Padres to Extend Stay in Peoria
Because Spring Training is in full swing, I figured that all of you Padres fans would appreciate this news. It was announced earlier this week by CBS Sports and Fox Sports that the Padres and Mariners signed a 20 year extension to continue to play at and use Peoria Sports Complex. This agreement ensures that the Padres will be staying in their Spring Training home since 1994, and Friar Fans will get to take in Cactus League ball up in the Phoenix area through 2034.
For those of you interested in the financial and construction aspects of the lease extension, Bill Center of The Union Tribune highlighted the most important things:
$48 million invested by city in upgrades to Peoria Sports Complex
Padres’ Clubhouse expanded from 38,000 Sq. Ft. to 56,000-60,000 Sq. Ft. in $15 million renovation in 2013
Extra $6 million added by 2028 to Clubhouse
$6 million more to improve Peoria Stadium which will be renovated in 2014
Personally, I’m excited that the Padres are staying in The Cactus League and in Peoria for almost the next quarter century. I live in Arizona at the moment, so seeing Padres games no matter if they are exhibition or regular season are always a treat for me. Plus the fact that renovations will be done and investments will be made into the ballpark can only help draw more fans to come out and see the Pads’ and Mariners new digs. Unlike the city of Tucson, which saw its Major League teams walk out a couple of years ago for Spring Training, it is nice to see the city of Peoria supporting Major League Baseball in its vicinity. Plus the upgrades can’t hurt a complex which the Padres use year round and Arizona Fall League and Arizona Instructional League teams use. To me, any improvements are good improvements, and I for one am glad that this deal got done.