Scottsdale spending nearly $1M to rework Giants’ spring training home
Sep 26, 2017, 12:51 PM
(City of Scottsdale Photo)
PHOENIX — The city of Scottsdale said it would spend nearly $1 million this winter to rework parts of the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants.
Chris Walsh, the director of the city’s parks and recreation department, said a new half-field would be added, parts of the parking lot would be reconfigured and the original field would be improved.
A half-field consists of a grass-and-dirt infield, the foul territory and an arc of grass that leads to what would be the outfield.
An agility area will be added to the original field.
Walsh said the $900,000 budget being used to revamp Scottsdale Stadium — located near Goldwater Boulevard and Osborn Road — was coming from a joint fund.
“The funding mechanism will actually be a shared capital improvement fund between the (nonprofit organization) Charros, Giants and city of Scottsdale,” he said.
Walsh said construction on the 25-year-old stadium was expected to be completed in December.
The stadium last underwent a major renovation in 2006, though some tweaks have been made in the time since.
The Giants signed a lease in 2006 to continue to play spring ball in the stadium through 2025, which the city could be extended another decade.
The stadium has also played home to three former teams: the Phoenix Firebirds, the Valley Vipers and Arizona United SC.
KTAR News’ Bob McClay contributed to this report.