Phoenix Area Stadium and Arena News

[combusean]

What is essentially a TIF district is hardly taking money from the city and county, and I would be hard pressed to imagine either the city or county objecting to this bill anyways.

https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/1R/summary/H.HB2704_013125_COM.pdf

[MiEncanto]

Originally Posted by combusean

What is essentially a TIF district is hardly taking money from the city and county, and I would be hard pressed to imagine either the city or county objecting to this bill anyways.

https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/1R/summary/H.HB2704_013125_COM.pdf

Taking money from the government is exactly what a TIF deal is. They are publicly opposing the legislation so I'm not sure why you're hard pressed to imagine it.

[exit2lef]

I was riding my bike down Jackson Street earlier today and saw a crew taking down the signs on the Footprint Center. Sure enough, it's going to change names yet again:

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/loc...phoenix-suns-arena/79090913007/?tbref=hp

[RichTempe]

Originally Posted by exit2lef

I was riding my bike down Jackson Street earlier today and saw a crew taking down the signs on the Footprint Center. Sure enough, it's going to change names yet again:

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/loc...phoenix-suns-arena/79090913007/?tbref=hp

Paywall

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by RichTempe

Paywall

Here's some other coverage:

https://news.google.com/search?q=footprint%20center&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen

[Obadno]

I always thought the name being some obscure local company was weird, guess they couldn't pay for it.

[muertecaza]

https://arizonasports.com/nfl/arizona-cardinals/training-facility/3575167/

The Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday announced that plans have been underway on a new $100 million training facility, Arizona Sports confirms.

In a team statement to Arizona Sports, the Cardinals revealed they are targeting a 2027 completion date for the new facility at the existing Tempe location.

“Our goal is to provide the best possible environment, facilities and resources and to give our team the greatest opportunity to succeed,” the team said. “We are working hard to achieve that. Last season, we shared with our players the plans for a new training facility at the existing Tempe location with a targeted completion date of 2027

[ASU Diablo]

Originally Posted by muertecaza

https://arizonasports.com/nfl/arizona-cardinals/training-facility/3575167/

The timing of this announcement is awfully suspicious given it came after this report came out and their current facility getting awful grades:

Cardinals trend downward in 2025 NFLPA report card

https://arizonasports.com/nfl/arizona-cardinals/nflpa-report-card/3575152/

[ASU Diablo]

Slowly moving through the Legislature...

https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/chase-field-hb/3575187/

The Arizona House of Representatives passed HB 2704, a tax recapture bill that will fund renovations at Chase Field, with bipartisan support on Wednesday.

The vote came out to 35-25, and the bill moves onto the Arizona Senate. If it passes there, it will end up on the desk of Gov. Katie Hobbs to sign into law.

[ASUSunDevil]

Originally Posted by muertecaza

https://arizonasports.com/nfl/arizona-cardinals/training-facility/3575167/

Bidwell is tone deaf. The Cardinals Tempe facility is classic, but they should be moving their facility closer to the central city if they're going to build new (like the Suns). Same guy that moved training camp out of Flagstaff

[ASU Diablo]

Slowly chugging along...

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news...-ceo-confident-stadium-funding-bill.html

Derrick Hall, the president and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks, said Tuesday he is confident that a bill that would create a mechanism to help fund a massive renovation to Chase Field would be signed into law this year.

HB2704 has already been approved by the House side of the Arizona State Legislature, with both Republican and Democratic members showing support for the bill. Hall said he is expecting the bill to be going through the Arizona Senate in the coming days.

“We think it could go through committee next week and so then it would go to the floor,” Hall said. “Obviously we had a big first step with the House. We got to get through the Senate, and then I'm confident that the governor is in support.”

The proposed legislation would divert taxes generated at the ballpark to fund the renovations. Chase Field opened in 1998 and has not undergone any major infrastructure or cosmetic upgrades in the past 27 years.

