Funny thing about sports in the valley, since there are so many “transplants”, a lot of the fan base and participation comes from people following the visiting team. Take my household for instance; we are Chicago Cub, Bear and Bulls fans and so we always go to see them when they visit.
The Phoenix Suns, our basketball team, enjoyed a lot of success this past season but they didn’t make it to the NBA finals. They do have a dynamic duo in Devin Booker and Kevin Durant and hopefully that means next season will be a good one.
The Cardinals, our football team, well…… we’re hoping for a better upcoming season.
The Coyotes, our hockey team, is another story entirely. They are still looking for a stadium to call home after several tumultuous seasons in Glendale and then losing a referendum to build a new stadium in Tempe Az. Currently, they are playing in the ASU Mullet Arena which only seats about 5000 people. That’s really small for a professional hockey team which leads to more talk about relocating the team. A recent article I found in the Phoenix Business Journal confirmed that Coyotes owner had executed an agreement to purchase a parcel of land, 41 acres, in northwest Mesa. So, it would seem that the prospect of the Coyotes remaining in the valley are good! The article further states that the target date for the new arena is the 2026-27 season. Stay tuned for more information – this is exciting!
Let’s talk baseball! Baseball is a big deal in the valley starting with Spring Training! The Cactus League makes their spring home here with 15 teams playing from February thru March. The Phoenix Business Journal reported that “the 2023 Cactus League spring training for Major League Baseball generated $418.5 million toward Arizona’s gross domestic product and created $710.2 million in overall economic impact, according to a study released Friday by the Seidman Research Institute at Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business.”
When the regular season starts it’s time for the Arizona Diamondbacks to take over at Chase Field with the retractable roof. 2023 has been good and they are currently in 2nd place in the National League West. Are the playoffs a possibility? Cubs, (who are in 2nd place in the National League Central) vs. the Diamondbacks – I’d be in heaven!
If you’re a sports fan, you’ll find something to root for and have a great time in the process. Click on the “Around the Valley” link at the top of the home page for links to all the professional sports teams and I hope to see you at a sports venue soon!
#Transplanted