Cubs unveil vision for Wrigleyville West concept
Early Wrigleyville West concept artwork
Early Wrigleyville West concept artwork
Cubs Plaza View
Wrigleyville West concept artwork
Cubs Outfield View
Wrigleyville West concept artwork
Cubs Birdseye
Wrigleyville West concept artwork
Cubs Park View
Wrigleyville West concept artwork
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notrozer posted at 3:08 pm on Mon, Oct 11, 2010.
138 million per year in the Valley.. how much is mesa getting?
does it take 40 years to gain this money back that they vote to spend?
I myself cant even name one player on the team, and dont give a $h$t about baseball in general, so they can leave.
Mazz posted at 11:04 am on Sat, Oct 9, 2010.
420 is something Mesa CANNOT afford to miss out on! We missed the boat for sure when the Cardinals were asking and we shouldnt make the same mistake again!
I live by Riverview and think maybe a little development might do the area some MORE good! Like bring in jobs and money from all over the country. It might also chase the crackhead homeless people that have chased away many people from family picnics and church gatherings. As far as the softball fields, theres plenty of them around. I play and I know my team is gonna adjust to the changes just fine!
As far as tax payers spending their money on professional sports, do you not do that when you buy your season tickets to the DiamondBacks who sucked this year? I am a single parent and no way can I afford $50.00 a person to go to a Cardinals game...not to mention drive all the way to Glendale who is now an absolute gorgeous place and is living large thanks to the stupid crybaby naysayers of Mesa!
As a business owner myself, ya gotta spend money to get money and I for one will be campaigning pretty diligently for 420 to pass!
Thanks Scott Smith for having some foresight....there are people in Mesa who are happy with this idea!! See ya at the Polls! [wink]
Aridzonan posted at 8:51 am on Fri, Oct 8, 2010.
Spending taxpayer's money to support professional sports and businesses is unethical and should be made illegal.
If the Chicago Cubs want a spring training ground THEY should pay for it, lock stock and barrel!
cjp809 posted at 6:46 pm on Thu, Oct 7, 2010.
Not enough concrete answers to actual cost to Mesa tax payers! Why so little info given with so little time before Election day voting?
Carolyn posted at 2:12 am on Thu, Oct 7, 2010.
scottsmith4sheriff, I was already going to vote YES on 420 - but I just wanted you to know that your posts are GREAT on this subject.
Accuracy posted at 10:27 am on Wed, Oct 6, 2010.
“Cost for taxpayer-funded Cubs’ stadium must be capped,” by Carrie Ann Sitren, attorney with the Goldwater Institute.
“The city has signed a non-binding agreement to build a new $84 million stadium for the Chicago baseball team. In Mesa, voter approval is needed before the city can spend more than $1.5 million, so Proposition 420, which would authorize this spending, is on the Nov. 2 election ballot." Stated Carrie Ann Sitren. "But neither Prop. 420, nor the city’s agreement, spell out what a new stadium will actually cost Mesa residents, or what Mesa taxpayers will get from the Cubs in exchange."
While, the new $100 million Salt River Fields Spring Training complex at Talking Stick will be the new Spring Training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies beginning in 2011. Owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, on Native American land, the new 140-acre Spring Training complex will feature an 11,000-seat ballpark at its center, 12 practice fields, Major and Minor League clubhouses, training facilities and offices.
forkedlift1 posted at 1:47 am on Wed, Oct 6, 2010.
Mesatoo and TruthSeeker, you've both added more food for thought.
I had no idea that little leagues and youth soccer leagues are now charged by the hour to rent poorly maintained fields by the City of Mesa. That was never the case a number of years ago when our kids were younger and my spouse and I were very active and involved, volunteer coaching and ancillary tasks in our kids' team sports activities. The people with Mesa Parks and Rec were also very cooperative and appreciative of what we were doing. But there sure was no hourly fee to pay for use of public fields.
First word that came to mind with your information was "priorities." Really questionable City priorities as to what really matters in the long term.
I too wonder about legal financial loopholes -- and possible legal problems -- with the sudden "conceptual idea" of private, for-profit retail stores (Wrigleyville) being urged by Smith to be established on this city property. Does City lease to Cubs and Cubs sub-lease to businesses? Or does City lease our public property directly to businesses on this baseball stadium property 12-months a year? Who knows. We sure don't.
Not only is this location saturated with retail now -- Tempe Marketplace and the floundering, 250 acre, (and also Mesa taxpayer subsidized) Riverview retail center across Dobson Road there -- but I also question the legality of the idea.
