress on other fronts after many setbacks, Smith said. He’s met with Valley mayors who have Cactus League training complexes in their communities to get their support as well.
Mesa’s funding plans have included money for improvements to other complexes in the future to prevent other Cactus League teams from considering Florida. The other mayors want to work together, “which is a big change from where we stared out three or four months ago,” Smith said.
One of Mesa’s plans relied heavily on a ticket surcharge at all Cactus League facilities, but Major League Baseball and every other franchise with a Valley presence opposed that approach.
As Mesa looks at other funding plans, Smith said, it has identified other potential sites for the complex. The city had focused on two areas of east Mesa: one near Recker Road and the Loop 202, and the other near the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. But the city now has six potential sites, Smith said.
Mesa promotes the new Cubs complex as an economic driver for the East Valley, estimating the team’s annual economic impact is $138 million. The complex would cost about $119 million.
A prior funding plan would have generated about $59 million from a tourism tax, $25 million from Mesa and $35 million from the Cubs. But the Legislature did not approve the tax.
The city and the team initially planned to have most details in place by early 2011. Smith said the city is working every angle to find a solution despite numerous troubles and plan changes.
“Contrary to what a lot of other people thought — that we’re dead — no, we’re not,” Smith said. “We’re still kicking and screaming and hopefully we’ll get something that will push us over the hump.”
Slow One posted at 4:41 pm on Tue, May 25, 2010.
Corporate welfare, there's no other name for it.
golfboy posted at 11:23 pm on Tue, May 25, 2010.
I realize many will question the logic yet again of spending the money trying to retain the Cubs, but I'm pretty sure I'm not alone spending cash to buy a condo in Mesa in the last 4 months to help enable me and my family to watch our favorite team and enjoy the Mesa area.
I get the fact that the area is depressed but I struggle to understand the short term thinkers that beleive the Cubs aren't good for the long term financial health of Mesa. Even the non-baseball people should get the financial impact of a Cubs complex that includes attractions that will keep the Cub fans money in Mesa...
Let's find a way to make this happen!
Hotcopone posted at 11:45 pm on Tue, May 25, 2010.
I believe the Cubs are needed but at what price?
With the current economic conditions it surely isn't a good time to be asking for the taxpayers of Mesa to fork up close to 100 million dollars.
Where was Mesa when the Cards stadium was looking in Mesa? The taxpayers really goofed on that one but that would have brought way more money into Mesa.
And do you think the taxpayers are going to go for this one? I doubt it.
You have owners who paid over 800 million for a losing ball team and they surely could pay for their own stadium but it really isn't anything other than corporate welfare.
I would love to come to mesa with a business and ask for Mesa to pay to build it for me so I can employ people.
If this new idea has anything to do with taxpayer funded monies, good luck Mayor. You're gonna need it.
Eisman57 posted at 2:03 am on Wed, May 26, 2010.
Even the most vocal critics will acknowledge the Cubs deliver 10's of millions of dollars annually to Phoenix/Mesa. This is better described as an investment in a long-term partnership that will more than pay for itself through tax revenue and direct support to local businesses. "Corporate welfare" is a catchy buzz phrase but hardly applies here.
wdgnas posted at 4:27 am on Wed, May 26, 2010.
and yet another money tree is found growing in mesa...
votenomesa posted at 6:46 am on Wed, May 26, 2010.
Mayor Smith - take a page from the Obama playbook - just print more money.