Arizona Senate Advances Stadium Bill; Mayor Gallego Remains Opposed

In a bid to revitalize Chase Field, Arizona lawmakers in the state Senate have approved a revised bill aimed at funding necessary stadium improvements. However, the changes have done little to sway Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, the plan’s most vocal opponent.

House Bill 2704, introduced by Rep. Jeff Weninger, proposes that the Maricopa County stadium district, which owns Chase Field, use sales tax revenue generated at the stadium to finance the upgrades. The Arizona Diamondbacks have estimated a need for $500 million to address essential repairs, such as plumbing and air conditioning.

Weninger emphasized the importance of the bill, stating it is crucial for negotiating a new lease agreement with the team to prevent their departure when the current lease ends in 2027. “It’s very tough to negotiate a lease if you’re going to continue to have a dilapidated building and facility that makes it tough to play in,” he said.

Significant amendments to the bill were made by Senate Finance Committee Chairman J.D. Mesnard, including the removal of a clause that would have diverted income tax from Diamondbacks’ players towards the stadium’s improvement fund. Despite these changes, the bill advanced with a 4-3 bipartisan vote.

Mayor Gallego, however, remains a staunch critic, arguing that the bill places an excessive financial burden on Phoenix. In a letter to Governor Katie Hobbs, she projected that the legislation could divert up to $720 million in sales tax from the city, Maricopa County, and the state over the next 30 years.

Concerns are shared by Maricopa County officials, especially after Mesnard’s amendments required equal contributions from both the city and the county. Zach Schira, Assistant County Manager, expressed the county’s objection, noting that Maricopa County lacks a general sales tax, unlike the city and state, making the financial implications severe for county taxpayers.

Gallego has advocated for limiting public contributions to approximately $15 million annually, the initial impact estimate provided by legislative budget analysts. “The Legislature has a budget committee and they put out an original estimate, which at the time the Diamondbacks seemed favorable to,” she explained, emphasizing the need for capped government participation.

Notably, Mayor Gallego has also pushed for public funds to be allocated solely for infrastructure, with the team covering additional expenses such as luxury boxes—a model similar to the deal reached for the Phoenix Suns’ arena improvements in 2019.

While Mesnard introduced a cap on public contributions to $500 million, adjusted for inflation, Gallego criticized this measure, arguing it effectively allows for a billion-dollar public expense with no obligatory financial input from the Diamondbacks.

Supporters of the bill highlight the Diamondbacks’ prior $200 million investment in stadium improvements and stress the potential economic loss if the team relocates. The club has also reportedly contributed around $100 million to charitable causes, reinforcing its community value. Former player and current team executive Luis Gonzalez told lawmakers, “The Arizona Diamondbacks are a community asset. As long as we’ve called Arizona and Chase Field home, we have received support and love generously from the community, as we have returned it in droves.”

“I think the question is are we going to upkeep a public asset … if they leave, you lose all this revenue that you’re talking about,” Weninger added, underscoring the potential economic repercussions of losing the team.

Despite the bill’s progress through the legislature, it faces opposition from an unlikely coalition, including Sen. Jake Hoffman (R-Gilbert) and Democratic Sens. Brian Fernandez (D-Yuma) and Mitzi Epstein (D-Tempe). Fernandez proposed amendments to further limit public funding, which were not adopted.

The bill now awaits a full Arizona Senate vote before reaching Governor Hobbs, who has yet to declare a position. Last month, she expressed hope for a resolution that retains Major League Baseball in Arizona, stating, “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.” Currently, her office has declined to comment further on the bill or Mayor Gallego’s letter.