Funding secured for Chase Field revamp

Image: Governor Katie Hobbs on Facebook

Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Arizona Diamondbacks can push ahead with renovations at Chase Field after a new bill securing funding for the revamp was signed.

MLB.com said the bill was signed into law by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs allowing tax dollars from Chase Field to be reinvested in the renovation of the stadium, which was built in 1998 and is owned by the Maricopa County Stadium District.

The bill redirects 82% of the Diamondbacks’ state income taxes and one-half cent transportation tax collected from all buildings owned by the Maricopa County Stadium District to the District Fund.

The diversions of these taxes over the next 30 years will raise up to $500 million for renovations to Chase Field.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona (US). The Diamondbacks compete in the Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League West Division. The franchise was established on March 9^th, 1995 and began play in 1998 as an expansion team.

The 48,633-capacity Chase Field, formerly the Bank One Ballpark, is a retractable-roof stadium in downtown Phoenix, Arizona (US). It is the ballpark of the Major League Baseball (MLB) team Arizona Diamondbacks. It opened in 1998, the year the Diamondbacks debuted as an expansion team.

Hobbs said, “Chase Field has largely gone unchanged, never once undergoing major renovations. We have a 27-year-old HVAC system that has at times struggled to keep fans cool, and rain storms that led to flooding and stadium evacuations. And Arizonans deserve better than this.

“Fans have routinely shown up for this city and this state, and it’s time that we show up for them. We want to make sure that families can enjoy America’s favorite pastime with an unforgettable experience.”

The sales taxes from the stadium and adjacent buildings will be reinvested into the infrastructure, which is in desperate need of upgrading.

Chase Field is the fourth-oldest ballpark in the National League behind Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium and Coors Field. All three of those parks have undergone renovations over the years.

Diamondbacks team president/CEO Derrick Hall said, “It needs a lot of work. We’ll bring in a lot of fan-facing and new fan experience type renovations, as well, but at first we’ve got a lot of things that most people wouldn’t even see. Like the HVAC system. Cement. Cracks, pipes. A lot of work that we have to do infrastructure wise.”

The renovations will not be done all at once because the team will still need to play 81 games a year there and the stadium has become a popular concert venue in the offseason.

The Diamondbacks will meet with their stadium consultant, JLL, which is based in Atlanta.

Then Hall said the team will bring in architects and begin getting down to the details of the renovations.

While they’ve talked in the past about significantly reducing the capacity of the stadium, which at 48,633 is one of the larger MLB venues, that no longer appears to be the plan.

Hall said, “We’ve talked about it in the past about reducing capacity, but I don’t think it makes sense.

“There are times where, with our concerts, our offseason events, Opening Day, when we make the postseason — we’re glad we have as many seats as we have. I think we’ll probably keep that and focus on other areas. We’ll lose some [seats] if we create new fan areas or new standing room areas or if we increase seat sizes in some spots.

“There will be a little reduction. But not like talking about wiping out a quarter of the seats or anything like that. I think ideally today if you were to build a stadium you probably want anywhere from 35,000-40,000. We’re up there. We’re close to 50,000, but as I said there are times, we’re happy we have that many.”

The bill was introduced by Rep. Jeff Weninger, and it found an enthusiastic supporter in Hobbs.

Hobbs added, “The stadium has generated $5.4 billion in GDP for our state, with countless small businesses and the workers they employ, relying on a strong and thriving downtown Phoenix that Chase Field and the Diamondbacks anchor.

“It’s a simple fact that without the Diamondbacks playing here at Chase Field, Arizona would be worse off and I was not about to let that happen.”

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