The Arizona Diamondbacks are permitted to relocate and build a brand new stadium — shaking things up a bit in the Arizona desert.
The Arizona Diamondbacks currently sit atop the National League West, boasting the deepest roster in the entire National League. With the Los Angeles Dodgers in complete free fall and the Colorado Rockies lacking the long-term ability to hang, it should be a smooth ride to the NL West title — meaning home playoff games in Phoenix.
It’s a great time to be an Arizona Diamondbacks fan living in Phoenix, where you can kick back, have a hot dog, beer, and watch the best team in the National League. However, you might want to do so sooner than later, with the Arizona Diamondbacks granted permission to relocate and build a new stadium elsewhere.
For those of you who live in Arizona, don’t panic — the Arizona Diamondbacks would stay in Arizona, but relocate to Scottsdale, if they choose to accept this new offer. Bob Nightengale of USA Today provides the details of these new developments.
The Arizona #DBacks have received permission to abandon their downtown Phoenix ballpark, Chase Field, and are expected to relocate to Scottsdale, likely on tribal land near their spring-training home. https://t.co/S7ODhextDn via @usatoday
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 10, 2018
"Board of Supervisors passed the agreement 4-1 a week after making the deal public, ending a longstanding lawsuit. It allows the team to immediately start looking for another home in exchange for dropping its demand for the county to pay up to $187 million in stadium upgrades. A new stadium built on tribal land, an idea that has been rumored, would have to charge the same taxes as currently charged at Chase Field, according to the agreement."
Why are the Arizona Diamondbacks unhappy with their current situation? It’s not just them, but MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, also. Chase Field opened in 1998 and is a baseball paradise (on the surface), so why the need for change?
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For quite some time, local fans have been urging for upgrades to the stadium, but to no avail. The County is responsible for such improvements, but the County differed the costs to the team instead — which the Commish and Arizona Diamondbacks want no part of.
The Arizona Diamondbacks even sued Maricopa County, where Chase Field is located, airing their grievances in the process.
I say, good riddance. I hope you had the time of your life, in Phoenix. Swim for open waters and head to green pastures; to a place where you know, the County will take care of the team and fans — which appears to be the case.
If they leave by 2022, they do not have to pay any penalty or fee whatsoever. If they waited until afterward, they would have to pay a buyout between $5-$25 million. Start packing your bags and make sure your moving trucks are all packed up by 2022 — that’s a fantastic deal!
Plus Scottsdale is only a 23-mile drive from those who live in Phoenix. No big deal at all. I live three hours from my beloved St. Louis Cardinals and make the three-hour drive all the time. Plus, you’ll have the stadium that you desire, this scenario.
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Here’s hoping that the relocation and new stadium venture for the Arizona Diamondbacks go smoothly. It’s better for MLB, the fans, and everyone involved — well, except for Maricopa County.