We may run out of time in Phoenix...

[Llama19]

‘We may run out of time in Phoenix’: Diamondbacks frustrated with Chase Field deal

To quote:

"Diamondbacks Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick expressed disappointment over his organization’s inability to secure public funding to renovate Chase Field, suggesting that despite a desire to remain in Arizona the club could eventually look to move elsewhere if an agreement cannot be reached.

Speaking to reporters on Monday before the team’s first full-squad workout of spring training, Kendrick and Derrick Hall, the club’s president and CEO, lamented the fact that other big league teams across the country — as well as other local professional sports teams such as the Phoenix Suns — have managed to reach deals with municipalities to renovate their facilities while the Diamondbacks repeatedly have been unable to do the same.

“We may run out of time in Phoenix,” Kendrick said. “We hope that won't happen.”"

Source: www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2024/02/19/arizona-diamondbacks-chase-field-phoenix-future-ken-kendrick/72664179007/

Click to read more...

 

[CokenoPepsi]

....give it two weeks?

 

[Llama19]

What's next for Chase Field? Politicians work toward deal to keep DBacks, taxpayers happy

To quote:

"The team, Maricopa County and Phoenix all independently agree the team should stay after the lease runs out in 2027. For key players in the decision, such as Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall, the question is how, not if.

The county wants out of a costly renovation bill. The city wants to keep downtown vibrant and not be left with a derelict site. Each wants any future partner to pay their fair share. Who needs the other partners more will play out in negotiations.

[Diamondbacks CEO Derrick] Hall said the team didn't want to plow millions into a facility it might abandon. Nonetheless, he said the team has invested about $100 million overall into Chase Field improvements, such as new LED boards and refurbished concession stands.

The team didn’t provide receipts to back up its spending. County documents show that between 2009 and 2015, the team pitched in more than $5.2 million toward maintenance and upgrades.

Talks, for now, are in early stages. Nothing is off the table, but all signs point toward some kind of partnership to keep the Snakes at Chase.

Options abound: The Diamondbacks could leave Arizona, move somewhere else in metro Phoenix, refurbish Chase Field or rebuild it. They could renew the tenant-landlord agreement with the county, enter a similar deal with Phoenix, enter a three-way partnership or create a new sports authority. Ownership of the land under Chase Field can be sold, transferred or traded. The cost of improvements could be shared, or funded by development, bonds, private equity, loans or a new tax district."

Source: www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2024/04/08/politicians-aim-for-chase-field-deal-to-keep-dbacks-taxpayers-happy/72898676007/

 

[blueandgoldguy]

Any idea how much money they are looking at for a renovation of Chase?

 

[BB79]

Another case of "I know, lets threaten to move to blackmail the taxpayers to renovate our stadium"

 

[StreetHawk]

Another case of "I know, lets threaten to move to blackmail the taxpayers to renovate our stadium"

How many markets are better/bigger than Arizona? Where would they go?

 

[GKJ]

How many markets are better/bigger than Arizona? Where would they go?

Utah.

 

[famicommander]

How many markets are better/bigger than Arizona? Where would they go?

Bigger? Few. Better? Tons.

Phoenix has never been a good sports market. The Suns draw when they're good but the Diamondbacks and Cardinals are always sparsely supported especially compared to teams in similarly sized markets. And we don't even need to talk about the Yotes.

To answer your question more directly, Raleigh or Nashville would almost definitely support a baseball team better than Phoenix ever has.

 

[StreetHawk]

Bigger? Few. Better? Tons.

Phoenix has never been a good sports market. The Suns draw when they're good but the Diamondbacks and Cardinals are always sparsely supported especially compared to teams in similarly sized markets. And we don't even need to talk about the Yotes.

To answer your question more directly, Raleigh or Nashville would almost definitely support a baseball team better than Phoenix ever has.

Better as in fan attendance? Valuation wise we saw the difference between what the suns sold for vs the hornets and the hornets were the last to be sold and it was a $1 billion difference in valuation.

But I agree with AZ. Though bidwell of the cards was graded poorly by even his players and is regarded as cheap around the nfl. Sarver was a terrible owner for the suns. Dbacks not familiar with their group though they have been angling for a new stadium for a while now.

 

[KevFu]

To answer your question more directly, Raleigh or Nashville would almost definitely support a baseball team better than Phoenix ever has.

I don't think that's necessarily true. We're saying the exact same thing about all the 1990s expansion markets, in all sports, and the common denominator is time.

EVERY new franchise has the same issue of converting fans of other teams to their team, less than 100% of the market gives up their old team. You just simply don't have people who "grew up loving the (brand new team)" because you can't love something that doesn't exist.

There's no difference with that for any of the expansion teams. It's "worse" for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, or Miami Marlins than Colorado; because of never having spring training. Your old team plays there in Feb/March!

