The veteran-owned Home Run Stadium batting cages, 1829 E. Main St. in Mesa, is seeking help from the community to pay for $45,000 in repairs on the cages and the facility.

It has been at the same location for more than 35 years, according to a release.

Complications for the batting cages began in 2017, when Valley Metro started construction on a light rail expansion along Main Street that took the street down to a single lane in some places.

“Like many of our neighbors, we saw a decrease in traffic,” Owner Roc Rothchild said in the release. “Our revenue dropped over 50% compared to years’ past.”

Construction concluded in May 2019 and Mr. Rothchild said business began to return to the area.

“It was the blessing we needed to start the return to normal,” he said. “We eagerly looked forward to our Spring 2020 season, where spring training and little league would bring our revenues back up.”

Spring is where the business generates about half of its earnings each year, and the 2020 season would give them the boost they needed to get back on track after the long-term construction, Mr. Rothchild said.

But the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading rapidly by the spring season and caused many sports to delay or cancel their seasons entirely.

“When they vitally needed the spring season revenue, earnings for the cages dropped more than 80% and remained that way through the rest of 2020,” the release states.

Those interested in donating to the restoration of the cages can do so by visiting gofund.me/16ad0fb6.

Mr. Rothchild said any help is appreciated, from donations to sharing the fundraiser to spread the word.

Some repairs he would like to make with the funding include replacing baseballs and softballs, repairing netting on the cages, patching the parking lot, and repairing the asphalt inside of the cages. Other items include repairing the pitching machines, repairing the storefront sign, and generating the funds needed for advertising and marketing, the release states.

“Our commitment to the community is that through these funds, we will be able to make these needed repairs and continue operations,” he said in the release. “Because the community is so very important to us, any funds over and above what is needed to complete the needed repairs will be donated to local little leagues and veteran nonprofit organizations in the East Valley.”

Go to mesabattingcages.com. To keep up with the latest news and updates, follow on Facebook @ Home Run Stadium Batting Cages and Twitter @HomeRunStadium.