The Diamondbacks' stadium situation appears to be heading closer to a more peaceful end. Arizona state representative Jeff Weninger introduced Arizona House Bill 2704, which could serve to create the public-private partnership that the team has been seeking for years. The bill has 17 co-sponsors from both major political parties.
The bill has Diamondbacks ownership encouraged, with team President and CEO Derrick Hall appearing on The Mike Broomhead Show on Thursday.
"We're excited about this," said Hall. "It provides us with that public-private partnership...we're looking to put hundreds of millions of dollars of our own into the ballpark and to get assistance now. For it coming legislatively, where there's already precedent in the state for such a mechanism, is the encouraging part. You're not talking about a huge sum of money each year but it allows us to borrow off of that, knowing that steady stream of money come in."
How this would work is the Diamondbacks would have a 5.6% sales tax that goes towards education programs and health care for low-income residents and prisons. The bill would redirect 5.0% of the 5.6% sales tax towards a fund that goes toward stadium upkeep, with the 0.6% allocated towards education remaining intact. Additionally more funding will come from recaptured income tax from team employees and players.
Hall was adamant to point out this is not a tax increase on the fans or taxpayers, pointing out all the money is simply a reallocation towards the stadium.
Diamondbacks could reallocate taxes towards stadium upkeep
According to Hall, the timing of this bill comes at a good time for the Diamondbacks. Their current lease at Chase Field runs through the 2027 season. While the team has the ability to seek out other sites, they have yet to find a place in Maricopa County.
"We want to stay at Chase Field. It's been around for other 27 years, the memories that have been created there. That's where we should be and the solution is necessary."
Hall was mum on the team's negotiations involving the extension of the lease, although the bill's passing could lead to it getting done.
The Diamondbacks have said in the past that they've needed to put $500 million into Chase Field for repairs, maintenance, and renovations in the present and future. Some of the items that Hall listed include the HVAC system, plumbing, concrete, and seats.
The bill will need to pass the Arizona house, then the Senate, and be signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs.
In some more good news involving the stadium, the Chase Field roof is expected to be fully functional by Opening Day. The roof has been an issue since the 2022 season, a period in which the team has been previously unable to open or close it with fans present.