Cubs

Cubs

Chicago Cubs fans watch as their team takes on the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training game at Hohokam Park in Mesa in March.

Cubs Groundbreaking

Members of Mesa’s Westwood Little League were special guests for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Chicago Cubs spring training facility at Mesa’s Riverview Park on Wednesday. The $99 million facility was made possible by the approval of city voters in the Nov. 2010 general election and is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2014 spring training season. [Mike Sakal/Tribune]

Cubs Groundbreaking

Chicago Cubs Owner Tom Ricketts (far left), Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, Cubs owner Laura Ricketts move some dirt during the groundbreaking ceremonies for the forthcoming $99 million spring training facility for the Cubs at Mesa’s Riverview Park. The costs of the facility were approved by city voters during the general election in November 2010. [Mike Sakal/Tribune]

Cubs Groundbreaking

Family members of the late Robert Brinton were on hand for the groundbreaking ceremonies of the forthcoming Chicago Cubs spring training facility at Mesa’s Riverview Park on Wednesday. Robert Brinton, former president of the Mesa Visitors and Convention Bureau and an ardent Chicago Cubs fan, unexpectedly died age 60 in October, 2011. Brinton’s widow, Nanette Brinton (center, red shirt) is surrounded by some of their children on Wednesday. [Mike Sakal/Tribune]

Cubs Groundbreaking

Chicago Cubs owner tom Ricketts (second from left), Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, Cubs owner Laura Ricketts and other officials break ground Wednesday on the forthcoming $99 million spring training facility for the Cubs at Mesa’s Riverview Park. [Mike Sakal/Tribune]

Cubs Groundbreaking

Bill and Dianne Keller of Mesa have been season ticket holders to Cubs spring training games for 33 years, and will continue that tradition at the new spring training facility scheduled for completion in late 2013. The Kellers were on hand for the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new facility at Mesa’s Riverview Park on Wednesday. [Mike Sakal/Tribune]

Cub Scouts

Cubs Birdseye

Wrigleyville West concept artwork

Cubs Mesa Stadium

The City of Mesa released new renderings in March of what the Chicago Cubs new spring training facility is expected to look like when completed prior to the 2014 spring session. [Courtesy City of Mesa]

Cubs Mesa Stadium

The City of Mesa released new renderings in March of what the Chicago Cubs new spring training facility is expected to look like when completed prior to the 2014 spring session. [Courtesy City of Mesa]

Cubs Mesa Stadium

The City of Mesa released new renderings in March of what the Chicago Cubs new spring training facility is expected to look like when completed prior to the 2014 spring session. [Courtesy City of Mesa]

Cubs Mesa Stadium

The City of Mesa released new renderings in March of what the Chicago Cubs new spring training facility is expected to look like when completed prior to the 2014 spring session. [Courtesy City of Mesa]

Rockies Cubs Spring Baseball

The Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies play the final spring training game of the 2010 season at HoHoKam Stadium Thursday, April 1, 2010, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Rockies Cubs Spring Baseball

The Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies play the final spring training game of the 2010 season at HoHoKam Stadium during the second inning Thursday, April 1, 2010, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Rockies Cubs Spring Baseball

The Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies play the final spring training game of the 2010 season at HoHoKam Stadium during the second inning Thursday, April 1, 2010, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Rockies Cubs Spring Baseball

The Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies play the final spring training game of the 2010 season at HoHoKam Stadium during the second inning Thursday, April 1, 2010, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Cubs New Mesa Stadium

The Chicago Cubs are projected to open their new 15,000-seat facility on a 125-acre site near the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeways in Mesa in time for the 2014 Cactus League slate. [Courtesy City of Mesa]

Cubs New Mesa Stadium

The Chicago Cubs are projected to open their new 15,000-seat facility on a 125-acre site near the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeways in Mesa in time for the 2014 Cactus League slate. [Courtesy City of Mesa]

Cubs Spring Training - Mesa

Renderings show a mezzanine view of the proposed Chicago Cubs spring training facility, a $99 million project set for the intersection of the Loop 101 and Loop 202 freeways. The Arizona State University baseball team had been expected to share the facility with the Cubs.

Cubs Spring Training - Mesa

Renderings show a mezzanine view of the proposed Chicago Cubs spring training facility, a $99 million project set for the intersection of the Loop 101 and Loop 202 freeways. The Arizona State University baseball team had been expected to share the facility with the Cubs.

Cubs visit Sequoia kids

Cubs rookie prospects, who are in Mesa to condition for the next four months leading up to spring training, get ready to teach the basics of baseball to students at Mesa's Sequoia charter school. Left to right: Justin Bour, Dustin Geiger, Reggie Golden, Zeke DeVoss and Taiwan Easterling. Pictured on the far left is Jennifer Reid, assistant principal at Sequoia.

Cubs visit Sequoia kids

Cubs outfielder Tyler Colvin signs autographs for (left to right) Tanner Trejo, Ashley Young, and Joannah Vasel at Sequoia school in Mesa on Wednesday.