TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Following the announcement that the Tucson Baseball Team would not return to Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, 13 News is learning more about the economic loss the city and local vendors may face.
13 News has covered the visa issues the teams were facing for months.
While there was optimism that the situation would be resolved quickly, immigration attorneys who spoke to 13 News said obtaining the correct visa involves approval from multiple organizations, and without expedited approval, it could have taken months.
That may have played into the organization’s decision not to return to Tucson, as there may be increased scrutiny on visas for not only the local team but also other teams traveling to play here.
“You’ve got all the pieces in place pretty far in advance,” said Mo Goldman, a local immigration attorney. “I would imagine that the league probably had a discussion about this to determine, you know, is this a smart economic move for the entire league?”
The economic consequences of that decision are now extending across the city.
Felipe Garcia, president and CEO of Visit Tucson, said the team was expected to bring in $12 million each year
“They were actually staying in our hotel rooms here. The local team and the visiting teams’ hotel rooms are generated here. Those hotel rooms were paying bed tax and sales tax. The teams were hiring catering,” Garcia said.
However, taxpayer dollars through Pima County face minimal impact from the departure.
Operational costs for the facility were offset by the team’s rent payments last year, despite them not playing, and improvements made during the World Baseball Classic qualifiers. The city spent $100,000 on marketing, but that was recouped through advertising last season.
“So when they were here in town, people will see Tucson back in the stadium when they were traveling, they’ll see Tucson on the uniform,” Garcia said.
Local businesses face a different situation.
Garcia said hotels and vendors had made commitments based on expected bookings.
“It’s a hole, I mean, definitely managers to owners, and you already start making contracts, and you were already saying, OK, I’m expecting them in the books, I’m having these rooms that I will not sell because I’m holding it for these teams,” Garcia said.
Desert Fun Foods, the main vendor for the season, said it already spent $15,000 to $20,000.
Garcia said Visit Tucson is working to address the impact on workers and businesses.
“Some of these people travel from city to city looking for jobs, and they’re like, well, I’ll be able to stay in Tucson and keep that money here. Now they say, well, sorry, there’s no work for you, so let’s find something,” Garcia said.
Garcia said officials are working to find opportunities for businesses that expected revenue from the baseball season.
However, officials with Desert Fun Foods said they hope the situation highlights the vulnerability of small businesses and the need for stability at local venues.
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