Last week, Arizona Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall explained to Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta why discussions with Maricopa County over extending the team’s lease at Chase Field have become contentious. These tensions have sparked further conversations about the possibility of the D-backs playing baseball elsewhere in Arizona.
So, what would the Diamondbacks want from a new stadium?
Although Hall emphasized the team’s desire to stay at their current home in downtown Phoenix, he shared some insights on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos about what a theoretical new ballpark could look like. His comments suggest the team has already put considerable thought into the idea.
“Capacity alone… we’re way too large,” Hall stated. “You probably want to be around 36-to-38 thousand, that’s one thing. We’re always going to want to have some sort of a roof here because it is so hot. We want to make sure it’s retractable. We got beautiful months in April and May and you get into June a little bit and you hope in September you can. Aside from that, today it’s premium areas and it’s also a lot of standing room areas. Because fans engage differently, they take in entertainment differently. Some want to come and stand, they want to be in a bar — they don’t necessarily want to have 50,000 fixed seats like you used to see in the old ballparks.”
Hall also highlighted the importance of building a multi-use venue that can be active year-round, not just on game days.
“In addition to that, you want to have 365 days a year of activation. You want to have hotels, you want to have retail, you want to have restaurants, so I think you’ll see that now where it’s not just about the ball games. And now, you have more and more non-baseball events as well. It all works together,” he explained.
Examples of such upgrades can already be seen nearby at the Footprint Center, where recent renovations introduced a large sports bar in the main pavilion and multiple bars and club areas with views of the court. Even the upper deck now features a food court inspired by this more modern fan experience.
When it comes to Chase Field, the D-backs currently hold maintenance and operating rights, despite Maricopa County owning the stadium. The team helps cover the cost of improvements by hosting non-baseball events. However, Hall acknowledged that there’s often confusion about who is responsible for certain projects.
“If you have to completely overhaul the HVAC system, which is a very antiquated system… whose (project and cost) is that?” Hall asked. “What is maintenance? Is maintenance fixing it or making sure it’s cool?”
The D-backs have been working to improve the stadium where possible. For instance, Hall mentioned plans to fix the retractable roof this offseason, which currently cannot be opened or closed while fans are present.
However, he noted that a full list of needed renovations would likely cost around half a billion dollars.
With the team’s lease set to expire in 2027, negotiations with the county have become strained. In a letter to Maricopa County leaders, Hall called the county’s counteroffer “extremely offensive” after it requested a $200 million commitment from the team before allowing the zoning needed for hotels, retail, and restaurants around the stadium.
“It’s a tough situation, really for both,” Hall admitted. “Not just for us, but for (the county) too. Not sure they want to be in the business of owning a stadium. They don’t have a capability to invest a lot of money in the stadium. They can’t just go out and raise sales taxes to be here. We are trying to get creative.”
As the future of Chase Field remains uncertain, the Diamondbacks continue to weigh their options for a possible new home in Arizona.
