Arizona Diamondbacks’ Stadium Funding Proposal Advances Amidst Mixed Reactions
The Arizona House of Representatives has moved forward with a proposal that could potentially revamp Chase Field, home to the Arizona Diamondbacks, by harnessing sales and income tax revenues. However, the fate of the proposal remains uncertain as it awaits the decision of Governor Katie Hobbs.
Authored by Rep. Jeff Weninger, the proposal aims to allow the Maricopa County stadium district, which oversees Chase Field, to utilize a substantial portion of state, city, and county sales taxes generated at the venue, in addition to state income taxes from the team’s player and employee earnings. The Diamondbacks have highlighted a pressing need for $500 million in stadium enhancements, particularly to address issues such as air conditioning and plumbing.
According to Weninger, the public funds will cover only a fraction of the required amount, with the team pledging to contribute approximately $250 million. “This makes it a true partnership between the team, state, city, and county,” he stated.
Despite these assurances, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego has voiced strong opposition, arguing that the city stands to lose $200 million in revenue. On social media, Gallego emphasized, “Two-thirds of Phoenix’s general fund supports public safety. 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 an effort to gain the backing of both the city and Maricopa County, Weninger has made several revisions to the bill. These include safeguarding portions of the city’s and county’s sales taxes that fund vital services, such as 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,” Weninger explained.
The county, which initially opposed the bill, shifted its stance to “neutral” after these adjustments. Assistant County Manager Zach Schira had earlier expressed a desire to protect voter-approved sales taxes earmarked for transportation and jails.
The proposed legislation also includes a sunset clause, ensuring the arrangement would conclude in 30 years. Furthermore, if the Diamondbacks choose to relocate before 2050, the state would halt all payments and impose a penalty ranging from $1 million to $10 million on the team.
The House approved the bill with a 35-25 vote, revealing a mix of bipartisan support and dissent. 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.”
Some Democratic lawmakers, however, contended that the bill was not yet ready for passage. Assistant Minority Leader Oscar de los Santos (D-Phoenix) noted, “Of course everyone loves the Dbacks. I think there is a negotiated compromise that we could come to, but we should not be rushing through this legislative process.”
Rep. Betty Villegas (D-Tucson) expressed concerns about redirecting income taxes from players’ high salaries, especially with looming 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 said.
The proposal now heads to the Arizona Senate and requires Governor Hobbs’ endorsement before any funds can be allocated for Chase Field renovations. While Hobbs expressed optimism about keeping Major League Baseball in Arizona, she has not disclosed her stance on the current proposal. When questioned about vetoing the bill, Hobbs replied, “I didn’t say that.”
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