So, the state of Florida REALLY wants the Cubs to spring with them. So much so, that they’ve dispatched the governor, Charlie Crist, to help secure the team.
Crist met in Tallahassee, Fla., on Tuesday with Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, team president Crane Kenney and other team officials to discuss the team possibly moving from Mesa, Ariz., to Naples, Fla. Crist said he’s willing to go as far as possible to woo the team.
“We like palm trees better than cactus and hope that the Cubs might, too,” Crist told the AP.
The state of Florida has lost several teams in recent years, including the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers, and it would definitely benefit if the Cubs moved to the Sunshine State. A study showed the Cubs bring in $52 million to Arizona annually.
Ricketts said their goal is “really about getting the best facility.”
If the move is made, Kenney said the Cubs would likely relocate their Class A Florida State League team from Daytona to the new stadium. cubs.com.
The Daytona Cubs must be excited about that possibility.