Spring training numbers drop

Sports Facilities Manager Chris Calcaterra's report to council Tuesday gave a summary of revenue and attendance figures from 2007 to 2011, and said total revenues have dropped 6 percent since that time. Gross revenue was $5,017,955 compared to more than $5.6 million in 2009 and $5.3 million in 2010.

This year's attendance dropped 6 percent as well, from a high of 220,357 in 2007 to 188,244 in 2011. Average attendance was 7,021, compared to 11,161 for the Diamondbacks at Talking Stick. There were 4,600 tickets purchased with coupons that appeared in various publications.

In a comparison of attendance for two-team facilities in the Cactus League, PSC was in the middle, with the Diamondbacks/Rockies coming in first at 359,308 (average 10,888 per game); Dodgers/White Sox second at 194,863 (average 6,719); Mariners/Padres third at 188,244 (average 6,072); Rangers/Royals at 176,407 (average 5,880); and Indians/Reds at 112,794 (average 3,789).

The Mariners dropped to fifth in Cactus League attendance behind the Diamondbacks, Rockies, Cubs, and Giants.

Calcaterra said the facility's partner, Peoria Diamond Club, once again had a strong membership base of more than 450 Red Shirt volunteers and 100 new volunteers. The club worked on the annual charity game and helped with operations of ticketing, parking, ushering and scorecard sales. With those efforts, more than $175,000 was raised for local youth charitable organizations.

In addition to spring training, Calcaterra said in the 82 calendar days since the end of spring training, the complex has enjoyed a number of events. It is now in the middle of rookie league baseball.

Voters OK funding for new Cubs spring facility - Chicago Breaking ...

Tribune News Services

MESA, Ariz. -- Voters in Mesa have approved funding for construction of a new spring training facility for the Cubs.

With nearly all the ballots counted Tuesday night, the proposal was leading by 21,000 votes out of 86,000 cast.

The city will provide up to $99 million to construct the complex two miles southwest of the team's current facility at Hohokam Park. Any additional funds and upkeep of the new park will be financed by the Cubs, who plan to develop a shopping and entertainment area near the ballpark.

The team, which regularly draws the biggest spring training crowds in Arizona, has trained in Mesa since 1979 and had an earlier stint in the city from 1952 to 1965.

Mesa's funding will come, in large part, from the sale of undeveloped city land.

@Tell the Truth Perhaps you should avoid the sweeping generalization. Mesa is ONE city in Arizona, as the article says, 86,000 votes were cast on that particular issue... but there were almost 1.34 Million votes cast total. So based on that, the People of Mesa (who were the only ones who could vote on that particular proposition) account for just over 6 % OF ALL OF THE VOTES CAST IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

Personally, I say let 'em go. They haven't won anything in over 100 years, and they way they're going, they probably won't win a World Series for at least another century.

Jet

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