The pandemic has left professional sports in a constant state of flux, and with spring training on the horizon in Arizona, officials with the Cactus League are preparing themselves for any outcome.
After two pandemic seasons, the league has an additional unknown to deal with as COVID-19 continues to be a factor — a Major League Baseball player lockout potentially delaying or canceling spring training.
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to spring training the week of Feb. 14, with opening day still planned to kick off Feb. 26. But with reports of little negotiation movement, the possibly of a delayed or canceled spring training increases.
Cactus League Executive Director Bridget Binsbacher said she is concerned about the possibility of a work stoppage impacting spring training in 2022 but did not want to speculate on the outcome of the ongoing MLB negotiations.
“After two years of COVID-disrupted spring training, our stakeholders are counting on a strong 2022 Cactus League season. I believe it is vital to the recovery of Arizona’s hard-hit tourism industry,” she said. “I can tell you that we’re hearing from fans across the country that they are looking forward to baseball in the Arizona sunshine.”
Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business in 2018 reported spring training generated a total impact of $644 million, as well as about 6,400 jobs annually and $31.9 million in state and local tax revenues.
But the past two years have come with fewer games, fewer fans and fewer out-of-state tourists visiting Arizona.
In 2020, when the spring training season was cut short by the start of the pandemic, total economic impact generated was nearly cut in half to $363 million. Overall attendance in 2020 was 949,113, with about 60% of the games played before the season was canceled on March 12.
In 2021, though a full spring training season was played, overall attendance was 446,905, as fan capacity was limited to 25% because of COVID-19 protocols. Because many people still weren’t comfortable traveling, local fans made up a far larger share of the crowd. Normally, about six of 10 fans at Cactus League games are from out of state, according to Binsbacher.
Earlier this month, Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps said he remained optimistic the lockout will end soon, but is “very upset” at the prospect of MLB canceling the Cactus League season, especially when the past two spring training seasons have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
“It will for all intents and purposes be three years that we’ve not been able to even come close to recapturing just a part of the money that is necessary to repay the significant investment that not only Glendale, but the other cities have made,” Phelps said.
He added that if in mid-January it doesn’t look like a settlement will occur between team owners and the MLB Players Association, he will gather city managers from other Valley cities with Cactus League ballparks and discuss engaging MLB about the lockout.
Normally, any interaction between Arizona cities and MLB is done through the Cactus League Association, which represents facilities, teams and municipalities in the league.
Phelps said convening city managers might be necessary not because the Cactus League Association doesn’t do a good job, but because the city managers hold more leverage.
“At the end of the day, each of the cities holds a gigantic hammer in terms of how we invest on capital improvements and, you know, how we do things,” Phelps said.
All said, Valley cities are preparing for spring training to open as planned.
“This much we know: our 10 ballparks will be ready to open when needed,” Binsbacher said. “During the last two seasons, we’ve learned to be prepared for unforeseen challenges. That’s why I’m confident that no matter what the circumstances, our eight host municipalities and the tribal community will be ready to work together to ensure a safe, secure and enjoyable spring training experience for all involved.”
Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman. Editor’s note: Editor Mark Carlisle contributed to this report.
Meet Philip Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.
Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater.
Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.
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