The Cactus League
Welcomes You! O
n behalf of the Cactus League, welcome to the 2022 spring training season. Spring training means different things to different people. For prospects, it’s an opportunity to make the big club. For veterans, it’s a time to tune up for the rigors of the Major League Baseball season. For the fans, it’s a symbol of hope and renewal. And for Arizona’s tourism industry, spring training is an annual lifeline. The Cactus League generated $644 million in economic impact in 2018, the most recent full season studied by Arizona State University researchers. The study found that six out of 10 Cactus League fans come from outside Arizona. After two COVID-disrupted seasons and a delay this year due to labor negotiations, local restaurants, bars, hotels and shops are looking forward to hosting our out-of-state visitors once again – and I know that fans across the country are looking forward to enjoying baseball in the dazzling desert sunshine. The Cactus League is a baseball lover’s paradise. With all 10 ballparks within an hour of each other, fans can follow their favorite teams on the road and sample the league’s unique ballparks. Before the first pitch and after the final out, the Phoenix area offers a wealth of entertainment and outdoor activities to fill anyone’s itinerary.
As always, we are grateful to the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority for its strong support of Cactus League facility construction and renovation, ensuring that Arizona’s spring training facilities set the standard in a competitive industry. I also wish to thank each of the Cactus League’s eight host municipalities and the tribal community for their steadfast efforts to provide a safe and secure environment for all. They met every logistical challenge over the last two seasons and I know that they will step up to the plate again in 2022. We couldn’t do it without the stadium volunteers who contribute their time to help you enjoy your day at the ballpark – please take a moment and say hello, because it means the world to these friendly, community-minded folks. Finally, I salute Play Ball Magazine, a valued partner and the go-to source for all things Cactus League. Play Ball!
Chris Calcaterra Cactus League president
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS
BRIDGET BINSBACHER Executive director
CHRIS CALCATERRA President City of Peoria
JEFF MEYER
Past president Scottsdale Charros
BRUCE KESSMAN Secretary City of Goodyear
cactusleague.com 6 | Play Ball Magazine
KENDRA PETTIS Treasurer City of Surprise
DAVID DUNNE Team Member Representative Salt River Fields
