MESA, AZ - After a long debate by the Arizona state legislature, the City of Mesa is now saying they will pay for a new Cubs stadium in Mesa.
"We're moving forward to keep the Cubs," said Mesa Mayor Scott Smith.
As legislators look at options to pay for a new Cubs stadium, Smith removed any doubt saying it's a go.
"The city is stepping up and saying regardless of what happens we will finance the stadium," Smith said.
According to the plan, the city will get a loan. Then to pay for it, over the next 25 years the city will sell off portions of 11,000 acres of land they own in Pinal County.
Also a 2 percent increase in the bed tax will be proposed.
"We're removing whatever uncertainty existed by having to depend on the legislature," Smith said.
But it's not a done deal.
Mesa residents will have to vote 'yes' in November to spending the millions it will cost to build a stadium and to impose a bed tax.
According to the City of Mesa, it's worth it to keep the Cubs here.
"The Chicago Cubs and Cactus League are big deals in our Valley and our state," Smith said. "They create thousands of jobs, they bring hundreds of million dollars in and we felt as a city it's simply too important to leave it up to others to decide how we would move forward."
The city has given the proposal to the Cubs and are expected to sit down with them in the next couple of weeks to discuss the details.