Cubs spring training heading to Naples?
January 14, 2010 17 Comments
It’s been pretty clear since the start of this process that Tom Ricketts and his family were very interested in moving the teams Spring Training facilities east to Naples, Florida. I have no idea if they have business interests or vacation homes in Florida, but it has sure seemed like since this process started that Naples was the choice of the Cubs. That leads me to today’s tweet by USA Today’s baseball guru Bob Nightengale:
The Cubs likely will leave Mesa, Az. for Naples, Fla., for spring training barring the state of AZ coming up with unforseen money.
All of this while the Cubs continue to deny that a decision could be announced early as this Friday. It appears to this page that the decision has already been made. Tom Ricketts is taking the Cubs to the Grapefruit League.
You know if the Dodgers can leave Vero Beach, I guess anything can happen. Still I wonder if Tom Ricketts understands the support and the following that the Cubs have not only in Mesa but all around Arizona. Apparently that does not matter to the Cubs. They appear heart set on taking this team to Southwestern Florida. Adios.
UPDATE 7:53 — According to Paul Sullivan the bed tax in Florida sealed the deal for Crane Kenney and the Cubs:
One hotel general manager in the Naples, Fla., area said he was told by the Cubs that a local bed tax would seal the deal for Florida.
In an article on Marconews.com, Marco Island Marriott general manager Rick Medwedeff said Cubs president Crane Kenney told him it was up to the hotel association to push for the bed tax.
“Kenney said if he got the consensus of the lodging organization within the county, that it would support the project by virtue of bed tax funds,” Medwedeff said. “It would be the last piece he was looking for to approach the owners, (and) that they submit their notice of termination with Mesa and start negotiations with Collier (County).”
As I said earlier in the post it appears that for whatever reason Florida was going to get this all along.
who knew that Phil Rogers could (possibly) be right about something when he said they already made their mind to move to Florida.
I’d like to know why they want to make it more difficult on their fans and players by moving to Florida.
good questions rob, maybe the rickettses have interests in florida. when i saw that the cubs were willing to invest in the project in fla, it became pretty clear that they were probably gonna move.
it disappoints me from a purely selfish standpoint. i really love the cactus league and going to see games out in az. that won’t change for me. i’m gonna keep going to az. i just won’t get to watch the cubs.
you know they’re going to give some B.S. statements like they wanted better facilities and better fan experience, but Arizona seems to be willing to give them everything they want in terms of a new stadium and mini-Wrigleyville experience.
we shall see…
I know it’s a big deal for the team, but I really couldn’t care less. Every year when Opening Day arrives, I feel stupid for caring about all those ST games and players’ ST stat lines.
Maybe I’d feel different if I had ever been to ST, but I haven’t, and most fans haven’t.
makes sense to me sk.
will it help them win a World Series? We went to one ST in AZ and it was the most fun we ever had on a trip. I guess it can be fun is FL, too! Although I hear that the ballparks are more spread out and take longer to get to.
Hey ccd, I loved that Royko clip on the video page. Sent the link to my dad.
isn’t that great sk. royko was an absolute treasure to this city. i could hear old chicago stories like that for hours.
While I think that there is a push by the Cubs to possibly move to Florida, Nightengale’s tweet I believe just a bit of misinterpreted information.
If this was truly the case, a local writer would have said something by now, right?
I expect that if the cubs are moving to Florida, and announcement will come next week…if they plan to stay, they will say something at cubbie con this weekend.
take a look at the updated post above doc. sullivan gives us a bit more info.
Wow…there’s confirmation.
Well, don’t expect an official announcement at Cubbie Con, that would really set off the fans I think.
Am I right in thinking that a majority don’t want them to move? Obviously that appears to be true here.
Aren’t Ricketts’ offices in Florida?
I’m not sure if the Ricketts’s offices are in Florida, but during the public forum held in Naples yesterday, they stated that to their knowledge, no one associated with the Cubs management or ownership has any connection with anything in Florida.
The process started before the Rickett’s took control of the team. The group from Naples first met with the Cubs during the season last year, and they were the ones that started the process, not the Cubs.
they will be by the end of next week. and so will crane kenney’s. lol
Can we move Crane’s offices to another employer?
hell no mo. he’s the leader of the good ship cubbie!
WHOOOOO!!!! CUBBBIIIIIIEEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!
/puts on cutoff camouflage cargo shorts, cocks hat sideways