But who's the NFL franchise that gets the "they should just move to London" treatment? Jacksonville, who's a 90s expansion team.

The DBacks went to the those ugly unis with the snake pattern on the legs and the neon teal because they were trying to appeal to KIDS. Because their parents aren't giving up their team. You look around Chase Field and there's 40+ year olds in visiting team gear and their kids are in Arizona gear.

If Raleigh or Nashville get an MLB team, pay close attention to the stands when Atlanta comes to town. A large percentage of people there will remain Braves fans.

 

[mouser]

I don't think that's necessarily true. We're saying the exact same thing about all the 1990s expansion markets, in all sports, and the common denominator is time.

EVERY new franchise has the same issue of converting fans of other teams to their team, less than 100% of the market gives up their old team. You just simply don't have people who "grew up loving the (brand new team)" because you can't love something that doesn't exist.

There's no difference with that for any of the expansion teams. It's "worse" for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, or Miami Marlins than Colorado; because of never having spring training. Your old team plays there in Feb/March!

But who's the NFL franchise that gets the "they should just move to London" treatment? Jacksonville, who's a 90s expansion team.

The DBacks went to the those ugly unis with the snake pattern on the legs and the neon teal because they were trying to appeal to KIDS. Because their parents aren't giving up their team. You look around Chase Field and there's 40+ year olds in visiting team gear and their kids are in Arizona gear.

If Raleigh or Nashville get an MLB team, pay close attention to the stands when Atlanta comes to town. A large percentage of people there will remain Braves fans.

Saw many instances of that a couple days ago when I went to the Cubs at Diamondbacks game.

 

[GindyDraws]

How many markets are better/bigger than Arizona? Where would they go?

According to this website, Atlanta and Houston are bigger.

Major pro and college sports teams ranked by market size

See which pro sports cities rank as the biggest TV markets, according to Nielsen. New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are the top three.

www.sportsmediawatch.com

So the fact that the NHL decided to go from Phoenix to a smaller market in Salt Lake City showed just how much they got fed up with the BS. As for the Diamondbacks, it's kind of a moot point, because we just saw places like Kansas City reject new stadium deals, so as far as they are concerned, they should just focus on a smaller market like Nashville or Raleigh that is trying to move up the food chain.

 

[KevFu]

Saw many instances of that a couple days ago when I went to the Cubs at Diamondbacks game.

The number Arizona games I want to in four years of living there wasn't huge -- after all, one season my teams didn't visit and capacity was limited because of COVID. But in about a dozen games, I sat directly next to a that family situation like at least half the time.

According to this website, Atlanta and Houston are bigger. So the fact that the NHL decided to go from Phoenix to a smaller market in Salt Lake City showed just how much they got fed up with the BS.

As for the Diamondbacks, it's kind of a moot point, because we just saw places like Kansas City reject new stadium deals, so as far as they are concerned, they should just focus on a smaller market like Nashville or Raleigh that is trying to move up the food chain.

CSA's are way more important for sports economics than the Nielsen DMAs. Nielsen DMA's are tracking the local ratings for the network affiliates, but the sports TV money comes from Regional Sports Networks, which go to multiple DMAs.

That's why Boston teams and Phoenix teams don't act the same financially. Boston teams act like huge market teams and PHX teams act like mid/small market teams. Because 85% of PHX's RSN territory is in their DMA, while Boston's DMA is only 50% of their RSN coverage. Their TV network is in all of Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.


I don't think the DBacks will relocate. There's just not a lot of great options for baseball teams because of the single use of a baseball stadium vs NBA/NHL arena; and the 81-game financial burden to support a team. You need like 4x the people to adequately support a baseball team because the stadium is twice as big and the season is twice as long.

MLB tickets are cheaper because of it. NBA/NHL need to sell 750,000 tickets, MLB teams are trying to sell 2.8 million.

 

[sneakytitz]

How many markets are better/bigger than Arizona? Where would they go?

Right now? Any rumored expansion city that could secure a regional broadcast deal, which Arizona does not have, but that will soon be moot.

The MLB is trying/positioning itself to secure a national television deal and that could come as early as next spring, e.g. NHL/ESPN+. Over half of the teams in the league would be exclusive to that deal out of the gate, including Arizona.

I don't see this getting to the point where Arizona relocates, though. They're feeling a financial crunch right now (I think they're getting TV revenue at roughly 60% of what they were getting before getting dropped by Diamond Sports). With the right national TV deal, the Diamondbacks, and a good number of smaller market teams, could actually be making boku bucks in one years time. RE: Chase/Arizona/D-Backs, all parties involved will find something that works, but it's going to be a bit.

 

[KevFu]

Yeah, the local TV rights is just the reality about RSN futures. The "Free money" from people who don't watch but pay subscription fees is just trending massively downward with younger generations not getting cable.