12 minute read
Welcome
The Cactus League Welcomes You!
On 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 KENDRA PETTIS Treasurer City of Surprise DAVID DUNNE Team Member Representative Salt River Fields
cactusleague.com
HOME RUN
The executive director of the Cactus League outlines the impact and the anticipation of spring training baseball in 2022
By MICHAEL GOSSIE
Mother, wife, businesswoman, volunteer and member of the Peoria City Council, Bridget Binsbacher has been a tireless leader in the community for more than 30 years. And as the first executive director of the Cactus League, her dedication to service is unparalleled.
Play Ball magazine sat down with Binsbacher to find out what fans can expect from spring training in 2022.
Play Ball: What attracted you to the Cactus League?
Bridget Binsbacher: I transitioned from the financial industry back in the mid-2000s to the nonprofit sector and took over one of our spring training nonprofit organizations. That’s where I was introduced to the Cactus League Association. I became a representative of that nonprofit, eventually moved up to an executive board member, where I was the first voting female executive board member with the Cactus League Baseball Association. Then, we started to form a formal structure for the organization and focus on our strategic plan and initiatives. We committed to a dedicated leadership, building a staff and putting an executive director in place. So, there I was.
PB: You’re such an effective leader for the Cactus League. Were you a baseball fan before you got involved?
BB: I have always been a baseball fan. I was born and raised in San Diego, so when I was just a little girl, I remember going to games at Jack Murphy Stadium. Bu if anyone were to ask me about my role in baseball, it’s been primarily as a baseball mom. My boys and even my daughter played Little League baseball. I was also a baseball sister and a baseball granddaughter. My grandfather played in a farm league nearly 100 years ago back in the 1930s, and so baseball was a big part of my childhood and my life. My uncle played in spring training a lifetime ago. So I have a love of the game and such an appreciation for the opportunities that it brings.
PB: What opportunities does baseball bring to Arizona?
BB: The Cactus League, though baseball, creates this unbelievable opportunity in Arizona. It truly is an Arizona brand that affects tourism in a remarkable way. We truly do drive tourism and impact the state’s economy in a huge way year after year after year.
PB: Can you talk a little bit about the economic impact that the league has had on the state?
BB: The last few years have been kind of tricky because of the pandemic. Our last full economic impact study was done in 2018. We’re committed to doing it every other year, so we were planning to do it in 2020, but baseball stopped March 12th. Our economic impact in 2018 was $644 million. That’s the equivalent of a Super Bowl.
BRIDGET BINSBACHER: “Serving is an honor,” says the executive director of the Cactus League. “Being elected and trusted to serve the citizens of Peoria is truly the highest professional honor for me. Leading the Cactus League Baseball Association is another exciting and impactful accomplishment that serves our great state of Arizona.” (Photo by Bruce Andersen AZ Big Media)
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PB: I don’t think people realize how economically impactful the Cactus League is on the state.
BB: That’s because we’re just so excited about baseball. There are only two places in the nation that host spring training — Arizona and Florida. Fifteen teams in Arizona and 15 teams in Florida. It’s a tremendous opportunity, but people have fallen in love with Arizona for decades now after coming here to watch spring training and getting up close and personal.
As a result of that amazing opportunity, the Cactus League has become an industry all its own and a driver of tourism with a significant impact on the state’s economy. So $644 million — it’s significant for lodging, transportation, restaurants, entertainment, and the livelihood for so many of these privately-owned businesses surrounding our facilities.
PB: You’ve been one of Arizona Business Magazine’s most influential women and you work in a very male-dominated business. Has that presented any challenges?
BB: To be quite honest, my mindset has always been about what I have to contribute, my qualifications, working hard and getting a job done. I think because I always saw myself as a contributor and belonging in that seat at the table, people saw me the same way.
It wasn’t intentional that we made history in the Cactus League. We wanted the right people moving it to the next level, and I was there and became part of that team. When it was time to actually commit to a full-time executive director, the executive board had become very familiar with me. We had built a trusting relationship and they saw what my impact was and really took a chance and put me there. It wasn’t really about me being a female as it was the right candidate for the job, and that’s how I approached it.
PB: What has been the impact of being a female leader for the Cactus League?
BB: We made history and then so many different organizations started reaching out to me, young women at GCU and ASU asking, “How do you do this?” I realized what a big responsibility it was to other young up-and-coming female leaders, whether in sports or any industry. “How do I attain that type of opportunity?” So much of it is us and how we present ourselves and stay out of our own way and know that we’re worthy of these opportunities and we can earn them just like anyone else.
PB: What can we expect from the Cactus League in 2022?
BB: We know that fans are so excited about getting back to spring training. Our facilities are all outdoor facilities. We anticipate full capacity and we’re ready, so we are planning and we’re going through the steps to keep everyone safe. I think what fans can anticipate that we’re going to fill our stadiums for the first time in three years. That’s what we anticipate.
