• Slug: Sports-Chase Field Changes, 650 words.
• 4 photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By Sean Brennan
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – With a new MLB season approaching, the collection of Arizona Diamondbacks’ banners above Chase Field’s left-field wall has a new member — one that highlights the team’s 2023 National League pennant. Other novelties can be found around the ballpark, but one thing that remains unchanged is the Diamondbacks’ plan on where they might call home in the future.

With the team’s lease with the 28-year-old stadium expiring in 2027 and no reported negotiations towards a renewal, much uncertainty has surrounded the Diamondbacks’ next steps in the Valley. Earlier in the spring, owner Ken Kendrick said, “We may run out of time in Phoenix” although he hopes the situation doesn’t come to that.

Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall added additional insight into the situation Thursday, citing the organization’s strong relationship with Maricopa County, which owns Chase Field.

“Nothing new at this point,” Hall said at the organization’s annual “What’s New at Chase” event. “We’re still having lots of conversations with the city, with the county. They’ve been really good partners. There’s not much they can do to invest with us in the ballpark, but it’s their ballpark. So we just need to figure out a way to get that public-private partnership where we can work together, and any money we have that we could have to go along with ours to go into this building that they own, we’re all for it.

“We’re just trying to find and see if there’s any assistance we can have. But our preference is definitely to stay at Chase Field and stay downtown.”

Despite the ongoing uncertainty, Chase Field boasts several upgrades that will improve fans’ experiences when attending games. Perhaps the stadium’s most anticipated addition is the 482 energy-efficient LED lights, with 48 capable of changing colors. This will enhance in-game engagement, on-field celebrations and other events held at the venue, such as concerts.

During the second inning of a preseason game against the Cleveland Guardians on March 25, Diamondbacks’ first baseman Christian Walker clobbered a 451-foot home run, giving fans their first taste of the new lighting system.

In addition to the lighting, Chase Field and CGI, an IT and business consulting service, also installed 54 industry-leading loudspeakers around the stadium, providing clearer audio for fans no matter where they are sitting. This sound system has been used by some of the world’s top touring artists, so the Diamondbacks are getting significant upgrades in both their audio and visual in-game presentation.

“They’ve been in the works for a while,” Hall said. “We were one of the last buildings to change out our lights, and for a while, we’ve heard from players and from MLB that they were hoping we’d go to the newer system, which is the sports LED color-changing lights. … We’ve wanted it for a while and we probably had it planned for at least two years now. So it’s exciting to see it finally.

“The sound system, that’s something we’ve been looking at as well for the last couple of years, knowing that we needed an upgrade, it was time. But investing in the stadium makes a lot of sense, especially when it comes to those experiential elements like sound and lighting.”

But new lighting and sounds are far from the only new amenities that will be offered at Chase Field this upcoming season. The Diamondbacks’ team shop will offer various new merchandise – like the team’s new uniforms, 2023 postseason memorabilia and an expanded headwear section – along with other game-used items.

Of course, there have also been upgrades to the most popular component of any baseball stadium: the food. Stephen Tilder, Chase Field’s executive chef, has introduced various new dishes around the ballpark including new hamburgers, churro sundaes and multiple changes to the beloved Churro Dog. Popular options that were introduced during the team’s 2023 World Series, like apple pie chimichangas and the millionaire steak sandwich, will also return for the 2024 season, rounding out a loaded and diverse menu.

“Super proud of what we did this year,” Tilder said. “(This year will) probably be our best showing that we’ve ever done, and it’ll continue to be better as we move forward.”

All of these changes and additions to Chase Field come at the perfect time, as the excitement among Arizona’s fanbase is comparable to the hype after the franchise won its lone World Series in 2001. Hall said overall ticket sales have increased by over 30% while corporate sponsorships have never been better.

Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez, best known for his iconic championship-clinching hit in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, is also excited about the changes. He believes that while the improvements will benefit the franchise across the board, it will be the fans who truly enjoy all the novelties their home ballpark has to offer.

“Our main goal here is to try to rejuvenate a lot of excitement for our fans and for our players,” Gonzalez said. “And just make it affordable out here for fans to come out here and have a special night here with the music, the lighting and the food, all the different giveaways that we’re going to have. (It’s) pretty cool.”

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.