Diamondbacks Would Like to Explore Options for Future Facility

By Francisco Romero

The Arizona Diamondbacks sent a letter to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors asking the modification of the Facilities Use Agreement in order to allow them to contact other entities for a possible relocation.

The County denied the request on Thursday.

The original 30-year lease between the Diamondbacks and Maricopa County expires in 2028.

After the denial, Hall issued the following statement regarding the issue:

“The Arizona Diamondbacks’ highest priority is to provide a high-quality experience for our fans, and our agreement with the County was designed to ensure that Chase Field delivers on that promise not only on the day it opened, but throughout its lifespan. Our organization will not renege on that commitment and we expect our partners to share that value. Unfortunately, the County has demonstrated that it does not.

“The Maricopa County Stadium District has made clear that it will not be able to meet its obligations to fund financial reserves for capital improvements, which it now estimates to be at least $187 million for the remaining life of the stadium. This spiral is insurmountable and will result in a Chase Field that will no longer be a state-of-the-art facility as our agreement requires and may, in fact, become unsuitable for continued use. We cannot risk being put in that position.

“Renovations and stadium projects take time. We would rather act responsibly today to explore alternatives for remaining in downtown Phoenix than turn a blind eye to what we now see clearly as the County’s economic reality. We were asking only for the opportunity to talk with other potential partners, a right that we assert we are due as a result of the County’s existing inability to meet its responsibilities.

“We want to remain in downtown Phoenix and we would like nothing better than for that to occur at Chase Field, if that is possible. The County is putting in jeopardy the investment that taxpayers have made, that the team has made, and the economic windfall the community has reaped as a result. Again, we only want to do what’s in the best interest of D-backs fans and the franchise.”

The Arizona Diamondbacks first season as a Major League Baseball team was 1998 and Chase Field has been the only stadium they have called home ever since.