We want to be realistic and let our fans know that there are probably going to be protocols in place, that’s sort of become the new normal as a result of the pandemic. So, cashless transactions will still be present in our facilities and there may be distancing and just the common sense that goes with maintaining a safe, healthy environment. I think we can expect that.
PB: One of the things that’s always impressed me about the Cactus League is how all the communities kind of work together and how you work so effectively with your partners and stakeholders. Can you talk a little bit about how you’ve been able to build that kind of teamwork in the Cactus League?
BB: I think once we put dedicated leadership in place, that really took it to another level. Then, the pandemic created so many obstacles for everyone, but at the same time it sort of forced us to really pull together and work together like we never had before for a greater good, for a greater cause to create a safe environment to welcome fans into our facilities, even if it was at a minimal capacity.
I think we’ve all understood through all of the education and outreach in the last couple of years, that this is about an impact to the state’s economy. It isn’t automatic, it’s a very, very competitive environment, so it’s important for the general public to understand why it’s important to invest in these facilities, to maintain state-of-the-art facilities, maintain solid relationships with our teams. It takes all of these city leaders, the tribal leaders to work together to maintain a welcoming environment for spring training.
PB: Any surprises on the horizon for the Cactus League in 2022?
BB: I think the biggest surprise is going to be how wonderful it feels to fill these stadiums and the energy that you get. A lot of times we don’t even notice because we take it for granted as locals. You see a difference on the roads as far as traffic, and there’s more people in restaurants and shops and things like that, and it’s a certain energy that starts to build up when spring training is coming and all the excitement. In brings You see jerseys from different teams and all of that, and I think the surprise is going to be, gosh, how much we miss and enjoy having spring training in Arizona.
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By MICHAEL GOSSIE
There is plenty of action at the Valley’s Cactus League stadiums, where 15 major league teams are based during spring training. Even though you’re in the stands, that doesn’t mean you cannot still be part of the action. There are plenty of heart-pumping things to do after a Cactus League game in the Valley.
Want more fun after the final inning comes to a close? Here are five things to do after a Cactus League game to keep the fun rolling and adrenaline pumping.
360 Adventures
Arizona adventure tours by 360 Adventures take the worry out of exploring so you can focus on having fun. While Arizona features some of the world’s greatest Canyoneering, Rock Climbing, Hiking and Mountain Biking, finding the right outfitter takes some planning.
Phone: 480-722-0360
810 Bowling & Billiards
810 Billiards & Bowling creates a fun and casual atmosphere where anyone can feel welcomed and relaxed. Maybe you to relax over a quiet game of chess and a glass of wine? Or maybe a night of billiards or a few frames of 10-pin? Whatever your preference, 810 Bowling & Billiard has you covered.
Address: 50 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix Medieval Times
After watching a modern sport, travel back to the time of knights and kings to enjoy dinner and a show. Medieval Times, located in Scottsdale, pits knights and their brave steeds against one another in epic battles as they fight to become the queen’s champion. See the royal falcon take flight and perform at the command of the royal falconer. It won’t take long before you’re pounding the table and shouting huzzah in support of your knight.
Address: 9051 East Vía de Ventura, Scottsdale
Octane Raceway
Located less than a mile from Salt River Fields, Octane Raceway is a destination for thrill seekers. Kart races offer heart pumping action on a combination indoor/outdoor track—the only ful-ltime indoor/outdoor track in the nation. For those looking for an immersive experience, Velocity VR lets players use their whole bodies as a controller in three different virtual reality games. Bring in your Spring Training ticket stub and receive $10 off two go kart races or $10 off a Velocity VR session.
Address: 9119 E Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale Octane Raceway
Topgolf
Play golf in a whole new way. Topgolf brings technology to the driving range. Using trackable golf balls, golfers can play a variety of games that test accuracy and precision. But don’t worry if your swing isn’t up to par—having fun is what matters.
Locations: Glendale, Scottsdale, and Gilbert
Urban Air
Wanting to get active after the game? Urban Air offers fun activities for the whole family. With attractions like a trampoline park, zip line, and ropes course, there’s no shortage of ways to break a sweat.
Locations: Goodyear, Peoria, Gilbert, and Ahwatukee
Fresh
Seafood
The Salt Cellar has been a Valley landmark since 1971 and continues to reign atop the “Best of Seafood” lists.
Its unique underground location is just the beginning of the culinary adventure. The Salt Cellar’s fresh fish
and seafood selections are sourced from around the world; the consistency and quality of our seafood has been
the key to our success. We are known for always having available a selection of whole 1 1/2lb. and
3lb. live Maine Lobsters. Don’t miss our popular twin happy hours daily from 4:00pm to
7:00pm and again from 10:00pm to 12:00 midnight.