Initially, the city of Phoenix was against HB2704 because Chase Field and the Diamondbacks generate a lot of tax revenue for the city that it does not want to lose. The Diamondbacks have been negotiating with the city and Hall said the team has conceded on several issues.

For example, Hall said the team reduced the amount it would take from the city to ensure funds were going to public safety departments. He also said the team said it would not take income tax generated on site. He said city officials have indicated that they are growing in support of the bill

“We're getting there,” Hall said. “We're inching our way.”

[locolife]

Originally Posted by ASUSunDevil

Bidwell is tone deaf. The Cardinals Tempe facility is classic, but they should be moving their facility closer to the central city if they're going to build new (like the Suns). Same guy that moved training camp out of Flagstaff

I think they own the Tempe property so the facility will get the most bang for it's buck by staying right where it is. Most players and staff live on the east side of town and it's not like you're going draw in a bunch of fans to the training facility. I'm fine with it being as elite as possible at the current location.

Not defending Bidwill however, they can do a lot better for the team but he's certainly an improvement over his dad.

[ASUSunDevil]

City of Tempe owns the facility and leases it to the Cardinals.

My point is that Suns players are living it up in the cool/expensive part of town and are buying homes right behind the practice facility. It helps greatly with the recruitment of free agents, who you have to cater to now more than ever.

Bidwell could take this opportunity to own the facility, while relocating it to a part of town that's much more convenient for players. Bidwell seems like a nice guy, but lacks business instinct in my opinion.

https://azbex.com/planning-development/cardinals-planning-100m-training-facility-upgrade/

[locolife]

Originally Posted by ASUSunDevil

City of Tempe owns the facility and leases it to the Cardinals.

My point is that Suns players are living it up in the cool/expensive part of town and are buying homes right behind the practice facility. It helps greatly with the recruitment of free agents, who you have to cater to now more than ever.

Bidwell could take this opportunity to own the facility, while relocating it to a part of town that's much more convenient for players. Bidwell seems like a nice guy, but lacks business instinct in my opinion.

https://azbex.com/planning-development/cardinals-planning-100m-training-facility-upgrade/

Interesting, I thought the team owned it. Either way, starting from scratch feels like a much larger investment, which would likely mean less amenity upgrades. I'm sure the players can manage to get to South Tempe and there are some absolutely baller homes within a close drive, but I get what you're saying, if I was living on Kyler Murray's budget, I'd probably live by JJ Watt near Camelback too haha.

I'm glad Bidwill is taking action, he's on the lower end of NFL owner wealth and one of the few that have made their family fortune in owning a team. So.... not sure how that impacts business decisions, since unlike Ishbia with the Suns this isn't just a "hobby" it's their entire wealth generation capability.

It would be really interesting to know if the family would ever consider bringing in an owner for part of the team, maybe 49% could go to someone extremely rich, but then again that type of person probably wants full control.

[N830MH]

Could they bring the team back to Arizona??

https://www.azfamily.com/app/2025/04/19/...bring-nhl-team-back-arizona-near-future/

Let the speculation begin!!

[ASUSunDevil]

Originally Posted by N830MH

Could they bring the team back to Arizona??

https://www.azfamily.com/app/2025/04/19/...bring-nhl-team-back-arizona-near-future/

Let the speculation begin!!

Won't happen.

The Cardinals should buy the Coyotes Phoenix site that's going up for auction - build a new stadium E as soon as Glendale is outdated.

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by N830MH

Could they bring the team back to Arizona??

https://www.azfamily.com/app/2025/04/19/...bring-nhl-team-back-arizona-near-future/

Let the speculation begin!!

I was under the impression that the brand was saved by the NHL for a future expansion team back into phoenix.

I wouldn't worry too much we are such a huge market that we are for sure top of the list for future NHL expansions and for a revival of the coyote team.

