Chicago Cubs eye new Ariz. training spot

MESA, Ariz., Aug. 31 (UPI) -- The developers of a proposed Arizona sports resort complex and the Chicago Cubs are eyeing the same piece of real estate for their projects, officials say.

Plans for the proposed $250 million Waveyard sports-themed complex in Mesa were announced in 2007. The project was to feature a four-star hotel, indoor water park, retail stores and restaurants, offices and even homes, connected with large outdoor recreation features such as a whitewater river, surfing pool and a scuba-diving lagoon, The Arizona Republic reported Tuesday.

Mesa voters gave the project the green light, authorizing the sale of land to the developers -- then the economy crashed and Waveyard's financing collapsed along with it.

Now there's a prospective new buyer for the land: the Chicago Cubs.

With outdated training facilities in Mesa, the Cubs are eyeing the site for a new spring-training stadium and a "Wrigleyville West" tourist destination.

There's one slight hitch: Waveyard still has first dibs on the land.

Waveyard's agreement with Mesa gives it until next July 11 to prove it has the financing for key elements of the project, including the hotel, water park and outdoor sports facilities.

"We are still moving forward," project co-founder Jerry Hug said. "We're trying to finance Waveyard."

Hug thinks Waveyard and the Cubs could coexist, with a scaled-back Waveyard on the west side of the property and Cubs facilities on the east side.

The baseball team says it's not so keen on the idea.

"I don't know how that would work," Mike Lufrano, the Cubs' senior vice president for community affairs, said. "I'm not sure he (Hug) understands the concept of Wrigleyville West and what we're trying to develop."

But the Cubs wish Waveyard well, Lufrano said, and are willing to wait until the July deadline before committing to any new site.