Arizona Diamondbacks Stadium Upgrade Plan Faces Uncertain Future
A legislative proposal aimed at funding necessary upgrades for Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, has made strides in the Arizona House of Representatives. However, its future remains uncertain as it awaits further approvals, including from Governor Katie Hobbs.
The bill, spearheaded by Rep. Jeff Weninger, seeks to allow the Maricopa County stadium district to claim a significant portion of state, city, and county sales tax revenue generated at the stadium. Additionally, it would tap into state income taxes collected from the salaries of team players and employees.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have highlighted a need for $500 million in stadium improvements to address issues such as air conditioning and plumbing. Weninger emphasized that public funding would cover only part of these costs, with the team pledging approximately $250 million.
“This makes it a true partnership between the team, state, city, and county,” Weninger stated.
Despite its passage in the House, the proposal faces opposition from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, who expressed concerns over a potential $200 million revenue loss for the city. “Two-thirds of Phoenix’s general fund supports public safety,” Gallego shared on social media. “Phoenix’s tax dollars are best spent supporting our firefighters who respond to emergencies, helping police fight crime, and combating homelessness — not used to pay for subsidies for those at the very top.”
In response to opposition, Weninger noted that amendments were made to exempt portions of city and county taxes that fund public safety and jails. “With the county, we did not touch the 0.2% county jail portion of the tax, and with the city, we did not touch the 0.3% that goes with first responders,” he explained.
Initially opposed, Maricopa County later adopted a neutral stance on the bill. Assistant County Manager Zach Schira had previously indicated the county’s desire to exempt taxes funding transportation and jail projects.
Additional changes to the bill include a sunset clause, ending the financial arrangement in 30 years. If the Diamondbacks relocate before 2050, the team would face a penalty ranging from $1 million to $10 million.
The bill passed the House by a 35-25 vote, garnering both bipartisan support and opposition. Rep. Alexander Kolodin (R-Scottsdale) remarked, “I am old enough to remember when Democrats opposed taking money from regular taxpayers and giving it to rich corporations.”
Democratic critics, such as Assistant Minority Leader Oscar de los Santos (D-Phoenix), argue that the bill requires more deliberation. “Of course everyone loves the Dbacks,” de los Santos said. “I think there is a negotiated compromise that we could come to, but we should not be rushing through this legislative process.”
Concern over tax redirection was also voiced by Rep. Betty Villegas (D-Tucson), who highlighted potential federal funding cuts. “The fact that we have a lot of federal cuts coming our way, we need to be aware that those cuts are going to hurt many people here in Arizona,” she stated.
The proposal’s journey is not over, as it still requires approval from the Arizona Senate and Governor Hobbs. The governor expressed a desire for a resolution that maintains Major League Baseball’s presence in Arizona and fosters collaboration among city, county, and state entities. “I support a solution that keeps Major League Baseball and the Diamondbacks here in Arizona, and I am really hopeful that the points of disagreement between the city, the county, and the state can get worked out so that we can get a deal done,” Hobbs commented, though she declined to specify her position on the bill’s current iteration.
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