~ Mesa, AZ - As the 2026 Spring Training season comes to a close, the city of Mesa is celebrating another successful year with the Chicago Cubs leading attendance for the 13th consecutive season in the Cactus League. The Athletics also saw an increase in attendance, making it a strong showing for both teams.

According to official numbers released by the city, a total of 338,641 fans attended games in Mesa this spring, compared to 310,206 in 2025. This includes two World Baseball Classic games and two Spring Breakout games. The Cubs and A's combined for a total of 240,609 fans at their respective stadiums during the season.

Sloan Park, home of the Cubs, saw an average of 12,664 fans at each of their 19 games played there between February 20 and March 24. The largest crowd in any Cactus League ballpark this spring was on March 15 when 15,788 fans watched the Cubs take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at Sloan Park. Meanwhile, HoHoKam Stadium, home of the A's, saw a total of 98,032 fans attend their 17 games compared to last year's total of 82,636.

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Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman expressed his pride in the city's success during spring training. "Spring training is a big part of what makes Mesa special," he said. "It brings in fans from all over and supports our local businesses while keeping our economy strong. With nearly one-fifth of Cactus League attendance coming from just two teams in Mesa, it shows that our city is a top destination for spring baseball and provides a great experience for visitors."

Despite some unexpected triple-digit temperatures towards the end of the season, fans still showed up to support their teams. This speaks to the energy and pride within Mesa that Mayor Freeman mentioned.

In order to make it more comfortable for fans during the hottest part of the day, both the Cubs and A's moved some of their final spring training games to the evening. This decision was made in partnership with the city, as Assistant City Manager Marc Heirshberg explained. "The City works closely with the Cubs and A's not just during spring training but throughout the year," he said. "This partnership ensures that Mesa not only provides top-notch training facilities for players but also first-class experiences for fans attending the games."

Overall, this year's Cactus League saw a total of 1.7 million fans attend 237 games, marking the fifth consecutive season of increased attendance. With strong showings from both the Cubs and A's in Mesa, it is clear that spring training continues to be a major draw for baseball fans and a source of pride for the city.

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