PHOENIX (AP) — The Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers say they will move their spring training sites from Florida to Surprise, Ariz., if the Phoenix suburb builds a stadium.
Top officials of both franchises made the commitment at a news conference with city officials Monday. The move is targeted for 2002.
Funding for the $45 million stadium would be in place if Maricopa County voters approve Proposition 302 on Nov. 7, Surprise City Manager Bill Pupo said. Two-thirds of the money would come from the measure and one-third from the city.
Proposition 302 would impose a hotel and rental car tax to fund a new stadium for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals as well as provide money to improve and construct spring training facilities. The measure also includes money for youth sports.
However, city of Surprise officials said they would seek other means to build the facility if the measure is defeated.
Surprise is a fast-growing city of about 40,000, located 35 miles west of downtown Phoenix.
“With the possibility of coming to Arizona, we didn’t think twice,” Royals executive vice president Herk Robinson said. “We are firmly committed to signing a long-term lease with the city of Surprise and feel that our relationship will be one of good citizenship that we can give to the community as well as receive.”
The Royals’ lease of their spring training site at Haines City, Fla., expires after the 2002 season, but Robinson said his team could move before then. The Rangers’ lease in Port Charlotte, Fla., expires after next season.
General managers and managers of both teams attended the news conference, along with Hall of Famer George Brett, who played his entire career with the Royals, and Rangers shortstop Royce Clayton, who lives in nearby Scottsdale.
“There’s no question that there are a lot of benefits to us to come here,” said Mike Cramer, chief executive officer of Southwest Sports Group, which owns the Rangers and the NHL’s Dallas Stars. “It’s an easier trip for our fans coming from Dallas. The quality of the league here is tremendous. The support for the league here has been tremendous.”
Royals manager Tony Muser participated in Arizona spring training for 19 years with the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers.
“It seems as though we’re always the visiting club when we play in Baseball City,” Muser said. “There’s never a feeling of roots. As a manager you hear bits and pieces when you are in Florida `Are we going to have a chance to go to Arizona?’
“The first time I talked to Herk about it, I said if the opportunity ever comes up, it’s a great place to train. The weather is consistent. It’s a little bit easier to get in shape. It’s just a better process all around.”
Clayton, who trained in Arizona when he was with San Francisco, said travel during the spring is a big consideration.
“Spring training can be tough if you have to travel far differences,” he said. “The Arizona area offers short trips between ballparks. Florida is tough. I was in culture shock having to go out to Florida, so I’m looking forward to coming back to Arizona if we can make that happen.”
Anaheim, the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee, Oakland, San Diego and San Francisco all train in the Phoenix area. The Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox and Colorado train in Tucson.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA (TICKER) — The Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals are moving to the Cactus League.
The American League teams today signed a letter of intent with the Phoenix suburb of Surprise, Arizona to share a $45 million spring training complex beginning with the 2002 or 2003 season.
Both the Rangers and Royals currently hold spring training in Florida. The Rangers’ lease with Port Charlotte, their winter home for 14 years, expires after the 2001 season.
The Royals are scheduled to remain in Baseball City, Florida through the 2002 season, but their lease contains provisions that will allow the team to leave early. Kansas City has had the same spring home for 13 seasons.
Funding for the facility in Surprise would come in large part from the passage of Proposition 302, which calls for the expenditure of $331 million for a stadium for the the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and additional funding for tourism, the Cactus League and youth sports.
Even if the measure is defeated by the voters on November 7, both teams still hope to move to Arizona.
“If the proposition does not pass, we’re committed to find ways to make it work,” Royals executive vice president Herk Robinson said.
The Cactus League currently has 10 members and in recent years has been recruiting Grapefruit League teams to move their spring facilities west. The most recent addition was the Chicago White Sox in 1998.