SE Valley Times

Mesa recently concluded its 2025 Spring Training season with notable accomplishments. The Chicago Cubs led Major League Baseball (MLB) in spring training attendance for the twelfth consecutive year within the Cactus League. The Athletics experienced an attendance increase of nearly 11 percent.

Between February 21 and March 25, Sloan Park welcomed 227,570 fans, averaging 12,643 attendees at the 18 games held there. On March 8, the Cubs played a Cactus League record-setting game with 16,161 fans against the Seattle Mariners, surpassing their previous record of 16,152 fans set in 2023 during a match with the San Francisco Giants. The Athletics hosted 82,636 fans at HoHoKam Stadium, with an average of 5,903 fans across 12 games, compared to 63,893 total attendees the previous year, averaging 5,324 fans per game.

"Spring training holds a special place in the hearts of the City's fans, especially those who support the teams and explore the city's hotels, restaurants, bars, and stores," said Mayor Mark Freeman. "The 30 games played here by the Cubs and As generated nearly 20% of the entire Cactus League attendance, a remarkable figure that highlights the City's popularity as a destination for spring baseball enthusiasts and those seeking to experience all that Mesa has to offer."

Marc Heirshberg, Deputy City Manager, commented, "The City works closely with the Cubs and As 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."

This year, nearly 1.7 million baseball fans attended 224 games across the Cactus League, marking the fourth consecutive season of increased attendance.