Where Every Cubs Season Starts

Mesa, Arizona, is entering a new era of growth. Quality development, community engagement and innovative solutions will help build a better Mesa. The Chicago Cubs are part of that long-term vision. City leaders recognize the rich history the city shares with the Cubs and the value of our strong partnership. We look forward to developing an even more beneficial relationship built on trust, respect and love for the game.

Mesa is poised to realize the benefits of strategic planning, well-developed infrastructure and a clear vision of the next cycle of growth and opportunity. The Cubs are part of the Mesa fabric - a centerpiece and a point of pride for Mesa and all of Arizona. - City of Mesa Mayor Scott Smith

History

History of Spring Training in Arizona

The Cactus League has its roots in the 1940s and early 1950s when the number of Major League Baseball teams training in Arizona grew to four teams - the Indians, Giants, Cubs, and Orioles (later replaced by the Red Sox). From the beginning, a critical factor was the availability of other teams to provide pre-season competition.

By the early 1970s the Cactus League had grown to eight teams and remained stable at that size for roughly a decade.

In the 1980s competitive pressures from other spring training venues, outside Arizona, began to threaten the Cactus League. New sources of government funding for new facilities in these competitive venues threatened to draw a number of Cactus League teams away from Arizona. Arizona responded with financial support for spring training facilities and over the intervening years has further expanded reaching fourteen teams in 2009.

Chicago Cubs History in Arizona

The Chicago Cubs were among the first teams to arrive in Arizona for spring training, first training in Mesa in 1952. Over the years, they have played at several facilities over the years in both Mesa and Scottsdale. They have been at Hohokam Park in Mesa since 1978.

Cultivate Cubs Spring Training in Mesa

Chicago Cubs Spring Training is a long standing Mesa tradition. More than 50 years ago, in 1952, the Cubs moved into Rendezvous Park and made Mesa their Spring Training home. A half century later much has been accomplished:

• Strong friendships developed.
• Great successes achieved.
• Challenges overcome.

There was the construction of a second ballpark, and then in 1997, the unveiling of a third, new stadium, Hohokam Park, which debuted with 12,500-seats.

Roots of Success

Over the decades the Cubs became the pride of the Cactus League, connecting generations of families, fans and players and forming a bond between Mesa and Chicago. The Chicago Cubs and the ballpark continue to lead the Cactus League in attendance. The 2009 Cubs spring training season at HoHoKam set a new Major League Baseball single season spring attendance record with 203,105 fans. That broke the previous record of 193,993 fans set in 2005 - also by the Cubs at HoHoKam Stadium.

Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success. - Henry Ford

All About the Game

The Cactus League Means More for the Fans and More for the Teams

The close proximity of the Cactus League stadiums makes Arizona an attractive destination for fans and for the 15 teams. There is minimal travel time between the various stadiums so it is easy to maximize time at the game or time on the field.

That means plenty of time to scout the competition, provide training, develop players and get everyone in shape for the demanding upcoming season. Spring training in Arizona also provides a fan-friendly atmosphere that combines access to the players, warm Southwestern hospitality, a great value and, of course, plenty of sunshine. This time-honored Arizona tradition also creates an estimated economic impact of $360 million statewide.

It's concentrated. It makes more sense, because if you want to get work done in spring training, the less time you spend on the road, the better off you are going to be. That's the biggest issue of spring training. It's not who you play but how much work you can get done. - Joe Torre, Dodgers Manager