Re: Cubs to Leave Mesa for Florida?

[moochpuppy]

http://floridacubs.com/dnnuke/

[J.R.]

The more I think about it, the less sense it makes for the Cubs to be in the desert. Look at the teams in the Cactus League, and then look at the Grapefruit.

 

The desert schedule is a sleeper aside from the matchups with the Dodgers and White Sox. In Florida, you'd see the Cardinals, Yankees, Red Sox, Mets and Phillies. If facilities are equal in both states, the potential ticket revenue alone (in Naples and otherwise) puts Florida ahead.

[jersey cubs fan]

The more I think about it, the less sense it makes for the Cubs to be in the desert. Look at the teams in the Cactus League, and then look at the Grapefruit.

 

The desert schedule is a sleeper aside from the matchups with the Dodgers and White Sox. In Florida, you'd see the Cardinals, Yankees, Red Sox, Mets and Phillies. If facilities are equal in both states, the potential ticket revenue alone (in Naples and otherwise) puts Florida ahead.

 

I'm not sure the competition really matters all that much in the spring. The Cubs sell-out in Arizona already. People go to games to see a spring training game, they don't care who the other team is. The people that should be worried are the other teams/towns in Arizona that lose a huge road draw when Cbus fans who can't get into Hohokam go to the other parks.

[Guest]

The more I think about it, the less sense it makes for the Cubs to be in the desert. Look at the teams in the Cactus League, and then look at the Grapefruit.

 

The desert schedule is a sleeper aside from the matchups with the Dodgers and White Sox. In Florida, you'd see the Cardinals, Yankees, Red Sox, Mets and Phillies. If facilities are equal in both states, the potential ticket revenue alone (in Naples and otherwise) puts Florida ahead.

The Cubs are typically close to the lead (for both leagues) in attendance every year anyway.

 

The #1 priority in all this is getting better facilities. If Mesa / Arizona steps up, I'd like to see the Cubs stay there. It's not all about spring training - it's about where you have your (secondary) core facilities as a team. I hate putting them in a place where it rains all summer long. As much as we have a great relationship with the Daytona team in the FSL, I'd like to see them move that team elsewhere, too. Players just lose too much development time there due to the rains. With short season teams after the draft, the percentage of rainouts in july/august there is just unacceptable to me.

 

 

 

(plus I like visiting az MUCH more than fl :) )

[moochpuppy]

It's not all about spring training - it's about where you have your (secondary) core facilities as a team. I hate putting them in a place where it rains all summer long. As much as we have a great relationship with the Daytona team in the FSL, I'd like to see them move that team elsewhere, too. Players just lose too much development time there due to the rains. With short season teams after the draft, the percentage of rainouts in july/august there is just unacceptable to me.

 

If the Cubs are really planning on spending more money on scouting in the caribbean (DR, PR, Cuba at some point) wouldn't it make more sense to have your headquarters in Florida?

[jersey cubs fan]

It's not all about spring training - it's about where you have your (secondary) core facilities as a team. I hate putting them in a place where it rains all summer long. As much as we have a great relationship with the Daytona team in the FSL, I'd like to see them move that team elsewhere, too. Players just lose too much development time there due to the rains. With short season teams after the draft, the percentage of rainouts in july/august there is just unacceptable to me.

 

If the Cubs are really planning on spending more money on scouting in the caribbean (DR, PR, Cuba at some point) wouldn't it make more sense to have your headquarters in Florida?

 

Why? What would be the connection/benefit? Is it about players who are used to playing in heat/humidity? Is it about flights?

[J.R.]

The more I think about it, the less sense it makes for the Cubs to be in the desert. Look at the teams in the Cactus League, and then look at the Grapefruit.

 

The desert schedule is a sleeper aside from the matchups with the Dodgers and White Sox. In Florida, you'd see the Cardinals, Yankees, Red Sox, Mets and Phillies. If facilities are equal in both states, the potential ticket revenue alone (in Naples and otherwise) puts Florida ahead.

 

I'm not sure the competition really matters all that much in the spring. The Cubs sell-out in Arizona already. People go to games to see a spring training game, they don't care who the other team is. The people that should be worried are the other teams/towns in Arizona that lose a huge road draw when Cbus fans who can't get into Hohokam go to the other parks.

 

I am aware of the Cubs' gate performance in Arizona. I believe it has the potential to be even better.

[Soul]

http://floridacubs.com/dnnuke/

 

Aww, it kind of feels nice to be wanted by Collier County folks.

