Posts
Turns out that the Cubs Reception with Governor Brewer, Senator McCain (via video message), Speaker Adams and other officials and business leaders was last night. Keep the Cubs has it right, having so many leaders in the room shows a real commitment to the Cubs.
We also got an eye witness account of the event from Terry:
"The reception was impressive yesterday evening. Backdrop was the sunset, there was a great intro video showing off all of the great places that we all love as Arizonans and Mesans. Gov. Brewer spoke about Az being the place with the most IL. natives that have moved to milder climates, that we have one of the seven wonders of the world and how she was committed to making the deal happen. She opened her comments by saying that with the leadership in the room we could get the deal done right then.
So, the leadership in the room; Speaker Adams, Thayer Vershoor, Don Stapley, Steve Court, Cecil Ash, Rich Crandall, Michael Bidwell (who commented on the Cardinals making it to the Super Bowl and the fan support- all sell out games since the stadium was built and how the Cubs could imagine the same support) , Ryne Sandberg, Rep from Harry Mitchell's office, AG's office, I'm sure I am missing some of the elected officials but you get the picture.
Rep. Adams commented on growing up in Mesa and the Cubs being a part of being a kid in Mesa because of spring training. My favorite comment of the evening came from our Mayor- There are 1800 (he gave a much more specific number) miles of coastline in the United States but only one Sonoran Desert. Visitors get a one of a kind experience when they come to AZ.
Crane Kenny had nothing but praise for the way the Cubs have been treated here in Mesa over the years by the City and the Cactus League.
When Tom Ricketts spoke he said it was his first visit to AZ. I hope his first impression is memorable and one that makes him want to come back often. I know that why I ended up here. Many of the people I went to college with at ASU were transplants from IL. I am from DC and many of my friends went to FL for school. It was dumbfounding to me how many of my friends at ASU were from the Chicago area and the point was really driven home when Spring of my Freshman year rolled around and we spent our afternoons in the cheap seats watching the Cubbies. They sure have devoted fans that love AZ as much as the Cubs."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Great account of the evening- thank you. Sounds like it was well done, and I'm sure it was well received. For those of us who live near Hohokam, or own vacation rental property near Fitch Park however, it is a mixed portion of good and bad news. The neighborhood near the Cubs' facility needs the spring training revenue and clientele that visit Mesa's 85201 every year. Within our little neighborhood are numerous families and businesses that invest in and support an area that contains the city's Arts & Culture District, the EV's best residential Historic Districts, and Mesa's Downtown, with little help or recognition from the city's administration.
While we realize that the city is genuinely "doing a lot with a litte", we also would contend that the city simply cannot afford to allow businesses like Mardeneleys, Diamond's, or the Mesa Marriot to fail, or to surrender yet another neighborhood to low income rental tenants.
Good point Dan. If the cubs move out to east mesa, there is going to be a hole left in central mesa. I do hope they pick Gateway because of "long term", it makes the best sense out there moreso along the 202 in northeast mesa. However, we are left with a spring training facility at hohokam. Does this open an option for another team to located here? Or does this all go away in time and other uses come in? I guess the use is not as important at this time because there is no say on what the cubs are going to do. I guess the city will cross that road when the time comes.
Post a Comment