arizona: Seems more teams are opting for Arizona. Didn't it always used to be Florida? There must some reasons for this trend. What might they be?|||the competition level in spring training starts off slowly, with teams playing split-squad games, games against local colleges, until finally squaring off against real live 'major league' teams. i've noticed this trend as well, and while i wouldn't be surprised if money was at the heart of the matter (cheaper taxes on facilities? financial perks and breaks from communities in arizona?) i can come up with a other few reasons why teams are up and moving to AZ. weather... drier and more predictable in arizona: less rain-outs, more fans opting to show for that reason. perhaps it's easier for the so-cal fan base to make that week-long visit in march? facilities: dodgertown is getting a bit long in the tooth, there are modern newer facilities in tucson and the phoenix area. the more teams that are there, the easier for other teams to come there and play against each other: the AZ teams play almost all of their spring training games vs. other AZ teams, as is the case in FL. from the baseball digest website.... Reds exploring spring move to Arizona Posted Jan. 15, 2008 "Rejected in their attempts to renovate Ed Smith Stadium and shut out of Vero Beach's Dodgertown, the Cincinnati Reds are now exploring a move to Goodyear, Az., and potentially sharing a new spring-training home with the Cleveland Indians. Former Cincinnati Reds Chief Operating Officer John Allen will in Goodyear tomorrow to meet with city officials about the possibility of sharing the new Indians complex, slated to open in 2009. The Reds' lease at Ed Smith Stadium ends this year, but the team holds a two one-year options as they seek a new home. The Goodyear complex was designed to accommodate a single team but could be expanded to support two. A move by the Reds -- which could happen as soon as 2009 -- would present some issues for MLB. We're guessing there's already some talk about whether spring training would be manageable if there is an odd number of teams in each spring league: with the Los Angeles Dodgers slated to move to a new Glendale complex in 2009 or 2010, there could conceivably be 15 teams in each circuit. It's doable, but complicated, unless a team moves from Arizona to Florida (which seems highly unlikely) or another Florida team moves to Arizona." but they won't leave without a fight... Sarasota to woo Reds Posted Jan. 16, 2008 "Pat Calhoon, the facility manager for Ed Smith Stadium, says he'll attempt to persuade Sarasota to fund improvements to the ballpark in an attempt to keep the Cincinnati Reds from moving spring operations to another Florida city or Arizona. The new plan would cost $41 million, with the city contributing about $7 million and the county about $18 million. The Reds and a state grant would cover the rest of the costs. Last fall voters narrowly defeated a referendum on funding ballpark improvements, and it's not clear the city or the county has the money (or the will) to perform all the necessary upgrades, which would include compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Former Reds COO John Allen is in Arizona today to meet with Goodyear officials about the possibility of sharing a new spring-training complex with the Cleveland Indians." these articles describe momentum, another important baseball strategy, in greasing the wheels to get more teams to AZ. follow the $$, and despite what other good reasons there might be, you will follow the teams to their new spring training headquarters. ps:: this is the best time of year to be a sports fan!!|||No i don think there is a real reason it may be arizona is a little warmer this time of year and it doesnt rain that much so they wont have any difficulties in all likely hood.|||Different answer...honestly, I don't feel safe in either state anymore-regardless of the weather.