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Date: March 11, 2005
Contact: Pat Dodds, Public Affairs Officer, (480) 312-2336
The San Francisco Giants, one of the Cactus League’s original teams, will continue
spring training in Scottsdale for 20 more years, under a proposed agreement announced
Friday.
The Scottsdale City Council will consider the agreement during a special meeting at 5
p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd. The agreement extends the city’s
relationship with the Giants and the Scottsdale Charros, a charitable organization that
has operated spring training since 1964.
The Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority is expected to consider the proposal later
this month.
“The agreement keeps a franchise with a great history in a downtown filled with
baseball history,” said Mayor Mary Manross. “There’s no better way to
celebrate 50 years of spring training in Scottsdale.”
"The Giants have enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Scottsdale and its citizens
and we are delighted to continue spring training in Scottsdale through 2025," said
Larry Baer, Giants executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Scottsdale
Stadium and Indian School Park serve as our homes away from home during the months of
February and March and are as much a part of our history as Seals Stadium, Candlestick
Park and SBC Park. We look forward to working with the city and the Charros to continue on
with this rich tradition for decades to come."
“We’re thrilled that our organization can stay involved in another 20 years
of spring training,” said Kirk Johnson, a Charros board member. “We appreciate
the support we receive from the Giants and the community for the charitable work we
do.”
The estimated economic impact of spring training in Scottsdale was nearly $16 million
in 2004, according to estimates from the city’s Economic Vitality Department.
The agreement calls for a new training field and a smaller practice infield just east
of Scottsdale Stadium and upgrades to the stadium and the team’s existing training
facilities at Indian School Park. Total cost of the new facilities and upgrades is
estimated at $23.1 million.
Scottsdale will request $20 million in funding from the Arizona Sports and Tourism
Authority (AZSTA). It is expected that about two-thirds of the funding will come from
AZSTA funds designated for Cactus League improvements, and the remaining financing will be
from funds made available to AZSTA through an intergovernmental agreement with the
Maricopa County Stadium District, which also has funding designated for the Cactus League.
Scottsdale has budgeted $3.1 million for portions of the proposal that will aid spring
training and benefit the city in other ways, such as expanded parking in the downtown
area.
The plan calls for construction to occur in two phases, first at the stadium and then
at the Indian School Park location. All improvements are tentatively scheduled to be
complete by February 2007.
A new practice field, infield and other facilities would be built on about 4 acres east
of the stadium. Parts of the stadium, including the team clubhouse, would be renovated and
enlarged.
The Giants training facilities at Indian School Park, about a mile northeast of the
stadium, include four full-size fields and an indoor training area adjacent to Club SAR, a
public recreation and fitness facility operated by the city. The fields would be
completely renovated, lighting would be added to three fields and the indoor training
facility would be renovated and expanded from about 12,000 to 20,000 square feet.
Under the agreement, the Giants will continue spring training in Scottsdale through
2025, and have options to extend their contract to 2035.
The Giants have held spring training in Arizona for more than five decades. The 2005
spring training season is their 58th in Arizona and 24th in Scottsdale.
The original Scottsdale Stadium was built by a group of local businessmen to bring the
Baltimore Orioles to the city in 1956. It was updated through the years and played host to
the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and Oakland A’s. The Giants moved to the stadium in
1982. It was rebuilt on the original site in 1992.
It lies within walking distance of restaurants and shops frequented by baseball greats
through the years.
Proposed Agreement Fact
Sheet
Rendering of proposed stadium improvements
(pdf / 836 kb
/ 1 pg)
Rendering of proposed park improvements
(pdf / 779 kb /
1 pg)
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