MESA - The City of Mesa is trying to keep the Cubs in town.
The Mesa City Council took the controversial step of agreeing to build the team a brand new spring training facility. The mayor and city council agreed unanimously.
They argued that if they do not build the Cubs the new stadium the team will move to Naples, Florida.
Other say that if Naples wants the Cubs, they can have them.
The new agreement between Mesa and the Cubs calls for the city to replace the Cubs current spring training site with a new $84 million complex which includes a stadium, hotels, and restaurants.
Mesa's city council unanimously approved building the new Cubs facility but some citizens are not sold on the idea.
Randy Hatch tells 3TV, “Tax dollars shouldn’t fund multimillion dollar companies."
PJ O'Malley says, “We've kissed the back side of a wealthy professional team that could afford to buy the entire city!"
Several told 3TV that in a down economy it is not worth risking tax dollars on sports.
Denna Ray explains, “Our fear is…it won’t bring profit and will be a huge burden."
Nevertheless city officials say most of the funding will come from surcharges on game tickets and rental cars and not from the City of Mesa.
Mayor Scott Smith says, “So the people who come to Cactus League will pay for the majority of costs related to this."
Mesa officials have officially agreed to build the Cubs exactly what they have asked for but the Cubs still have to sign off on the deal.
Chris Brady, the manager, says, “We need to hear from them! Waiting to hear from them on whether they'll accept this."
The Cubs are expected to approve the agreement sometime this week but this is not over.
The state legislature also has to approve the financing and then Mesa voters get the final say. The new stadium proposal should appear on the ballot in November.
