Diamondbacks looking to leave Chase Field citing lack of funds for Stadium Improvement due from Maricopa County (Phoenix: real estate, leases)

[JGMotorsport64]

Arizona Diamondbacks may look to leave Chase Field due to concerns about stadium conditions - ABC15 Arizona

"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."

. . . .

Hall said the D-backs would like to remain in downtown Phoenix if possible, but "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," he said.

[hawkbiz]

I like Chase Field personally. BUT, my perspective is going to baseball games at Shea Stadium in Queens, NY and that stadium was used for 44 years! Arenas and Stadiums have much shorter shelf lives nowadays.

[JGMotorsport64]

I think it's a bargaining chip, they see that the Coyotes are going to cut a deal, the Suns will cut a deal, I predict a sports complex on Salt River Fields.

I hate it, but it seems to be leaning that way .

[Bungle]

No way do they want to build on Salt River Fields. If they think attendance is low now just imagine how low it would be way out there.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by Bungle

No way do they want to build on Salt River Fields. If they think attendance is low now just imagine how low it would be way out there.

Disagree, smoking deal with the tribe, Casino-Resort, Aquarium, Top Golf, Butterfly Museum, Spring Training, Hockey, Football, Basketball, Baseball, Next to Maricopa Counties wealthiest in North Central Phoenix, Paradise Valley and Scottsdale? Their only concern will be traffic on the 101.

That is a proposition that Downtown Phoenix has to compete with or else face some issues moving forward.

[goodfellas17]

Didn't know the place was falling down. They are still playing games at Wrigley Field and it is in a lot worse shape than Chase Field.

[cjseliga]

I think a bunch of sports teams like to throw in the "state-of-the-art facility as our agreement requires" into their leases and of course cities either overlook it and think, yeah whatever. So fast forward 10, 20 or 25 years down the road and of course the ballparks/arenas/stadiums are not going to be considered "state-of-the-art" as compared to the newer facilities being built.

I think one of the mistakes was the size of the BOB/Chase Field. I realize expansion teams have a pie in the sky mentality that they are going to draw 3 million+ year after year, until they don't. They should have made the ballpark at most 40,000, smaller and more intimate, which I know is sort of hard when you are working with a giant airplane hanger.

The Rockies made the same mistake with Coors Field, which had 50,000 seats and a few years back they decided to renovate a huge section of the upper deck outfield seating with an outdoor party deck. Same thing with Progressive Field where the Indians play; they reduced the seating from 45,000 to 37,000.

Unless you're the Yankees, you don't need a 50,000 stadium. Just look at the Marlins and their new stadium, they know they are a "small market" team and only put in 36,700 seats and they have nearly 6 million people in the Miami Metroplex.

I can see the Diamondbacks doing something similar to what the Rockies did and convert a huge chunk of the upper deck in Chase Field into various party decks, where people go to socialize and sad to say, not really watch the game, but that's what the younger generation likes to do. Do you remember that sorority last year at the D'backs game getting shamed for just taking selfies all game and not even caring what is going on.

[ajonesaz]

Originally Posted by goodfellas17

Didn't know the place was falling down. They are still playing games at Wrigley Field and it is in a lot worse shape than Chase Field.

It isn't.... half the major league teams would love to play in a Stadium like Chase Field. It still is a great stadium and some features would still be considered state-of-the-art if built now.

They might have a good year this year, but that's reason to start bargaining the tax payers.

So in ten years are we going to have jobing, Chase Field and US Airways center sitting vacant?

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by goodfellas17

Didn't know the place was falling down. They are still playing games at Wrigley Field and it is in a lot worse shape than Chase Field.

I'm not disagreeing, but the Cubs are doing a 4-year, $575 million renovation to Wrigley Field.

Wrigley Field renovations

[Ztonyg]

Originally Posted by ajonesaz

It isn't.... half the major league teams would love to play in a Stadium like Chase Field. It still is a great stadium and some features would still be considered state-of-the-art if built now.

They might have a good year this year, but that's reason to start bargaining the tax payers.

So in ten years are we going to have jobing, Chase Field and US Airways center sitting vacant?

Glendale will demolish their arena if/when the Coyotes leave.

I'm pretty sure that US Airways Center and Chase Field will also be demolished. The real estate is too valuable to keep a vacant (and expensive to maintain stadium there).

I'm not in favor of public money to replace these facilities, but if the Coyotes (clearly #4 of all 4 major league teams) gets public funding, I guess the Diamondbacks and Suns also will get it.

With all of the other financial problems this county / state has, I just believe it's a massive waste to subsidize billionaire sports team owners in what amounts to corporate welfare, but I guess I'm in the minority.