The popularity of Spring Training baseball in the desert continues to climb, as a record 1,248,634 fans passed through the gates during the 2004 Cactus League - approximately half of which were from out of state. The new mark easily surpasses the previous record, which was set in 2002 at 1,096,031 fans.

Nine Major League teams train in the Greater Phoenix area, while three work out in Tucson. A total of 179 Cactus League games were played in 2004, with an average attendance of 6,976. The Cubs, Giants, Mariners, Diamondbacks and A�s all enjoyed crowds that averaged more than 7,000 fans.

The Greater Phoenix CVB embarked, earlier this year, on an aggressive Spring Training marketing campaign, visiting with media and fans in cities such as Dallas, Chicago, Kansas City, Seattle and San Francisco. The CVB also created a special Spring Training website (aboutgreaterphoenix.com), and a 28-page newspaper insert that circulated more than 1.1 million copies in cities that send teams to Greater Phoenix for Spring Training. The website and newspaper supplement offered suggestions on Spring Training stadiums, tickets offices, hotel specials, dining, arts, shopping, sports and day trips.

CVB staff even appeared on the popular NBC morning program, the Today Show, to promote Spring Training.

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Media Contact: Stacy Reading +1 (602) 452-6252.