[Mr KLC]

PHOENIX -- Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred came down solidly on the side of the Arizona Diamondbacks' ownership in the team's court battle with Maricopa County.

The Diamondbacks have sued the county, seeking to remove a clause from their stadium lease to allow the team to look to move elsewhere.

The team contends in the lawsuit that the county has failed to allocate some $187 million for maintenance and improvements at Chase Field.

Manfred, speaking at a news conference Tuesday, said that "to be a major league-quality stadium," Chase Field "needs work."

The county has asked that the suit be dismissed and the matter sent to arbitration.

Owner Ken Kendrick said last week that the team will not go to arbitration to resolve the dispute.

"The public's money is at stake, our money is at stake, and if there is a dispute or debate it ought to be in public in front of a judge and not in private in arbitration," he said.

Manfred said he had been in communication with Kendrick before the lawsuit was filed.

"We take very seriously the obligation to have a major league-quality facility in each and every market," the commissioner said.

Manfred said "it's absolutely clear from the material that's been made available to me there are serious maintenance needs that need to be met with respect to the stadium and unfortunately they've not been able to reach a consensual agreement as to how that is going to happen."

Chase Field is 19 years old and the Diamondbacks' lease requires the team to play there until 2028.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/1...eld-needs-work

[El Nino]

Chase Field is in great shape. Ploy to get the county to fork over more money. Dbacks aren't going anywhere.

[Mr KLC]

This is what happens when these cities offer these sweetheart deals to these clubs. Well, this snake is about to bite the local government in the ass, and possibly leave Arizona with an empty stadium, and massive debts.

[Booya711]

In Tucson now....Mexico is nicer

[Mr KLC]

[PorkChop]

Coyotes moving to Tempe.

I think that actually may work. The whole Glendale situation isn't the best.

[jtoler]

Hope not, love hitting their overs.

[Snowball]

Las Vegas Diamondbacks.

[Cuse0323]

But, don't they have a pool? It can't be that bad.

[daneblazer]

Where are they going?

[Flashmo]

In Tucson now....Mexico is nicer

Arizona tried to give Tuscum back to Mexico, but they wouldn't take it

[Flashmo]

Chase Field is in great shape. Ploy to get the county to fork over more money. Dbacks aren't going anywhere.

^^This...There is nothing wrong with Chase Field. I had season tickets every year from beginning till this year. The Stadium has been maintained perfectly. D-Back management sucks, not the stadium

[jjgold]

Love to see them go to Vegas too

Arizona dead place

[Cuse0323]

Why do franchises never seem to do all that well in Arizona with attendance? Too many old people? The Cardinals do alright, but other than that it's basically another Atlanta. Maybe I'm wrong.

[JMobile]

That swimming pool in center field works fine.

[floridagolfer]

I can't believe the contract doesn't state how disagreements like this are handled. My guess is that it is clearly stated and this is just another in a long line of rich owners looking for the public to continue its handouts. We're supposed to be surprised the commissioner came out in favor of one of his teams? Shocked, I tell ya.

[Terrapin Station]

Las Vegas Diamondbacks.

Exactly.

[sosawestbrook]

no chance they leave arizona. lower chance they even relocate at all. dbacks and suns are the main source of economic activity downtown..without either of those teams the downtown area is dead.

[recon1]

It's a ploy, D'back's ain't going anywhere.

[sosawestbrook]

Why do franchises never seem to do all that well in Arizona with attendance? Too many old people? The Cardinals do alright, but other than that it's basically another Atlanta. Maybe I'm wrong.

the teams suck.

[INVEGA MAN]

Las Vegas

[Flashmo]

Why do franchises never seem to do all that well in Arizona with attendance? Too many old people? The Cardinals do alright, but other than that it's basically another Atlanta. Maybe I'm wrong.

Phoenix is a town of fair weather fans..always been that way

[Mr KLC]

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Maricopa County haven’t exactly seen eye-to-eye when it comes to repairs at Chase Field. However, a lengthy dispute could be over before the end of the year, per a court ruling from Thursday.

Last January, the organization filed a lawsuit to nix the deal — one that runs through 2027 — with Chase Field and accused Maricopa of neglecting north of $180 million in repairs to the stadium.

“Resolving this dispute through arbitration is better for the taxpayers, rather than using expensive litigation,” Grady Gammage, an attorney representing the county stadium district, said in a written statement, per AZCentral.com.

“The Court did a complete review of the contract between the Diamondbacks and the County Stadium District and the ruling is a thorough analysis of the arbitration provisions.”

County officials noted that Judge Karen Mullins wrote that the Diamondbacks are “obligated under the [agreements] to play all games at the Ballpark. Allowing the team to pursue alternative options or partnerships does not preserve the status quo of that obligation.”

“This is a significant step in the process and one that favors our attempt to expedite a resolution to a difficult situation for our fans and our organization,” D-Backs Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick added in a prepared statement, per AZCentral.

Leo Beus, an attorney for the Diamondbacks, expects to utilize the resolution as an opportunity to find a new site for the club.

[19th Hole]

Arizona is simply a big sandbox.
If the Colorado River is re-channeled by Pecos Bill
they are in a major quandary.


*Leather-Faced Lives Matter!!

[daneblazer]

Leave and go where? Lol. Dumb threat

[teaserpleaser]

Lolz at "leather-faced lives matter "

They would be stupid to leave Arizona.

Las Vegas diamondbacks would be sick though.

Attendance would be great