By Taylor Tasler | KTAR.com
The spring training season in the Valley could be impacted for the third consecutive year in March, but this time COVID-19 won’t be at fault.
Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players association expired Wednesday night, leading MLB owners to vote for a lock out of players. The lockout is the league’s first work stoppage since 1994.
If the two sides can’t come to an agreement before spring training opening day on Feb. 26, Valley stadiums could be left empty and that worries Cactus League Executive Director Bridget Binsbacher.
“There’s such depth to this impact when you look at what it means to surrounding businesses that are relying on the influx of tourism and business to their establishment as a result of spring training,” Binsbacher said, adding the Cactus League wants to be part of the state’s economic recovery from COVID-19.
Virus-shortened Cactus League made only $364 million economic impact
“Behind every business is a person or a family.”
