HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2006-214 support to continue major league baseball spring training
MARANA RESOLUTION NO. 2006-214
RELATING TO ADMINISTRATION; SUPPORTING PIMA COUNTY AND THE
CITY OF TUCSON TO CONTINUE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SPRING
TRAINING AT TUCSON ELECTRIC PARK.
WHEREAS, Major League Baseball Spring Training is an integral part of the
activities in southern Arizona; and
WHEREAS, all municipalities in Pima County benefit in excess of $30 million
annually from the from the Memorandum of Understanding that Pima County negotiated
in 1996 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox to construct a new,
two-team Major League Baseball Spring Training facility; and
WHEREAS, Pima County also entered into a Sports Facilities Use Agreement
with the Chicago White Sox in 1996 which prescribed various obligations regarding
construction of the training facilities, revenue sharing and assignment; and
WHEREAS, Pima County expended in excess of$38 million to construct a two-
team Major League Baseball Spring Training facility, including a stadium; and
WHEREAS, the current outstanding debt on said facilities is approximately $28
million; and
WHEREAS, the City of Glendale, Arizona, has announced approval of a
Memorandum of Understanding for two-team Major League Baseball Spring Training
involving the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox; and
WHEREAS, the City of Glendale has applied for approximately $50 million in
funding from the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority to pay for two-thirds ofthe cost
of said Spring Training facilities and stadium; and
WHEREAS, having the Chicago White Sox relocate their Spring Training
activities from Tucson and Tucson Electric Park to Glendale would result in a significant
negative economic impact for Tucson, Pima County and the surrounding municipalities in
the region.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of the Town
of Marana, Arizona, as follows:
Section 1. The Pima County Board of Supervisors and the Board of Directors of the Pima
County Stadium District respectfully ask the Chicago White Sox to reconsider their
proposed relocation to Glendale, Arizona.
Section 2. The Pima County Board of Supervisors and the Board of Directors of the Pima
County Stadium District oppose any funding ofthe two-team Spring Training facility in
Glendale, Arizona, from the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority due to the
competitive advantage it gives Glendale, Arizona over the Pima County and Tucson
region when competing for Major League Baseball Spring Training teams. This
opposition can only be mitigated if the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority conditions
their funding approval upon Pima County approval of a substitute team for the Chicago
White Sox.
Section 3. The Pima County Board of Supervisors and the Board of Directors of the Pima
County Stadium District will not consent to the relocation of the Chicago White Sox to
Glendale unless contractual commitments are made by a Major League Baseball team of
equivalent economic benefit to the Pima County and Tucson region.
Section 4. Authorizing the Mayor to send a letter on behalf ofthe Town requesting that
the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority reject any funding proposals which cause
economic harm to other Arizona cities or towns.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Mayor and Council of the Town of Marana,
Arizona, this 19th day ofR_il' 2006.
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