Hobbs signs bill giving tax dollars for Chase Field stadium upgrades

Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill Friday that will allow local and state tax dollars to pay for repairs at Chase Field in Phoenix.

House Bill 2704 allows some sales and income tax dollars collected at Chase Field over the next 30 years to be used to fund major repairs. Under the deal, taxes would contribute up to $500 million to the project, though inflationary adjustments would cause that figure to grow.

The Arizona Diamondbacks lobbied hard for the legislation at the Capitol and it passed with some bipartisan support – and opposition.

After lawmakers passed the bill, Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall said it will pave the way for the team to sign a new lease at the stadium. Chase Field is owned by a Maricopa County Stadium District, and negotiations between the team and county have been rocky as the team’s lease is set to expire in 2027.

“We could then shift our focus to a proper lease extension, negotiation with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in hopes of modernizing and renovating this public asset to a level those fans deserve,” Hall said in a statement.

Critics said public dollars should not be used to benefit a private sports team and its billionaire owner.

“I heard from so many of my constituents, probably more than I’ve heard from on any other bill, that they are tired of being asked for their tax dollars to be spent on private corporations,” Sen. Analise Ortiz (D-Phoenix) said.

Phoenix was originally opposed to the deal, but later came on board after extracting some concessions.

In a statement, Hobbs called the legislation “a huge win for every Arizonan.”

“I appreciate the bipartisan elected officials and the business and labor leaders who came to the table and worked with my office to make this moment possible,” Hobbs said after lawmakers passed the bill.