It’s no different than the threats which emerge from NFL, NHL, or NBA franchises. Whether it’s a mammoth billion dollar-stadium in Dallas, the big apple, or the relatively small spring training facility in Mesa, Arizona that the Cubs populate in March, when teams leverage our tax dollars for their stadiums it is simply unfair to sports fans.

In the case of the $84 million Cactus League stadium build for the Chicago Cubs faithful (set to open in 2013), the ‘threat’ by the team to bolt for Florida was enough to convince local lawmakers to hike up the ticket taxes to pay for them to stay. Despite avoiding the citrus of the Grapefruit League, Cubs fans have a sour taste in their mouths over this increase as spring training is supposed to provide an affordable outlet for die-hards to preview the current and future stars of their baseball club in action.

They’re not the only ones upset by the lawmakers’ decision.

The Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, LA Dodgers, Oakland A’s, and Texas Rangers have all expressed their discontent over the proposed Cactus League ticket tax that would be shared across the board. Rightfully so. If the goal was to keep the Cubs in Arizona each spring, why should all clubs, and all baseball fans be required to absorb one team’s ransom?

In the lawmakers’ decision, the Cubs preferred method of public payment for the new stadium, a car rental tax, was dropped. Now, their cross-town rivals, the White Sox, will have to live with the fact that every time they set foot in Camelback Ranch (their shared facility with the Dodgers), they’ll be supporting the dreaded Cubs’ shiny new stadium in Mesa.

Here are some more stats of stadium financing in AZ from the Phoenix Biz Journal:

Stadium: Proposed Cubs stadium

• Site: Mesa
• Opened: 2013*
• Tenants: Chicago Cubs
• Cost: $84 M

• Major financing: Proposed ticket fees on all Cactus League games, proposed rental car tax increases, Mesa bonds

Stadium: Camelback Ranch

• Site: Glendale
• Opened: 2009
• Tenants: Chicago White Sox, LA Dodgers
• Cost: $100 M
• Major financing: $60 M from Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority, Glendale bonds

Stadium: Goodyear Stadium

• Site: Glendale
• Opened: 2009
• Tenants: Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds
• Cost: $108 M
• Major financing: $55 M from AZSTA, Goodyear bonds

Stadium: Planned Arizona Diamondbacks/Colorado Rockies stadium

• Site: Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
• Opened: 2011*
• Tenants: Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies
• Cost: $100 M
• $23 M stimulus-backed loan, Tribal money

Stadium: Chase Field

• Site: Phoenix
• Opened: 1998
• Tenants: Diamondbacks
• Cost: $364 M
• Major financing: Quarter-cent Maricopa County sales tax increase, Diamondbacks paid extra construction expenses

Stadium: University of Phoenix Stadium

• Site: Glendale
• Opened: 2006
• Tenants: Arizona Cardinals
• Cost: $471 M
• Major financing: $311 M from AZSTA, Prop. 302 increases to rental car and hotel taxes, $145 M from Cardinals, $5 M from Fiesta Bowl, $10 M from city of Glendale

Stadium: Jobing.com Arena

• Site: Glendale
• Opened: 2003
• Tenants: Phoenix Coyotes
• Cost: $180 M
• Major financing: Glendale bonds and financing

Stadium: US Airways Center

• Site: Phoenix
• Opened: 1992
• Tenants: Phoenix Suns
• Cost: $90 M
• Major financing: Phoenix bonds and loans