First, because the ballot wording, although it names no site, calls only for Cactus League facilites to be publicly subsidized or funded, no capped dollar amount provided for the subsidies, nothing about a provision for private retail businesses.
Second, Mesa's Riverview Golf Course (approx. 125 acres) and Riverview Park's softball field complex (approx. 25 acres) is the site most desired by the Cubs for a new spring training stadium, practice fields, and other baseball oriented facilities. City retains ownership of the public property. City leases the city-built stadium and property to the Cubs.
But they're now suggesting retail shops (Wrigleyville West) also be built on our recreatiional property. Due to the stated intent for the site, Cactus League stadium and ancillary facilities,would this be lawful for privately owned retail shops to also be established on our leased public property? Which would likewise be exempt from paying property tax?
The MOU says City is responsible for paying any property taxes.
(i)
the City is responsible for any ad valorem real property (including without limitation any lease tax) or equivalent taxes and assessments payable in respect of the Project site, Stadium, Ancillary Stadium Facilities and Other Facilities;
(ii)
Cubs are responsible to pay all federal, state and county taxes (other than real property and lease taxes) applicable to the Stadium, Ancillary Facilities and Other Facilities to the extent related to revenue retained by Cubs, provided however City will reimburse Cubs for any such imposition impacting solely Cubs.
My take on this is, considering there are but 15 or 16 Cubs home games during March, season's average attendance about 9-10K fans per game, that if they try for starry-eyed Wrigleyville at this location, it's gummed up before it's begun.
Grillo 66 posted at 10:14 pm on Tue, Oct 5, 2010.
Why is the City of Mesa giving away 84 million dollars to millionaires when the city can't even balance its own budget. A few years ago, the city had the opportunity to build a new state of the art AZ Cardinals stadium at Riverview paid 75% by the Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority and 25% by the Arizona Cardinals. Mesa Voters flat out rejected the 455 million dollar free facility. Now the city is giving away valuable piece of real estate for free. I am sorry to say this but Mesa voters need to wake up! Vote NO on prop. 420.
TruthSeeker posted at 4:24 pm on Tue, Oct 5, 2010.
I am really concerned about all the legal financial loopholes. How long will it take for Mesa to gum up Wrigleyville?
Mesatoo posted at 12:39 pm on Tue, Oct 5, 2010.
Vote NO! This is a $99 million dollar solution where there is no real problem other than the greedy Cubs are jealous of newer stadiums and want a new one too. Oh, and throw in leased land so the Cubs can make more money on retail without paying property taxes.
The existing stadium is only 13 years old and the Cubs want a new oone. So how can we expect them to stay 30 years in a new stadium? They'll be back extorting us in no time! I guess the prop number of 420 is appropriate because you must be smoking something if you think I'll vote for it.
Cubs can either stick with their exisiting stadium or leave. I don't support corporate welfare for a company paying their employees milions to play in a subsidized stadium while little leagues and youth soccer leagues are charged by the hour to rent poorly maintained fields from the City of Mesa.[sad]
forkedlift1 posted at 12:37 pm on Tue, Oct 5, 2010.
On the lighter side, "I believe that everything happens for a reason. Usually, the reason is that somebody messed up."
forkedlift1 posted at 12:02 pm on Tue, Oct 5, 2010.
For "mesadude,"
The first we learned that the Cubs wanted not only Riverview Golf Course, but Riverview Park's softball fields (obviously the land) as well from an Arizona Republic online article. In this article we're reading for the first time -- less than one month before the electtion -- "plans" to MOVE Riverview Park's lake with verbal "asssurances" from the mayor that "the public would still have access to all sides of the water." Frankly, I think they've all gone crazy.
The point remains that the general and non-specific ballot wording allows for ANYTHING....at any cost, at any location.
As others have said, it's the same as writing a blank check, and for that reason absolutely should be voted down.
The proposed relocation of the ball fields is of critical importance. Because they are federally funded, federal requirements are such that they not only be replaced at current fair market value of that property and improvements but that they be replaced in the same general area. Relocating them to east Mesa to the eastern city limits would violate Department of Interior requirements.
I too was mortified at what City Manager Brady -- who knows better -- told the Arizona Republic, that they could be "relocated" in Red Mountain Park, east of Power Road. Those Dept. of Interior requirements are also such that those ballfields cannot be plopped into any existing park, and that's what Brady was suggesting. They have to be replaced: equivalent use, equivalent general location, and at equivalent fair market value.
