PHOENIX – The new deal to keep the Arizona Diamondbacks in downtown Phoenix won’t just benefit the baseball team and its fans, according to the franchise’s top executive.
It could serve as an economic catalyst for the area around Chase Field, said Derrick Hall, president and CEO of the Diamondbacks.
“There are opportunities all around,” Hall told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Friday. “And when you see these new ballparks today … it’s not just a game. It’s 365 days of activation. It’s retail, it’s restaurants, it’s hotel, it’s office space.”
After months of negotiations, Gov. Katie Hobbs signed bipartisan legislation in June to allocate up to $500 million in public funding for Chase Field renovations over the next 30 years. On Wednesday, she was joined by team and government officials to celebrate HB2704 with a ceremonial bill signing at the ballpark.
Diamondbacks commit $250 million for upgrades to Chase Field
As part of the deal, the Diamondbacks committed another $250 million for upgrades to the 27-year-old stadium. Hall indicated the team also might invest in development outside Chase Field, which is owned by the Maricopa County Stadium District.
“This (public) funding is basically just inside this building and inside Chase Field,” he said. “So, anything that we’re going to do mixed-use-wise will be from a different budget.”
Hall said he understands how important his team and the Phoenix Suns, who play nearby on Jefferson Street at PHX Arena, are to businesses in the area.
“We know that we’re lifting all boats. … The impact of a team here playing as many games as we do — at least 81, hopefully more, like we did in 2023 — what that does for downtown and these businesses, it’s a huge point of pride,” he said.
The team took that into account when weighing its options before the stadium deal was hammered out with lawmakers, Hall said.
“We did kick the tires to see if there was opportunity for a new ballpark somewhere else,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we need to be downtown. We need to be right here at Chase Field where we’ve already created all these memories for families over the years.”
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