PHOENIX -- As both GM Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo have made clear, the games still matter. Yes, the Diamondbacks postseason hopes are but a glimmer at this point, but there is still a chance and players are fighting for jobs next season.
But the most significant development for the future of the Diamondbacks happened before Wednesday afternoon’s 2-0 win against the Rangers.
In a pregame commemorative ceremony held atop the home team’s dugout, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed H.B. 2704 into law. The bill will allow tax dollars from Chase Field to be reinvested in the renovation of the structure, which was built in 1998 and is owned by the Maricopa County Stadium District.
“Chase Field has largely gone unchanged, never once undergoing major renovations,” Hobbs said. “We have a 27-year-old HVAC system that has at times struggled to keep fans cool. Rain storms that led to flooding and stadium evacuations. And Arizonans deserve better than this. Fans have routinely shown up for this city and this state, and it's time that we show up for them. We want to make sure that families can enjoy America's favorite pastime with an unforgettable experience.”
The sales taxes from the stadium and adjacent buildings will be reinvested into the infrastructure, which is in desperate need of upgrading. Chase Field is the fourth-oldest ballpark in the National League behind Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium and Coors Field. All three of those parks have undergone renovations over the years.
“It needs a lot of work,” Diamondbacks team president/CEO Derrick Hall said. “We’ll bring in a lot of fan-facing and new fan experience type renovations, as well, but at first we’ve got a lot of things that most people wouldn’t even see. Like the HVAC system. Cement. Cracks, pipes. A lot of work that we have to do infrastructure wise.”
The renovations will not be done all at once because the team will still need to play 81 games a year there and the stadium has become a popular concert venue in the offseason.
Thursday, the Diamondbacks will begin meeting with their stadium consultant, JLL, which is based in Atlanta. Then Hall said the team will bring in architects and begin getting down to the details of the renovations.
While they’ve talked in the past about significantly reducing the capacity of the stadium, which at 48,633 is one of the larger MLB venues, that no longer appears to be the plan.
“We’ve talked about it in the past about reducing capacity, but I don’t think it makes sense,” Hall said. “There are times where, with our concerts, our offseason events, Opening Day, when we make the postseason -- we’re glad we have as many seats as we have. I think we’ll probably keep that and focus on other areas. We’ll lose some [seats] if we create new fan areas or new standing room areas or if we increase seat sizes in some spots.
"There will be a little reduction. But not like talking about wiping out a quarter of the seats or anything like that. I think ideally today if you were to build a stadium you probably want anywhere from 35,000-40,000. We’re up there. We’re close to 50,000, but as I said there are times, we’re happy we have that many.”
The bill was introduced by Rep. Jeff Weninger, and it found an enthusiastic supporter in Hobbs.
“The stadium has generated $5.4 billion in GDP for our state, with countless small businesses and the workers they employ, relying on a strong and thriving downtown Phoenix that Chase Field and the Diamondbacks anchor,” Hobbs said. “It's a simple fact that without the Diamondbacks playing here at Chase Field, Arizona would be worse off and I was not about to let that happen.”