PHOENIX - The Arizona Diamondbacks want out of their lease at taxpayer-owned Chase Field so they can negotiate with other entities for new stadium, according to documents obtained by 12 News.
Maricopa County's rejection of the Diamondbacks' request has now led to an angry response from the team's chief executive officer, Derrick Hall, declaring that he was "shocked and disappointed" by the county's response.
The team has threatened to sue if the county doesn't give it permission to look for other stadium sites.
The back-and-forth began with Hall's two-paragraph letter March 16 to the Maricopa County Board, asking to modify the Chase Field lease:
"We are requesting that the Maricopa County Stadium District allow AZPB Limited Partnership (the team's owner) the right to take such actions as it deems necessary in order to move and play Diamondbacks' baseball games in a location other than Chase Field."