We went through all this before. The Waveyard proposition was just three years ago, and Brady's dishonesty -- or is it ineptitude
-- is bad news for us all.
Mesa city management has obviously done nothing of substance in the last three years to firm up a relocation site on the WEST SIDE of Mesa for that large complex of softball fields in order to serve the needs of the approved Waveyard proposal.
And now our city leaders are thoughtlessly talking about turning that same softball fields property over to the Cubs for a new spring training stadium and other baseball facilities when they've got the entire golf course to work with??
Read the ballot wording. It authorizes the City and the Cubs to do anything at all related to Cactus League facilities on all that city recreational property at any expense. And that's all that counts, the ballot wording. Anything goes if Mesa voters foolishly approve this. They don't have their act together, at least not for us with that unacceptable ballot language.
Definitely a NO VOTE is in order, partcularly with Brady's irresponsible statement about relocating the softball fields. It's not as if they didn't have enough time to work out something meaningful for and with the Cubs. It's like your kid wanting the keys to your new Corvette without telling you where they're going.
Cubs have been good for Mesa, so they and the City, who do work cooperatively with one another, can come back next year to get our approval for something of substance.
mrfixer123 posted at 6:24 am on Tue, Oct 5, 2010.
This agreement has so many loopholes and what ifs in it you'd have to incoherent to vote for it. If it's such a good deal then why don't the Cubs build it and foot the whole bill and pocket the revenue? The Waveyard was a joke from the beginning. They had neither the funding nor the technology to make the thing work. A HUGE What if from the start. As far as a cotton field on this site mentioned by one commenter, they should go see that the best 9 hole golf course in Phoenix is there. I'd much rather play 9 holes year round then see the Cubs 4 wks. a year. Scot Smith for sheriff? HA. What has this guy been smokin.
scottsmith4sheriff posted at 1:54 am on Tue, Oct 5, 2010.
Old GM proving grounds are to far other ball team to travel and it has a higher and better use for its way out east location already.... how about speaking up for some finished roads way out here while your voicing your opinions
Tucson lost the cactus teams they want to be closer together.
scottsmith4sheriff posted at 1:50 am on Tue, Oct 5, 2010.
PLEASE no more no stuff.....
Why... ask Tucson Why..... vacant old stadiums the Diamond backs and Rockies pulled out of Tucson and are moving now to new underconstruction stadiums on the reservation in Scottsdale... If you say NO it is and old vacant stadium either way.... It can become a great adult and little league park... We need the jobs... I know 3 guys in my power and higley road area employed building the new stadiums on the reservation lets build it and keep people working....
scottsmith4sheriff posted at 1:39 am on Tue, Oct 5, 2010.
Hey MR or MRS votenomesa... you're wrong but please read why and reconsider your voice....
I used to live on North Mesa Drive at Mesa Cove 20 plus years ago... I lived in 3 of the hoods now affected by ASU housing extenstions and MCC growth ideal for our own kids to use housing between our schools. We need jobs for these college students. I loved the park before, the shopping now and the plans moving ahead. I was early 20's now late 40's I moved right next to the cow smell of the ball fields at Power Road and Elliot. A community ball park larger than Hohokam is used by all sorts of locale ball teams kids, adults and this is a great family area.... I own rental is the area and I would like to move back to the city... Gas is to expensive today to drive way out here.... Please reconsider your NO Vote recomendation and Be a Pro MESA YES vote with me and my tenants and ball buddies...
Ball Parks build family values jobs spirits and fun..... God blesses MESA everyday lets build the park.
scottsmith4sheriff posted at 1:24 am on Tue, Oct 5, 2010.
Why the new stadium is good and go for the gusto on it.
I lived next to Riverview park at once time, it has become an extension of ASU housing today. Mesa can benifit from the family values and retirees again by extending Tempe town lake to become Riverview park and River view pond, we can add to Tempe Lake with a real dam a small river and habitat between them or even navigable water river narrow but flowing. Shrink Riverview park lake to a small pond conect it with Alma School gravel pit and an canal alteration in the area as a park. Improve bicycle routes, running areas and family areas.
Mesa needs the lime light of Tempe park on the superstition freeway and this is a chance to connect with the new Diamond backs and Rockies Stadiums all in Scottsdale/reservation area.
Mesa could lease ground or sell for profit hotel sites, Luxury campsites along the intown riverpark lake extention and add more light rail planned to connect central mesa, ASU and old town mesa together let the snow birds take rail, party and drink as midwest beer brewing state snow birds do and we will all be safe and happy ASU tempe lake fun and young, Mesa Riverview lake park old farts, family value, Grandparents park.....
