PHOENIX — Tensions are rising between Maricopa County and the Arizona Diamondbacks during negotiations for a lease renewal for Chase Field. Team officials said a letter recently received from the county is "extremely offensive," and county officials said the team's latest proposal is "neither practical nor viable."
The team's lease expires in 2027, and they have been negotiating with Maricopa County, which owns Chase Field, about a lease extension. At odds is the length of the new lease and money for much-needed renovations. The team said they are willing to put in a lot of money to fix Chase Field but were recently given a counteroffer from an earlier proposal requiring a 50-year lease and the team to commit $150,000,000 for stadium maintenance.
"We found this letter extremely offensive, especially since we have come to the table with hundreds of millions in resources to help renovate a ballpark we do not own, while the County has offered no dollars at all," a spokesperson with the Diamondbacks said. "To ask us to sign a 50-year lease renewal on a stadium we do not own when we are the only party bringing real dollars to the table is simply not a serious or logical proposal."
In the letter, the Maricopa Board of Supervisors calls a previous proposal by the team, which included a 10-year lease and an option to end the lease on short notice, "neither practical nor viable." The letter also blamed the team for not keeping the stadium safe for visitors.
"The current MOU (memorandum of understanding) places the responsibility of maintaining the structure squarely on the Team," the letter said. "Reports of falling concrete and excessive heat are an indication that the party responsible for the structure may not be taking the steps necessary to maintain a safe and friendly environment."
A spokesperson with Maricopa County said they are happy with the progress made in negotiations, releasing this statement:
“Maricopa County is pleased with the progress made in the ongoing negotiations with the Diamondbacks. We remain optimistic that a mutually beneficial agreement can be reached that serves the interests of all stakeholders—the team, the fans, and the taxpayers. Our goal has always been to find a long-term solution that keeps the Diamondbacks in downtown and preserves the life of the public’s asset: Chase Field. We believe our recent offer is fair, balancing the flexibility the Diamondbacks have said they need while requiring necessary investment in Chase Field. It is our goal for the Diamondbacks to play baseball in downtown Phoenix for decades to come.”
Chase Field is the fourth-oldest ballpark in the National League and its issues go far past a leaky pipe.
“When you see the new ballparks, its office spaces and hotels and restaurants, something that could benefit whether we are downtown or elsewhere,” CEO of the Diamondbacks Derrick Hall said in February. “Where are those opportunities for us? That’s another thing that we’re discussing internally because we would love to create 365 days a year of activation around the ballpark.”
The roof has yet to be fixed at the stadium. It can open and close, but only if fans aren't present. Attendance is a problem for a team with one playoff appearance in 11 years. The D-backs have been ranked near the bottom of the NL since 2005.
The team said they will continue to "seek a solution" in further negotiations.
Here's the team's full statement:
"We found this letter extremely offensive, especially since we have come to the table with hundreds of millions in resources to help renovate a ballpark we do not own, while the County has offered no dollars at all. We have tried to work in a collaborative fashion and in true teamwork with a broad coalition of supporters here in Phoenix. All along we have done our part by investing millions into repairing this aging ballpark, while receiving little to no assistance at all. The truth and fairness matter here, and bizarre attacks like this do not represent the way our partners should do business. It is clear for all to see that this was a bomb-throwing tactic from a Chairman who lost his primary and two other outgoing members who will not be part of future talks. To ask us to sign a 50-year lease renewal on a stadium we do not own when we are the only party bringing real dollars to the table is simply not a serious or logical proposal. We will continue to seek a solution and thank the State and City for continuing to work."
12Sports' Cameron Cox contributed to this report.
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