[phoenixwillrise]

Why not take the revenue generated from this idea and instead of giving that revenue to Kendrick make it a no interest loan payable in 15 years.
Without the tax payers original outlay to build the stadium this current option would not be available so why give him the money make it a loan. In 15 years the equity in the team will have grown much greater. Kendrick then pays it back with profits or he and his partners sell equity in the team to pay it back. So you loan him the money as it comes in but he pays it back in 15 years. Why do we have to make a billionaire a multi billionaire?

[ASU Diablo]

The latest on Chase Field.

I actually like the idea of bringing in both Chase Field (County) and PHX Arena (City) under AZSTA, who already oversees State Farm Stadium (State).

https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/chase-field-proposal/3582591/

Arizona Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall said “we’re maybe at the 5-yard line” for a deal that would fund stadium renovations at Chase Field.

Leaders from the club, the governor’s office, Maricopa County and state lawmakers are scheduled to meet this week and discuss the legislation, which continues to work its way through the Arizona Senate.

“We’re going to bring all the parties together,” Hall told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Thursday. “We’re going to get the state, county, city and team together and just make sure we’re all on the same page with what the language looks like, and then hopefully there’s no opposition. The governor seems to be behind it. The Senate president seems to be … I think we’re inching along.”

HB2704 — a tax recapture bill that would reinvest sales taxes collected at Chase Field back into the ballpark — passed in the House on Feb. 26. The bill has not experienced the same momentum in the Senate, but it passed through the Senate Finance Committee on March 24.

The legislation has faced pushback, notably from the city of Phoenix for diverting public funds. It has gone through various amendments, such as a cap on public contributions, the removal of income taxes being diverted to the ballpark and the county having to contribute as much as the city.

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors chairman Thomas Galvin has opposed the amended version of the bill, which he laid out in an op-ed for AZCentral.com.

“Legislation to use sales tax revenue from all purchases and transactions at the stadium seemed promising, and Maricopa County did not oppose it initially,” Galvin wrote.

“However, an amended bill would scoop up tax revenue beyond the stadium, impacting taxpayers who don’t visit Chase Field and eating into Maricopa County’s general fund. If we can get back to a version that’s closer to the original bill, there may be the political support necessary to get the legislation passed and signed into law.”

Chase Field is owned by the Maricopa County Stadium District, and the Diamondbacks’ lease runs out in 2027. The club has claimed the ballparks renovations would cost between $400-$500 million, and the team would commit $200-300 million of its own money. The bulk of necessary upgrades involve infrastructure, such as the HVAC system.

Thomas Galvin proposes new approach, which Derrick Hall calls a possibility
In his op-ed, Galvin — who addressed Chase Field during his first speech as chairman in January — suggested a new approach to stadium ownership and operation in the state.

The Suns’ arena is owned by Phoenix, while the Cardinals’ home at State Farm Stadium is managed by the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority.
Galvin proposed a unified taxing district to own and operate the facilities, similar to the Cardinals’ accommodation but on a larger scale.

“It could be governed independently, professionally managed and funded through a smart blend of user-generated revenue and public-private partnerships that put a low burden on taxpayers,” Galvin said. “Rather than reinvent the wheel, Arizona could build on the tourism authority’s success.”

AZSTA is a private-public partnership that involves a tax recapture mechanism the Diamondbacks used as inspiration, along with contributions from the Cardinals. Maricopa County voters approved Proposition 302 in 2000 to create it. AZSTA also provides financial support to the Cactus League. Hall called Galvin’s idea a good one but one that will take time to orchestrate. “For us to be under one umbrella, it seems like it’s probably going to have to be the effort and push by the state because that’s one common thread that we all have,” Hall said. “The state is really putting forward a strong effort for us.

“I think it’s a realistic possibility, for sure.”

[ASU Diablo]

Looks like the bill might get a vote on the floor this week. Appears that all sides will support the bill and ultimately get the Governor's signature.

I'm ready to move past this and anxious to see what the DBacks have lined up and what potential mixed-used developments will go up around the ballpark.

https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/chase-field-7/3587333/