Scott Smith being a succesful home builder CPA is the guy to do this while he is Mayor and keep the cost and profits brewing. Microbrewers park with light rail home safe rail system and weekend event RV park like California Costal Beaches. Dream big, build it and we will come. We need to do this MESA step up and lets build our dream and jobs and fun.....
scottsmith4sheriff posted at 1:10 am on Tue, Oct 5, 2010.
Terry Goddard Please vote for him……. Please think about Scott Smith as a possible candidate for Sherriff when this new park is well on its way. AZ Resident 25 Years, I know what is right for my state.
Please vote for Terry Goddard for Governor He was Phoenix’s best Mayor. Having been Mayor of the largest City in the state and over most of its population he is our only choice for a good Governor. Please stop the nonsense and get brewer back to the dress shop.
Please consider Scott Smith as a great potential Sheriff for Maricopa County to replace and retire Joe…
Joe has his place in history but add a couple more years on and he will need to enjoy life not deal with issues of politics, cameras and criminals. Say thank you to Joe for a long good haul and let him retire in peace. Let’s send Joe fishing for fun and tell him retirement is good we are pleased with him. Scott Smith knows how to run a business, and has family values, that is what the sheriff needs is family values and accountability. He oversees the Mesa Police just fine why not the sheriff’s department in two years. …….. Yes we need this stadium….. I will tell you why next… 25 yrs in AZ I know what we need.
scottsmith4sheriff posted at 12:56 am on Tue, Oct 5, 2010.
I would like to see Scott Smith run for Sheriff and allow Joe to retire. Smith has proven business and accounting back ground second to none in Valley Politics, Yes he was smart and very lucky at the same time. Scott has strong family values, a large family, has the accounting skills to make Maricopa County Sheriff’s office run smoothly.
Jan Brewer and Sheriff have raped the metro Valley of the low end of our economy that has always been part of the Valley and Arizona. Look at all the starter homes now vacant, magnet schools are empty in community areas once populated by those who have left for New Mexico and dairy states.
Terry Goddard was the Best Mayor of Phoenix and please vote for him. He ran the City of Phoenix in a tough time and with the experience of running the largest city in the state he is our best choice for a great Governor. Our state made its voice now it is our nation’s obligation to make it right. We need people to move and vacation here it has fueled our economy in the past we also need Solar Field Museums that function and we need to use Jail Labor to build them, in turn they serve a sentence, learn a skill and then take rehab classes and have an employable skill once out. We don’t need more pink underwear we need to manufacture it. We grow cotton so why not let the jail birds weave and sew.
Terry Goddard Please vote for him……. Please think about Scott Smith as a possible candidate for Sherriff when this new park is well on its way. AZ Resident 25 Years, I know what is right for my state.
[beam]
loubator posted at 12:42 am on Tue, Oct 5, 2010.
Doesn't anyone realize that we are talking about the Chicago Cubs here, people? Sheesh, I just wish that they would go to Florida and get it over with. They might enjoy the Chicago theme park down there. Don't want it here, this is the beautiful desert!
trigama posted at 12:15 am on Tue, Oct 5, 2010.
Hey How about if Mesa uses it as a outdoor concert venue in the off season? Because cricket sucks and always has! I quit going to concerts there because the sound quality is so bad. Just another way to pay for it faster and create more revenue for Mesa. I hope those bleachers are covered.
strad58 posted at 11:44 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
I'm beginning to think that there are people in our town who vote against everything. Maybe they should call themselves the MRAE (Mesa Residents Against Everything). The Cubs have brought all kinds of money to our city these many years and have been a main stay to our tourist industry. I can't think of how many people in our community will be without jobs or how many businesses will close down if we lose the Cubs. This project is not funded by our taxes and will be more than paid for after a few years.
Babs10 posted at 9:46 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
What will they want after that? With people loosing jobs and the food lines long why in the hell would Mesa even consider this stupid idea. Mesa has had to lay off people and they want what??? Are they crazy!!!! Thanks for listening. B. Payne typing here...
Babs10 posted at 9:43 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
[ban]
tlow89 posted at 8:58 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
I understand the concept of where they want to be, but for the East Valley and the city of Mesa, why are you trying to squeeze everything into that site?! If you allocate cheaper land at the old GM Test Track you can design and build anything you want, however you want it, with the ability to attract other business, teams, and build 8 water parks! If you build, they will come.
