PHOENIX, ARIZONA – The Arizona Diamondbacks are facing challenges as they seek a public funding agreement to upgrade Chase Field. With no deal in place by the beginning of Spring Training, owner Ken Kendrick and team president Derrick Hall expressed their frustration at the lack of progress.
Hall told reporters that they are trying to figure out the best possible partnership, public-private, to keep them at Chase Field. The preference is to stay at the park and invest in it, but there is frustration due to the delay in announcing their plans.
Kendrick addressed speculation about the team opening conversations with cities outside Arizona, acknowledging the interest from other municipalities but stating that they are not currently in dialogue with them. However, he did mention that the team may run out of time in Phoenix and that they are continuing to ramp up the dialogue to make their plans a reality.
Despite the challenges, Kendrick denied that their comments were meant to threaten the state with relocation. He emphasized their commitment to Arizona, stating that they hope to remain there permanently.
Chase Field opened in 1998 when the D-Backs entered the league as an expansion franchise. The team’s lease runs through the 2027 season, and they would prefer to renovate the park rather than construct a new stadium, citing the expense of a new stadium.
The estimated price tag for the renovation plans is between $400-500 million, with the organization willing to invest hundreds of millions of their own money. This comes as the team has increased their player payroll, reaching a franchise-record mark approaching $143 million after their surprising NL pennant.
The Diamondbacks continue to pursue a funding agreement with the hope of renovating Chase Field and remaining in Arizona for the long term.