Phoenix area cities spend millions of taxpayer dollars to build, maintain and operate spring training ballparks, but the now-resolved labor dispute between Major League Baseball and players means a shortened training season and less time for cities to recoup the money.
"They rely on a full spring training season, yet for the third year in a row, they will not see a significant benefit from spring training," Phelps said."We don’t expect that even with a couple of weeks of spring training, there will be many out-of-state visitors coming to stay in our hotels or eating in our restaurants."
Phelps has been the most outspoken city leader in the Valley when expressing concerns over the loss of games, saying his"frustration is not with the two teams but with Major League Baseball as an organization." Even a shortened season is a boost to the local economy, he said. Nearly 70% of visitors to Diablo Stadium are from out of state, which means they’re spending money on hotels and restaurants, he said.
"We really are trying to work as one voice through the Cactus League to communicate the loss to Major League Baseball and to the ownership and I think there is a stronger will for us to combine our options together as a Cactus League front," he said.