Accuracy posted at 8:36 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
Hohokam Stadium opened in 1977 and first hosted the Oakland A’s. 1979 was the year the Chicago Cubs moved from Scottsdale out to Mesa’s Hohokam Stadiun in the Cactus League spring training. In 1996 it was decided to demolish Hohokam and build a brand new stadium.
“The city has capped its spring training complex spending at $84 million, and infrastructure costs at an additional $15 million.”……….”The Cubs and their development partners would likely spend more than the $99 million taxpayers would pay,” Mesa Mayor Smith said.
Mesa taxpayers beware of the exceedingly tenuous generalization . . . Proposition 420 is asking Mesa voters to authorize the City of Mesa to spend in excess of $1.5 million on a Cactus League Spring Training baseball facility.
But there is nothing listed in the GENERAL ELECTION Publicity Pamphlet about $99 million cost (or more) for the stadium at Riverview Park in Mesa.
Slabside posted at 8:32 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
"The Chicago Cubs say their new Mesa stadium would capture the flavor of the iconic Wrigley Field, with the same dimensions, bleachers in the outfield and buildings peering into the park." IMHO, you can keep your Chicago look alike structure in Chicago. This is ARIZONA not Illinois. America has Chicago thugs running the country into the ground so please keep the Chi-Town road apples where it belongs.
[thumbdown]
Davesnothere posted at 6:40 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
“The reason they’re in a sour mood is they want something that makes a difference in their lives,” Smith said.
This is our Mayor saying this ?? Of course people want something that makes a difference in their lives. First these clowns couldn't land the Cardinals, then the Wavepark and now this. How about spending a little money on school suplies so my kid's teacher doesn't have to ask for supplies or spend her own money to get them.
golfboy posted at 6:39 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
The huge difference with this development is it's backed by the resources and fan base of the Chicago Cubs! After over 10 years of traveling with the family to stay in Mesa and watch the Cubs every spring, this year we decided to invest in a condo in Mesa and the main reason we did that was the Cubs.
It would be a shame to lose another 30 years of one of the huge attractions that Mesa has going for it. The fact they are committing to spend the money to make it a year-round destination makes it even more valuable to the city.
I can't imagine Mesa without the Cubs, please don't let that happen! hope the voters of Mesa consider the full impact of voting the Cubs out of the city... please
mesadude posted at 6:18 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
What's going to happen to the softball fields? Where and are they going to replace them? If they are going to replace the fields, will they still be located in WEST MESA? If they relocate them way out in East Mesa (where all the softball fields are now) A NO VOTE is in store! AND why do we have to give up our softball, golf course, soccer and park for a baseball stadium that us ordinary stiffs are not going to have access to even play on. Until I hear what they have planned for relocating the city softball, golf course, soccer and park services that are currently there...I am voting NO! ........just want a clear, non beat around the bush answer.......
Rich posted at 6:05 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
Can you frame these next to the 'artist renderings' of Waveyard in your offices? Some say the proof of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result.
Mesa Guy posted at 5:45 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
I have heard the Cubs talk about the design during one of their appearances here in Mesa. They will have a great burm all across the outfield and then party decks on the rooftops beyond the outfield wall just like Wrigley. More seats mean more fans wtaching games in Mesa and that means more dollars for the City.
votenomesa posted at 5:44 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
1.No signed binding agreement (any item can change).
2.Cubs (and Cubs only) have final say on location.
3.Cubs retain naming rights for stadium.
4. Mesa pays the utility bill.
5. Mesa pays for public safety services
6. Cubs keep all parking revenue.
7.An empty HoHoKam that will require ongoing maintenance costs.
8. $99 million giveaway to a billionaire owner.
An obvious no vote.
Mesa Guy posted at 5:43 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
These are great. This project will be the place to go during spring training and all year long. I know people all over the Valley who can't wait to go to Wrigleyville West. More money for Mesa! A YES vote is so simple even a Cave man could do it!
jackmcgorr posted at 5:22 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
I like to see the outfield brum not bleaches. I has in the pass and look to in the future to take young people to the game and the openness of the outfield burm make this work. stands would not leave as much freedom. This is one of the reason I have gone to the cubs games. I also look a other stadium that have grass area.
MesaAZGuy posted at 5:07 pm on Mon, Oct 4, 2010.
Renderings look great! Even more reasons to vote yes on 420. No risk to the taxpayer, major upside to the city. A Yes vote is the only option for Mesa to move forward and improve.
This is a VERY wise way to use city assets that aren't doing a single thing for the city but grow cotton.
Take a cotton field and turn it into a money machine with no new taxes or costs to the taxpayer. Very good deal or Mesa.