[MSG T]

The more I think about it, the less sense it makes for the Cubs to be in the desert. Look at the teams in the Cactus League, and then look at the Grapefruit.

 

The desert schedule is a sleeper aside from the matchups with the Dodgers and White Sox. In Florida, you'd see the Cardinals, Yankees, Red Sox, Mets and Phillies. If facilities are equal in both states, the potential ticket revenue alone (in Naples and otherwise) puts Florida ahead.

 

I'm not sure the competition really matters all that much in the spring. The Cubs sell-out in Arizona already. People go to games to see a spring training game, they don't care who the other team is. The people that should be worried are the other teams/towns in Arizona that lose a huge road draw when Cbus fans who can't get into Hohokam go to the other parks.

 

I am aware of the Cubs' gate performance in Arizona. I believe it has the potential to be even better.

 

They could probably sell out a 25,000 seat stadium in AZ pretty much every ST game, if they had one there. As was said, I don't think gate receipts are the major deciding factor.

[moochpuppy]

Why? What would be the connection/benefit? Is it about players who are used to playing in heat/humidity? Is it about flights?

 

It would be much easier and cost effective to travel to the Dominican and Puerto Rico from SWFL than it would Phoenix.

[jersey cubs fan]

Why? What would be the connection/benefit? Is it about players who are used to playing in heat/humidity? Is it about flights?

 

It would be much easier and cost effective to travel to the Dominican and Puerto Rico from SWFL than it would Phoenix.

 

I doubt that's a factor. How frequently do they make such trips? Phoenix is closer to the Asia markets, it's also a major airport unlike Fort Myers/Southwest Florida.

[moochpuppy]

I doubt that's a factor. How frequently do they make such trips? Phoenix is closer to the Asia markets, it's also a major airport unlike Fort Myers/Southwest Florida.

 

It may be a factor, it may not. I guess it would depend on how many trips they make.

 

How long has it been since you were at the Southwest Florida International Airport? It's no longer the podunk airport it used to be. Back in 2006 a brand new state of the art 28 gate terminal was opened while the old one was torn down. Obviously not nearly the size of a major city airport like Phoenix but much more convenient and very easy to get in and out of.

[Soul]

I doubt that's a factor. How frequently do they make such trips? Phoenix is closer to the Asia markets, it's also a major airport unlike Fort Myers/Southwest Florida.

 

It may be a factor, it may not. I guess it would depend on how many trips they make.

 

How long has it been since you were at the Southwest Florida International Airport? It's no longer the podunk airport it used to be. Back in 2006 a brand new state of the art 28 gate terminal was opened while the old one was torn down. Obviously not nearly the size of a major city airport like Phoenix but much more convenient and very easy to get in and out of.

 

I had a hell of a time finding any seat on any flight there during Spring Break once though. Come to think of it, that's right around the time when ST is too.

 

I guess you would just have to charter or something like that. I don't see it as a real issue. Teams are doing it, so.....it obviously can work.

[jersey cubs fan]

I doubt that's a factor. How frequently do they make such trips? Phoenix is closer to the Asia markets, it's also a major airport unlike Fort Myers/Southwest Florida.

 

It may be a factor, it may not. I guess it would depend on how many trips they make.

 

How long has it been since you were at the Southwest Florida International Airport? It's no longer the podunk airport it used to be. Back in 2006 a brand new state of the art 28 gate terminal was opened while the old one was torn down. Obviously not nearly the size of a major city airport like Phoenix but much more convenient and very easy to get in and out of.

 

I was there once in the podunk days and once last year. It is pretty nice. But it's still a relatively little served airport.

[moochpuppy]

To be expected....

 

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/nov/04/Chicago-cubs-owners-spring-training-Ricketts/

[17 Seconds]

pleeeeeease come to florida. naples isn't that far from sarasota

[abuck1220]

The more I think about it, the less sense it makes for the Cubs to be in the desert. Look at the teams in the Cactus League, and then look at the Grapefruit.

 

The desert schedule is a sleeper aside from the matchups with the Dodgers and White Sox. In Florida, you'd see the Cardinals, Yankees, Red Sox, Mets and Phillies. If facilities are equal in both states, the potential ticket revenue alone (in Naples and otherwise) puts Florida ahead.

 

I'm not sure the competition really matters all that much in the spring. The Cubs sell-out in Arizona already. People go to games to see a spring training game, they don't care who the other team is. The people that should be worried are the other teams/towns in Arizona that lose a huge road draw when Cbus fans who can't get into Hohokam go to the other parks.

 

I am aware of the Cubs' gate performance in Arizona. I believe it has the potential to be even better.

