SE Valley Times

Mesa celebrates the culmination of a successful 2024 Spring Training season with the Chicago Cubs leading attendance across the Cactus League. According to a report, a total of 241,215 fans passed through the gates of Sloan Park between Feb. 23 and March 26, with an average of 13,401 fans at the 18 games played there. The Oakland A’s also saw significant attendance, with 63,893 fans passing through the gates of HoHoKam Stadium, averaging 5,324 fans at 12 games.

Mayor John Giles expressed his enthusiasm for the support shown by fans during spring training, stating, "Spring training is like a second Christmas to Mesa with the fans who support the teams and enjoy our hotels, restaurants, bars and stores." He also highlighted the importance of the games played by the Cubs and A’s in Mesa, mentioning, “The 30 games played here by the Cubs and A’s generated nearly 20% of the entire Cactus League attendance, which is huge. People love coming to Mesa to enjoy spring baseball and all the City has to offer.”

Marc Heirshberg, Deputy City Manager, emphasized the strong partnership between the City of Mesa, the Cubs, and the A’s, stating, “The City works closely with the Cubs and A’s not just during spring training but throughout the year, and they continue to appreciate the partnership with Mesa in not only providing the best-in-class training facilities for their players but also first-class experiences for the fans attending the games.”

Both the Cubs and A’s celebrated their 10th season playing in their respective facilities during the 2024 Spring Training season, contributing to the vibrant baseball culture in Mesa.