Downtown's D-Backs Are Here to Stay
Twenty-seven years ago, the Arizona Diamondbacks landed at Chase Field [then Bank One Ballpark] in Downtown Phoenix, bringing Major League Baseball to the state for the first time. Since then, it’s drawn millions of fans annually, creating a direct economic impact for Downtown’s nearly 80 percent locally owned and operated retail business community and a significant revenue boost for hotels. Not to mention, the stadium has generated $5.4 billion in GDP for the state of Arizona.
Chase Field anchors a vibrant entertainment corridor that includes PHX Arena, CityScape, Arizona Center, 201 E. Washington St., and Roosevelt Row—helping fuel the area’s remarkable transformation over the last two decades. This transformation continues to evolve through growing residential development, expanded higher education access, the rapid growth of the Phoenix Bioscience Core, improved transportation options, and increased tourism opportunities.
Recently, the Diamondbacks’ future at Chase Field has been uncertain due to the estimated $500 million needed to renovate the nearly 30-year-old stadium, most notably to upgrade the aging air conditioning system, a frequent concern during Phoenix’s hot summer months.
In February, a bill to modernize and renovate Chase Field was introduced and passed by the Arizona House of Representatives. The current version of the bill, HB2704, which is supported by the City of Phoenix and Maricopa County, will keep the Arizona Diamondbacks Downtown for the next 30 years. After the Arizona Senate passed HB 2704 last Thursday evening, the bill was approved by the House of Representatives on Monday.
The bill states that the team will recapture sales taxes from the stadium and other adjacent buildings and the income taxes of some Diamondbacks employees and players and reinvest them in Chase Field repairs. The Diamondbacks also plan to contribute at least $250 million to help fund renovations.
The legislative approval of the bill came as a welcome relief to the small business community, who’ve personally invested in Downtown Phoenix and understood the stakes—imagining a summer without the Diamondbacks drawing thousands of fans, or an evening when Chase Field isn’t filled with 50,000 people for a sold-out concert, was a genuine concern.
“The Diamondbacks are one-third of what makes it possible to do business Downtown,” said Teddy Meyers, owner and founder of Pretty Decent Concepts. “Alongside PHX Arena and the Convention Center, Chase Field completes the trifecta that drives traffic, creates energy, and gives small businesses like mine a shot, especially in the summer.”
Beyond the economic boost many small businesses enjoy, they say the Diamondbacks bring a certain energy and vibrancy that adds to the culture and pride of being Downtown.
“The atmosphere during game days is charged and exciting! We see families coming to the games, people coming from out of state to watch their team and the loyal [local] Diamondbacks fans,” said Heather Ferreria, district manager for Huss Brewing Co. “All the different jerseys and the people coming together to watch their favorite baseball team is fun to see.”
With the recent South Central extension of the light rail and the addition of the Downtown Transfer Hub at CityScape, Downtown has never been better positioned to support the flow of traffic and activity from games, and the businesses are feeling it, too.
“We’re so glad they’re staying,” said Christopher Osborne, general manager of Dog Haus Biergarten. “We get a ton of business from game days—and with the light rail right out front, people will be coming and going all day and stopping in here.”
Today, Governor Katie Hobbs signed the bill into law, following her continued public support throughout the process
“The Diamondbacks take pride in the community and economic impact we have provided while playing right here at Chase Field,” said Arizona Diamondbacks President, CEO & General Partner Derrick Hall. “We look forward to a continuation of creating memories, jobs, and billions in economic growth for our fans and great state.”
The passage of HB2704 represents more than just a win for the Arizona Diamondbacks—it’s a meaningful victory for the small business community in Downtown Phoenix. For decades, local restaurants, bars, and retailers have benefited from the steady foot traffic and energy that Chase Field brings to the area. With this legislation having officially moved forward, those businesses can look ahead with more certainty, knowing that a key economic driver will remain part of the Downtown landscape. It’s a step toward continued growth, stronger partnerships, and a more vibrant urban core for everyone who invests, lives, works, learns, and plays here.