In a significant move to enhance the infrastructure of Chase Field, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed a bill on Friday that allocates up to $500 million for renovations of the stadium, which is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The legislation saw bipartisan backing in the predominantly GOP-controlled chambers and plans to leverage sales tax revenue from the stadium and adjacent structures for a series of upgrades over three decades. These enhancements will include significant improvements to the air conditioning systems and the retractable roof of the stadium.
The Arizona Diamondbacks organization has committed an additional $250 million towards the renovation efforts. Chase Field is situated in the heart of downtown Phoenix, surrounded by a bustling blend of small businesses and restaurants that thrive during the baseball season. Governor Hobbs, a Democrat, pursued this legislation as a priority, emphasizing the importance of using taxpayer funds wisely to provide well-paying jobs and to ensure the team remains in Phoenix.
Interest in the Diamondbacks has surged after their appearance in the 2023 World Series, where they ultimately fell to the Texas Rangers. Currently, fan attendance is averaging 31,420 per game, the highest in two decades. Hobbs, reflecting on social media, assured her followers, “I’m not going to let Arizona lose the Diamondbacks.”
Derrick Hall, president and CEO of the Diamondbacks, offered commendations to Governor Hobbs and indicated that efforts would now focus on negotiating an extension of the team’s lease with Maricopa County. The bill’s passage on June 23 concluded months of debate about the potential relocation of the team, a scenario seen with other MLB teams like the Oakland A’s, who, after years of unsuccessful negotiations for a new ballpark in Oakland, shifted their focus to Las Vegas.
The push for public financing isn’t limited to Arizona; last year, voters in Missouri rebuffed the idea of extending a tax to support new stadiums for the Kansas City teams. Similarly, legislative maneuvers have occurred in Kansas and Missouri, each vying for teams with financial incentives.
Despite legal disputes with the Maricopa County Stadium District in 2017 over funding for repairs, the Diamondbacks have remained in their downtown Phoenix ballpark for nearly 30 years. One notable challenge has been the stadium’s cooling systems, a critical element given Phoenix’s scorching summer temperatures. At a 2023 concert by Morgan Wallen, attendees complained about the heat despite a closed roof, leading to shortages at concession stands.
The iconic Chase Field, featuring a distinctive swimming pool in right field, was at the forefront with its retractable roof, a design choice now shared by seven MLB stadiums. The recent funding compromise does not extend to renovating the pool or the premium suites, a stipulation that helped garner support from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego.
As Governor Hobbs prepares for her reelection campaign, this bipartisan legislation might serve as a key achievement, although it’s yet to be determined how prominently it will feature. While some, like Democratic state Sen. Mitzi Epstein, disapproved of the spending, citing missed opportunities for community benefits such as free streaming of games, the move has largely been seen as a strategic win for Hobbs.