VOTERS ISSUE A RESOUNDING “YES” TO KEEP THE CUBS IN MESA

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

MESA, AZ – On Tuesday, Mesa voters overwhelmingly approved of the City of Mesa’s $99 million investment in a new spring training facility for the Chicago Cubs. The referendum passed with a “yes” vote of more than 63 percent.

“In a show of tremendous support in a particularly difficult economy, Mesa voters recognized the potential of partnering with the Chicago Cubs on an economic investment and future we can, together, create for the city,” said Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts. “Our public-private partnership means jobs for Mesa, tourism dollars for the city and the region and will drive private investment in Mesa and in the development of Wrigleyville West.

“On behalf of the Cubs and the Ricketts family, we thank the voters and everyone who supported our efforts to keep the Cubs in Mesa. This vote extends Dwight Patterson’s great vision and helps promote Chicago Cubs baseball as a mainstay in Mesa for the next generation. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and in the days to come we will sit down with the City of Mesa to finalize our agreement and then begin the design and construction of the new facilities and Wrigleyville West.

"I know all our great fans who have grown to love seeing the Cubs in Mesa are pleased with the result of this vote. We look forward to providing these fans and thousands more the best experience in Spring Training for decades to come."

Mesa has been the Cubs’ spring training partner for 46 years. Working with the City of Mesa, the Cubs have developed a plan which would create a state-of-the-art spring training facility and ballpark for the Cubs while protecting City revenues, promoting and attracting new tourism dollars, creating jobs, keeping Mesa as the leader in spring training in Arizona and helping create a one-of-a-kind family-friendly entertainment destination, all without raising taxes or imposing new fees, as the proposal will be funded through the City’s Enterprise Fund.

The City’s investment in the design and construction is capped at $84 million (the Cubs will cover any of these costs if they exceed $84 million). The City will also provide public infrastructure (roads, utilities, parking, etc.), the cost of which the City estimates will not exceed $15 million. The Cubs will manage and operate the new stadium and facility, saving Mesa almost $2 million each year to care for the new publicly-owned ballpark and training facilities.

According to an economic study commissioned by the City of Mesa, the Cubs generate $138 million annually in spending and tax revenue for Mesa and Arizona. A new stadium and related facilities will continue this contribution from today moving forward, creating new construction jobs and sustaining hundreds of jobs which depend on the Cubs’ presence in Mesa.

The Cubs have led the Cactus League in attendance 13 of the last 15 years and have played in 15 of the top 20 highest-attended Cactus League games ever played.