We’re less than a week away from the debut of the Cactus League 2016 season and if it’s anywhere near as successful as 2015, Arizonans should be thrilled.
According to a pair of studies conducted by Tucson-based FMR Associates, Spring Training teams and their ballparks annually generate more than $809 million in economic impact for the state.
Included in that figure is nearly $550 million that results from out-of-state Cactus League fans attending games at ten Phoenix area ballparks. Year-round athletic and non-athletic events and team spending at the ballpark facilities and in the host communities is credited with generating the remaining revenue.
Two-thirds of the out-of-town fans surveyed said Spring Training was the primary reason for their visit to Arizona, with more than half of those coming from another state or country. Nearly 1.9 million fans attended Cactus League games in 2015, the most since the league was created in 1947.
So grab your family/friends, sun-tan lotion, and glove – we’ll see you at the parks this March!