The 2026 Cactus League season drew about 1.75 million fans to games and generated nearly $807 million in economic activity, according to new data released by Arizona State University and the Cactus League.
The season included 237 games, averaging about 7,400 attendees per game, and contributed around $495.8 million to the state’s gross domestic product. Both the economic activity generated and GDP contribution were the highest for any spring training season since economists began measuring its financial impact, according to analysis conducted by the Seidman Research Institute at Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business.
Metro Phoenix is home to 10 spring training stadiums that host games for 15 Major League Baseball teams.
According
to the report, about 60% of Cactus League fans visited Arizona from outside the state, and two-thirds of those visitors said attending spring training was the sole or primary reason for their visit.
Most out-of-town visitors said they planned to stay three to four nights, according to the study.
“The Cactus League remains a consistent driver for tourism and hospitality,” Anthony Evans, author of the report, said in a statement. “We estimate that out-of-state visitors alone directly spent $374 million on lodging, in bars and restaurants, on retail and in-state transit, and on other local forms of entertainment. Very few events deliver that amount of new dollars into the state’s economy.”
The season also directly generated about $44 million in taxes for state, county and local governments.
According to the study, the largest share of spending was for lodging and accommodations, which was estimated to be about $138 million during the spring training season. Game tickets represented about $30 million in spending by out-of-state visitors.
“The Cactus League’s economic impact is as enduring as baseball itself,” Cactus League Executive Director Bridget Binsbacher said in a statement. “The numbers don’t lie: 2026 was another banner season for spring training in Arizona. We are grateful to Major League Baseball and the host communities for their partnership and to the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority for providing grant funding for ballpark construction and renovation.”
Tempe Diablo Stadium, the spring training home of the Los Angeles Angels, is planned to undergo $30 million in renovations after the 2027 Cactus League season. It is the smallest and oldest Cactus League ballpark. The first phase of the project, which was funded by both the team and the city, which owns the stadium, cost about $23 million and was completed in 2025.
Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, the spring training home of the Athletics, is also planned to get a renovation that will update sports medicine facilities, locker rooms and the team dining area.
Corina Vanek covers development for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at cvanek@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X @CorinaVanek.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why the Cactus League remains big business for Arizona
