As the deadline to pass a new state budget approaches, the bill that would fund stadium renovations at Chase Field remains at a standstill.
Arizona House Bill 2704 is tied to the state budget, which needs to be approved by Arizona’s Legislature and Gov. Katie Hobbs before July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.
D-backs president and CEO Derrick Hall said Thursday he believes the bill could go through the Senate committee as soon as next week and then onto the floor. The bill would then go back to the house. Upon approval by the house, it would then be placed on the desk of Gov. Katie Hobbs to sign into law.
“It could go to the Senate floor if the president decides to put it on the floor,” Hall told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta. “And then if it is approved, and the biggest problem is that everybody just assumes it’s going to get approved and get it done. And there’s just this lethargic approach going on right now, and I don’t want the legislators just to assume it’s going to happen. They have to help us make it happen.”
What are the proposed renovations to Chase Field?
Since the Diamondbacks have played at Chase Field since the team’s inaugural season in 1998, the stadium is in need of a series of renovations.
Many of these upgrades include the building’s infrastructure, such as improvements to the HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems. Improvements to the scoreboard are also among the desired updates.
Chase Field is owned by the Maricopa County Stadium District, and the Diamondbacks’ lease runs out in 2027.
“Again, we’re trying to fix a public asset that we don’t even own so that we can stay downtown and play downtown and renovate it and modernize it to the level that we think our fans deserve,” Hall said.
The Diamondbacks said renovations would cost in the $400-$500 million range and they would contribute $200-$300 million of team money for repairs.
The rest of the funds would come via HB2704. The bill would reinvest sales taxes collected at Chase Field back into the ballpark.
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The bill redirects a 5% state sales tax into a fund, while also pulling a 2% tax from the city and 0.5% from Maricopa County.
The bill was passed through the House on Feb. 26, though it has faced problems advancing through the Senate as amendments have been made.
Among the amendments are capping public contributions and removing income taxes being diverted back into Chase Field. Sales tax revenue from outside of the stadium has also seen pushback.
Last week, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said she believes the city and the Diamondbacks are closing in on a Chase Field renovation bill that will be “more fiscally responsible.”
Gallego originally said in March that the Joint Legislative Budget Committee’s estimate that the bill would cost $471 million in sales taxes over 30 years is actually closer to $720 million over 30 years.
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