Glendale, Ariz. approves new spring training stadium for Dodgers and White Sox

June 27, 2007

 

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- The Glendale City Council gave its unanimous approval Tuesday night to an $80.7 million spring training stadium for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox.

 

The agreements include a tax-revenue sharing plan with Phoenix because the ballpark is planned on 151 acres of Glendale-owned land inside Phoenix city limits. The site is near the new University of Phoenix stadium, home of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.

 

The Dodgers plan to leave Vero Beach, Fla., their spring training home of more than 50 years, in 2009. Team owner Frank H. McCourt Jr., speaking at Chase Field in Phoenix, called the vote "a very, very significant step."

 

He declined to characterize the chances of the team relocating to Glendale.

 

"I will say that we are definitely moving in the direction," McCourt said. "That's a very, very significant milestone. It's not the end of the line, but it's significant. We've been meeting regularly with the city and their consultants. We've seen preliminary designs and we're now getting into very serious design development."

 

The White Sox currently hold spring training in Tucson and have a long-term agreement with the city. If Chicago is unable to get out of the contract until it expires in 2013, the team could face stiff fines if the Glendale facility is underused.

 

Updated on Wednesday, Jun 27, 2007 1:18 am EDT

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-d...p&type=lgns

Great.

 

Now Kenny can slobber on his shoes every Spring while looking at every Dodger prospect that he wishes he had drafted instead of drafting Ken Williams Jr. and Oney Guillen.

Yes...yes...yes. I hope they can get someone to come into Tuscon's park and than I can start seeing the Sox play in the Phoenix area and never have to make that drive to Tuscon again.

I'm ecstatic over this whole thing! (note my "from" under avatar).

I HATE driving to Tucson!

Yes...yes...yes. I hope they can get someone to come into Tuscon's park and than I can start seeing the Sox play in the Phoenix area and never have to make that drive to Tuscon again.

 

I thought the Indians had agreed to take ove the Tucson agreement.

I thought the Indians had agreed to take ove the Tucson agreement.

I know there was some talk, but I thought the Indians were talking about getting a facility in the Goodyear area.

I'm just glad we won't have to play half of our games against the DBacks and Rockies.

Is the air heavier in Glendale?

Is the air heavier in Glendale?

 

It's not the heat...it's the stupidity!

(I actually proposed that a few years back for a new state slogan).

It's not the heat...it's the stupidity!

(I actually proposed that a few years back for a new state slogan).

 

 

That's funny right there

Yes...yes...yes. I hope they can get someone to come into Tuscon's park and than I can start seeing the Sox play in the Phoenix area and never have to make that drive to Tuscon again.

 

 

 

And Tucson now is a mess...

 

 

All exits in Tucson are closed and will be that way for 3 years.

 

 

With the Sidewinders leaving (after '08) I think Baseball in Tucson is done for good.