Maricopa County approves deal that ends legal dispute with D-backs
May 9, 2018, 11:09 AM | Updated: 11:29 am
(Facebook Photo/Arizona Diamondbacks)
(Facebook Photo/Arizona Diamondbacks)
PHOENIX — The legal dispute between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Maricopa County officially ended Wednesday when the Board of Supervisors voted to approve a deal that took the county off the hook for $187 million in stadium upgrades and ensured the baseball team will remain at Chase Field at least through 2022.
The 4-1 vote finalized the binding memorandum of understanding announced last week that altered the county’s original 30-year deal with the D-backs.
“We are glad that today’s vote puts the lengthy dispute with Maricopa County behind us so that we can begin looking forward for the benefit of our fans and the organization,” said Ken Kendrick, D-backs managing general partner.
“As we are now responsible for Chase Field in ways that we were not in the past, we will do everything in our power to ensure a safe and friendly environment while being diligent in determining the best long-term stadium option for the D-backs.”
Clint Hickman gave the lone no vote.
“The part that gives me pause is, when is a contract a contract?” he said. “And the county taxpayer felt that a contract was signed for 30 years.”
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A public meeting was held Monday in which citizens’ submitted comments on the matter were read to the Board of Supervisors.
The D-backs filed a lawsuit last year seeking to break their lease at Chase Field, saying the county was responsible for $187 million in repairs and upgrades to the stadium. The lawsuit was dropped as part of the new deal.
Per the agreement, the county won’t contribute any new public money toward stadium upkeep. The D-backs are taking control of Chase Field and will keep revenue from all events there.
Control of the stadium was to be handed off within 72 hours of the execution of the memorandum of understanding.
The D-backs can immediately explore relocation or rebuilding, although they were required play at Chase Field at least four more seasons after the current one. Then they’ll be permitted to move to another facility in the county without penalty.
There would be penalties assessed between $5 million and $25 million if the team left the county before 2027.
In the original deal, which ran through 2027, the D-backs couldn’t start exploring alternatives until 2023.
