Has anyone asked the Arizona Diamondbacks if they have signed an agreement with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community?

The reasons why someone should ask the Arizona Diamondbacks if they are ready to announce an agreement for a new baseball stadium

Recent television and newspaper reports communicated that architecture renderings for a new Arizona Diamondbacks baseball field were online, but then taken down. Of course, the “taken down” part means nothing these days (once online, always online), and there are numerous drawing/renderings of the new stadium from inside and out that are now available for viewing. The Arizona Diamondbacks simply shrugged their shoulders, releasing a statement that indicated they have “interviewed’ a number of architecture firms for both renovation of Chase Field and a potential new stadium.

Well, that settles it, we should move on and instead start talking about their current/recent losing streak.

Or, not.

As I researched the many articles this “mistake” generated, nothing is found that asks the Diamondbacks to confirm or deny that they have an agreement in place with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC).

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is the spring training partner with the Arizona Diamondbacks (and Colorado Rockies) that build the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Based on no inside information, and pure speculation, the following are the reasons someone needs to ask the Arizona Diamondbacks if they have an agreement in place with SRPMIC.

Is History repeating itself?

According to the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick web site, they reported a timeline of the path to the spring training facility:

On March 27, 2009 SRPMIC submitted their proposal to the Diamondbacks and Rockies to build a stadium for them. Remember this: Yes, they built the stadium for them. That certainly made the negotiations easy.

In July 2009, there is a memo of understanding and location announcements. By spring 2011, the stadium opens.

Now, let’s relate this to news about Chase Field: In May 2018, the Diamondbacks was able to shorten their lease and can move after the 2022 season, paying a fee between $5 million and $25 million. A key point in the article: If a new stadium is built on tribal land, the same taxes would be owed, as currently changed at Chase Field. Question: Why would this be in the agreement?

Also, one year seems like a reasonable time to work on #1 — a memo of understanding and #2 decide on the location. And, if you are that far, it would make sense to #3 — start renderings of the stadium. Well, it looks like #3 was leaked, before there was a chance to announce #1 and #2.

Why would the Diamondbacks be interested in SRPMIC — why would SRPMIC be interested in the Diamondbacks?

This is easy. A free ballpark, to get out of a stadium that was poorly designed back in the 1990s when ballpark trends pointed to inflated capacity and a downtown location. I guess I could have ended the sentence at …free.

Why would SRPMIC “give” the Diamondbacks a stadium? Well, they already have. The spring training facility is on 140 acres of tribal land and was funded y the SRPMIC. What was/is their motivation? It could be described as “if you build it, they will come to our hotel and casinos.” Across the highway from the spring training facility is the Talking Stick Resort. Not only is it a resort, but it is also a casino that has slots, black jack tables, and other gambling games available. Does the name sound familiar? Yes, it is the name on the Phoenix Suns area, the Talking Stick Resort Arena. Paying for the naming rights suggests: Buying into the sports scene pays off with customers staying at their resorts and gambling at their locations.

That is why the SRPMIC would pay for a new stadium.

What clues did the architecture renderings give us about the location?

The leaked drawings of the Arizona Diamondbacks stadium can give us a few clues about the location. In one drawing, an aerial view shows a lot of open land. One image shows not only a cheering fan, but two buildings in the background that looks like two buildings that are within walking distance. The two building could easily be a new Resort and Casino.

Only one request: Ask

If you were reading a newspaper article, the next sentence would read something like: “The Diamondbacks refused to comment on speculation.” Or: “The Diamondbacks did not respond to emails and calls asking about this speculation.” Well, I am not writing for a newspaper, and I am pretty darn sure the Diamondback would ignore my emails and calls about this speculation. Therefore, I did not even try.

That leads to my question — can someone ask the question?

“Do the Arizona Diamondbacks have an agreement in place — or working on an agreement — to partner with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to use their land and finance their new stadium?”

If the right person asks the question, it would be interesting to hear/read the answer.