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Message
Why do Arizona & Florida have a monopoly on spring training
Posted on 3/3/26 at 11:53 am
Posted on 3/3/26 at 11:53 am
These aren’t the only places with warm weather in the early spring.
The Rio Grande Valley region in Texas could be a great fit for this. It would boost the local economy, they definitely have the ideal weather for it and it’s much more centralized than Arizona or South Florida.
For this discussion the cities included would be McAllen, Edinburg or Boca Chica Beach or South Padre.
With all that Elon $ down there, it seems like it could be done. There’s also a lot of “winter Texans” that would be a solid support base.
Tell me why not
The Rio Grande Valley region in Texas could be a great fit for this. It would boost the local economy, they definitely have the ideal weather for it and it’s much more centralized than Arizona or South Florida.
For this discussion the cities included would be McAllen, Edinburg or Boca Chica Beach or South Padre.
With all that Elon $ down there, it seems like it could be done. There’s also a lot of “winter Texans” that would be a solid support base.
Tell me why not
31
Posted on 3/3/26 at 11:54 am to turnpiketiger
Infrastructure.
Posted on 3/3/26 at 11:55 am to turnpiketiger
Whats the motivation for teams to leave where they already are and have all the infrastructure?
Posted on 3/3/26 at 11:58 am to turnpiketiger
The owners don't want to pay minor leaguers $45k a year and you think a group of 6 or 8 of them will agree to build new facilities in bum frick nowhere and move out of the luxury areas they're currently in?
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:00 pm to turnpiketiger
Feels like a huge % of corporate training events happen in Arizona (and Texas)
Arizona is the training capital of the us
Arizona is the training capital of the us
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:02 pm to turnpiketiger
quote:
The Rio Grande Valley region
McAllen Twin Peaks had the hottest chick working the bar I’ve ever seen. All I got.
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:02 pm to turnpiketiger
Ah, the Harlingen airport. Such an upgrade over Brownsville or McAllen. 
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:03 pm to turnpiketiger
Because both are objectively better areas?
And I like Texas
And I like Texas
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:04 pm to Pettifogger
might if have to do with the fan base back in the day, of the East coast teams, also ended up in South Fla for the winters?
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:05 pm to turnpiketiger
Half the league’s facilities are a bus ride away. Why would they want remote places to travel to?
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:12 pm to turnpiketiger
Good weather and good facilities within close proximity to each other.
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:16 pm to turnpiketiger
The St Louis Browns once held spring training in Bogalusa
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:16 pm to turnpiketiger
quote:
For this discussion the cities included would be McAllen, Edinburg or Boca Chica Beach or South Padre.
Im from the rgv. Its about to be wind/dust season and im not sure there are more than maybe a handful of facilities that could be useful. UTRGV baseball games are pretty fun though. And there is a lot, lot more to the economy than Elon. Boca Chica Beach is an actual beach, not a city. That’s all i got.
This post was edited on 3/3/26 at 12:17 pm
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:21 pm to turnpiketiger
Teams have trained in the RGV before, but that was nearly a century ago.
The newer facilities are like baseball resorts. Tons of former players and current ST instructors live in AZ and FL year round. These new parks have infrastructure, nearby lodging, and everything you need.
For you to suddenly try to compete, you’d need probably 8-10 teams total to uproot and head to the Rio Grande Valley. That’s not practical.
I’m sure the RGV would support it, but I don’t think that’s the point in terms of that business.
ETA: the valley would have to step up their resort and golf course game
The newer facilities are like baseball resorts. Tons of former players and current ST instructors live in AZ and FL year round. These new parks have infrastructure, nearby lodging, and everything you need.
For you to suddenly try to compete, you’d need probably 8-10 teams total to uproot and head to the Rio Grande Valley. That’s not practical.
I’m sure the RGV would support it, but I don’t think that’s the point in terms of that business.
ETA: the valley would have to step up their resort and golf course game
This post was edited on 3/3/26 at 12:23 pm
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:22 pm to turnpiketiger
Arizona is both prettier and more laid back than Texas. Mesa, AZ is an awesome little spot.
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:23 pm to turnpiketiger
It's warm there
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:30 pm to turnpiketiger
This seems like as big a ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it’ situation as there possibly could be.
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:39 pm to LSUMJ
quote:
Half the league’s facilities are a bus ride away. Why would they want remote places to travel to?
I think this is a big part of it as well. The spring training sites are relatively clustered in FL/AZ - meaning one team can play several other teams without a travel burden.
Side note: Boardwalk & Baseball was the GOAT Spring training site.
Posted on 3/3/26 at 12:40 pm to jdd48
quote:
Arizona is both prettier and more laid back than Texas.
Well, the comparison wouldn’t be between states. The Valley isn’t exactly the same as Austin or DFW.
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