By Chris Cabbs
Staff writer
By Chris Cabbs
Staff writer
These are boom times for Wall Street, Steve Forbes and the Cactus League.
Spring training as we know it in the desert could take on a dramatic new dimension with the prospect of three teams based in Tucson and four more in Las Vegas.
That could swell theCactus League by as much as 75 percent, to 14 teams, as early as 1998.
As the first players report to their major-league teams this week, the scenario is nearly as iffy as it is for a rookie who hasn't proven he can handle a big-league curveball. But most of the elements seem present for an enlarged, reshaped Cactus League before the end of the century.
The prospect of the league nearly doubling in size was enhanced Thursday, when the Pima County Board of Supervisors passed a tax deal to refurbish Tucson's Hi Corbett Field and add facilities designed to attract the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies and a third team, probably the Chicago White Sox.
Under pressure of a Feb. 15 deadline from the Diamondbacks and Rockies, the Tucson City Council will take its turn in the batter's box Monday.
The politically charged issue of taxpayer involvement in sports facilities is made even more complex by the aggressive efforts of Las Vegas to pick off any business that Tucson turns away. Las Vegas, which has an ample war chest available, already has had discussions with at least a dozen organizations, some of.them Grapefruit League teams disenchanted with leases that expire in a few years.
"It's not a major setback for us the Diamondbacks and Rockies remain in Tucson, because we have other teams that are interested," said Rossi Ralenkotter, vice president of for the Las Vegas Convention Authority.
"We are moving forward with our planning for a four-team complex," Ralenkotter said. "The teams we have talked to sought us out. It's certainly possible we could see 12-team Cactus League in 1998."
The Rockies, who have trained in Tucson since they entered the major leagues in 1993, have indicated that they will leave the city in two years if they don't get improvements and expansion at Hi Corbett Field.
The Diamondbacks, operating as a tag-team entry withthe Rockies, would prefer to be in Tucson, but would accompany the Colorado franchise if it elects to go to Las Vegas should Tucson not come up with the money for new facilities.
Confused? With all the variables in the mix, the Cactus League of 1998 could number three teams or none in Tucson and either two, four or no teams in Las Vegas. Regardless of the exact scenario, growth seems inevitable.
"I like to be an optimist and think the the city (of Tucson) and county will approve the complex," said Bob Gebhard, general manager of the Rockies.
Like the Diamondbacks, the Rockies would rather train in Tucson than in Las Vegas.
"Tucson is a natural for the Diamondbacks," Gebhard said, "and it appeals to us because we've been there three years and have made it our home.
"At the same time, it bothers us to be going up and down that highway so often, because it's hard to take batting practice on 1-10. When you're trying to prepare for a big-league season, it's a lot of strain on the players to leave early in the morning and not get back until after dark."
Diamondbacks President Rich Dozer said the team has not wavered in its desire to hold spring training in Tucson, first stated by team owner Jerry Colangelo when the franchise was awarded last year.
But since negotiations still haven'tresulted in a firm commitment, the D-Backs have also entertained the prospect of training in Las Vegas.
"Las Vegas has money in the bank (from a hotel tax) and no public votes would have to be taken, so they can deliver," Dozer said.
It's going to be three teams or none in Tucson, that's our deal. You need three teams to have B-team games and get the big-name stars from teams in Phoenix to be willing to ride the bus down there for a series. So we need the equivalent of a Peoria complex and a fixed-up Hi Corbett."
The Rockies have agreed to remain at a refurbished Hi Corbett Field, which would be expanded to seat about 10,000. That means that the tenants of the proposed new stadium would be the Diamondbacks and the White Sox, or whatever third team is lured to Tucson.
However, if the Tucson deal isn't completed, the Rockies and Diamondbacks would be Las Vegas-bound.
"I've been very upfront with the Las Vegas people that we prefer to stay in Tucson," Gebhard said, "but I've made two trips to Las Vegas and I know they very much want spring training and are ready to move quickly to build what we think is necessary."
Tucson Vice Mayor Steve Leal said he believes there is a good chance that the necessary tax package will pass, but that the city is cautious about buying into the notion of a $50 million or greater economic impact from three teams.
"Our goal all along has been to analyze the real revenues ... and pencil this out with no local tax money subsidizing the activity," Leal said.
Dan Schneider, president of the Southern Arizona Sports Development Corp., also said that there is reason for optimism that the tax package will win approval.
Meanwhile, there appear to be enough teams shopping for a new spring base to fuel Las Vegas' hopes, even if the Diamondbacks, Rockies and White Sox commit themselves to Tucson. There are 18 teams with leases that expire in a few years, and 14 of them have been in contact with Las Vegas, including the Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.
Don Logan, who first suggested the concept of a four-team spring-training base in the city, said the coming of big-league baseball to the Valley greatly improves the chances for both Tucson and Las Vegas to be spring-training sites.
"This is a very fertile community," said Logan, general manager of the Las Vegas Stars.
"We have the infrastructure, the airport and the money. Because of the gaming factor, there is a lot of opportunity here. We don't want to go in and raid anybody. We are willing just to let it play itself out."
Fans would find a different mix of activities in each of the three settings, making the Cactus League an easy sell for snowbirds.