 

it doesn't matter. they're not going to sell more tickets because they play the phillies in ST instead of the brewers. they're just not. no one cares who they play in spring training. plus, ticket sales are probably like the 50th most important factor they're considering. selling tickets is the least of their worries.

[J.R.]

I disagree. Revenue certainly is an important factor in these discussions.

[jersey cubs fan]

I disagree. Revenue certainly is an important factor in these discussions.

 

You are missing the point. Yes, revenue matters. But the competition does not. They will sell their spring tickets whether they are in Florida or Arizona. People don't care about who they are playing, they care about going to see the Cubs in spring training.

[J.R.]

You are missing the point. Yes, revenue matters. But the competition does not. They will sell their spring tickets whether they are in Florida or Arizona. People don't care about who they are playing, they care about going to see the Cubs in spring training.

 

This facility will serve the Cubs for 30 years. Today's intense demand for ST tickets may well erode in coming seasons, especially as the Cubs' national fandom declines absent the reach of 160 games on WGN and the presence of expansion teams in places like Phoenix and Denver, places in which large numbers of western fans latched onto the team in the 1980s.

 

The Cubs have to prepare for a future in which they may need to work to build spring crowds. Naples is 500 miles closer to Wrigley Field, the Grapefruit schedule is more interesting and Florida is a longstanding vacation destination.

[jersey cubs fan]

You are missing the point. Yes, revenue matters. But the competition does not. They will sell their spring tickets whether they are in Florida or Arizona. People don't care about who they are playing, they care about going to see the Cubs in spring training.

 

This facility will serve the Cubs for 30 years. Today's intense demand for ST tickets may well erode in coming seasons, especially as the Cubs' national fandom declines absent the reach of 160 games on WGN and the presence of expansion teams in places like Phoenix and Denver, places in which large numbers of western fans latched onto the team in the 1980s.

 

The Cubs have to prepare for a future in which they may need to work to build spring crowds. Naples is 500 miles closer to Wrigley Field, the Grapefruit schedule is more interesting and Florida is a longstanding vacation destination.

 

There's no telling what teams will be around in 30 years, whether they will be in Florida either. And Arizona is a longtime vacation destination as well.

 

The spring training schedule just doesn't matter. It's about getting the better facility (structurally and financially).

[erik316wttn]

You are missing the point. Yes, revenue matters. But the competition does not. They will sell their spring tickets whether they are in Florida or Arizona. People don't care about who they are playing, they care about going to see the Cubs in spring training.

 

This facility will serve the Cubs for 30 years. Today's intense demand for ST tickets may well erode in coming seasons, especially as the Cubs' national fandom declines absent the reach of 160 games on WGN and the presence of expansion teams in places like Phoenix and Denver, places in which large numbers of western fans latched onto the team in the 1980s.

 

The Cubs have to prepare for a future in which they may need to work to build spring crowds. Naples is 500 miles closer to Wrigley Field, the Grapefruit schedule is more interesting and Florida is a longstanding vacation destination.

 

Why not move to Vero Beach? They lost the Dodgers and I'm sure "Dodgertown' would turn a different shade of blue and become "Cubbieville"

[J.R.]

The spring training schedule just doesn't matter. It's about getting the better facility (structurally and financially).

 

Hence my contention that

If facilities are equal in both states, the potential ticket revenue alone (in Naples and otherwise) puts Florida ahead.

 

If Mesa wants to build another Camelback Ranch and Naples offers another Al Lang Field, there's no point in talking. That's clearly not the case.

[Guest]

You are missing the point. Yes, revenue matters. But the competition does not. They will sell their spring tickets whether they are in Florida or Arizona. People don't care about who they are playing, they care about going to see the Cubs in spring training.

 

This facility will serve the Cubs for 30 years. Today's intense demand for ST tickets may well erode in coming seasons, especially as the Cubs' national fandom declines absent the reach of 160 games on WGN and the presence of expansion teams in places like Phoenix and Denver, places in which large numbers of western fans latched onto the team in the 1980s.

 

The Cubs have to prepare for a future in which they may need to work to build spring crowds. Naples is 500 miles closer to Wrigley Field, the Grapefruit schedule is more interesting and Florida is a longstanding vacation destination.

 

Why not move to Vero Beach? They lost the Dodgers and I'm sure "Dodgertown' would turn a different shade of blue and become "Cubbieville"

 

Vero Beach is in the middle of nowhere. Most Dodger fans I know who went there didn't think much of it outside the nostalgia.

[Bote McBoteface]

Vero Beach sucks.