Oakland Athletics, Mesa come to spring training deal
Mar 5, 2013, 1:44 AM | Updated: 1:48 am
The City of Mesa formalized an agreement last week with the Oakland Athletics on a 20-year deal that will fill the void left at Hohokam Stadium by the departing Chicago Cubs.
“We are excited to renew our relationship with the Oakland A’s,” Mayor Scott Smith said in a release. “We look forward to them being a part of Mesa’s spring training family for decades to come.”
The deal goes into effect in February 2015.
As part of the deal, the A’s have two five-year extension options that could extend the deal to 30 years.
The City of Mesa also announced it is receiving an $8.2 million advance from the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority to improve Hohokam Stadium ahead of the A’s arrival.
Prior to their move to Phoenix Municipal Stadium, the A’s took spring training in Mesa from 1969 to 1978 and were the first team to play at Hohokam Stadium.
The Cubs will depart Hohokam in 2013 for a new facility Mesa Riverview.
