Helped by a Westward exodus
Joe Torre sat on a golf cart parked outside the Dodgers' new clubhouse facility at the sparkling Camelback Ranch complex for his press briefing one morning shortly before the start of the exhibition schedule. Nearby, a group of landscapers were planting trees, and construction workers' tools and machinery were as loud as cracks of the bat.

The $100-million project in suburban Glendale cut it so close that the official certificate of occupancy wasn't obtained until three days before the Dodgers and their new roommates, the White Sox, played the inaugural game last Sunday.

“They've done a remarkable job coordinating everything, considering they had to rush it,'' Torre said. “It's a great facility; well thought-out.''

So great that the Dodgers left the storied Vero Beach, Fla., complex they had occupied since their days in Brooklyn. There was nothing like it in its day, but when you're looking for complexes fitting that description now, you look to the budding West Valley suburbs.

The luxurious Camelback Ranch complex spreads over 141 acres of what used to be farm land, about 1½ miles west of University of Phoenix Stadium — home of the Arizona Cardinals — which clearly is visible in the distance.

It is palaces like this that are drawing teams from Florida, and the fans follow.

The Dodgers-White Sox opener drew 11,280, and 11,896 more showed up on Saturday for a Dodgers-Mariners game. So it's clear the hope of attracting fans from the Los Angeles/Orange County area — a one-hour flight or five/six-hour car ride away — will turn into reality.

Joe Leal and his son Rob, a student at Fresno State University, made the weekend trip from Visalia, Calif., to take in three games. But you can't necessarily count them as part of that expected additional draw because a decade ago, they made the cross-country trek to Vero Beach.

“This one definitely is better,'' Joe Leal said. “It was easier to get to the players at Vero — talk to them, get autographs. But this place is beautiful. More people will come here from California. You can get a flight sometimes for $100 round-trip. I'd come out and see one game for that price.''

But Dodgers tickets take a regular-season-like bite out of a budget at Camelback Ranch Ballpark, where seats in the home plate club boxes run $90-$100, suite level seating runs $75-90, and box seats are $24-45 — by far the highest in the Cactus League.

Like the Dodgers, the Cleveland Indians also made a move West, returning to Arizona after a 15-year dalliance with Florida — to another $100-million, two-team complex amidst the growing suburban sprawl of Goodyear. They will be joined next season by the Cincinnati Reds, making it an all-Ohio facility.

“If you complain about the Indians' place, you complain about ice cream,'' Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said.

When the Reds arrive, they will be the sixth team to leave Florida for Arizona since the mid-90s, following the White Sox, Rangers, Royals, Indians and Dodgers. Throw in the Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, who have trained in Arizona since their inceptions last decade, and the trend is decisively west-leaning.

Robert Brinton, Cactus League president

Better weather and dramatically reduced travel between training sites are the obvious reasons. The Phoenix area now has 12 teams all within a hour or so of each other, and that's what all field personnel like most. Spring training, after all, is about getting your work in. And not a lot of work can be done if you're stuck on a bus four hours a day.

Another reason was Arizona's creation of a Sports and Tourism Authority, funded by tourism taxes that have paid for big chunks of the new facilities. That, plus an adventurous spirit of city officials in the growing West Valley suburbs who are looking to attract tourism and new residents, and think spring training baseball is worth the investment.

“Somebody had to say, 'this makes sense. Let's go for it','' Brinton said.

Tucson, or not Tucson?
The White Sox wanted so badly to join the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch this spring, they paid a $5-million early-escape fee to get out of their lease at Tucson Electric Park and bolt the 100-or-so miles up I-10.

The move wasn't assured until November, leaving them only two months to sell tickets and stadium advertising — something that could cost them a bit in the short run. Still, they fully expect to outdraw their attendance total last spring in Tucson.

“That's pretty much a given,'' White Sox vice president Scott Reifert said.

And soon enough, Tucson could lose the Diamondbacks and Rockies, as well. The team's leases expire in 2011 and 2012, respectively, and it's no secret both are talking to various Phoenix-area officials.

Possibly facing the ninth inning of their spring-training existence, Tucson and Pima County officials now say they are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their two MLB part-time residents by attracting a third team — perhaps even one from Japan — in the near future.

Also on NBCSports.com Will Serena surive Week 1 at the French Open? 'Dancing' man Castroneves talks Indy 500 PFT: Jets' Scott doesn't want son to play football Follow us on Twitter: @NBCSports  |  And Facebook