SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — If you walk around Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, you will be amazed that a spring training ballpark could be this nice. Apparently, the nicest money can buy.
Salt River Fields on Saturday.
From the biggest lawn seating in the Cactus League to the 7,000 seats (many shaded at game time), from the three team shops to the suites all around the stadium, this place is a marvel. It may be a disappointment for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies to return to the Chase Field and Coors Field, respectively, since every game here is a sellout.
More than the amenities, what sets this ballpark apart is how it was financed: It was built with 100 percent Native American casino money. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community spent $100 million on this ballpark to lure these two teams up here from Tucson and it was well worth the money. In fact, this may be the answer for pro teams looking to build new stadiums or arenas.
The shopping center next door, the once-dying The Pavilions, has had a dramatic rise in leases. Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, whose Glendale spring training complex is just three years old, has complained about fans ignoring his park to visit Talking Stick. And the Chicago Cubs, who are building a “Wrigleyville West” in conjunction with suburban Mesa, have privately said their new digs will not be as nice as Talking Stick.
The difference is the financing. The Cubs struggled with Mesa to get the Wrigleyville approved for $84 million of public money. The Talking Stick complex, designed by the same architects as the Glendale ballpark, was built for $100 million — without a single cent coming from taxes. Even the freeway exits were tax free because they were already built.
Salt River Fields has it all. A high-def scoreboard in left, three party decks, major-league size offices and clubhouses for both teams, four major-league size fields and eight other minor-league fields. It also has newest economic driver in building a stadium.
A lot of people scoffed when the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun struck a deal to play at the Mohegan Sun casino arena. That was the WNBA. This is Major League Baseball and the copycats suddenly will abound. For instance, don’t be surprised if more Phoenix-area Indian tribes try to attract teams with aging stadiums that can’t get improvements despite a car-rental tax.
Maybe it’s something the Sacramento Kings should have pursued before beginning talks to move to Anaheim’s Honda Center. Maybe the Oakland A’s should talk to the United Auburn Indian Community, which owns Thunder Valley. I don’t think many people would complain about driving to a stadium near Rocklin if it was built tax-free.
Talking Stick Hotel and Casino stands beyond right field. The McDowell Mountain rise beyond left field. The smell of fajitas floats through the stands. There are so many aspects of Talking Stick that are unique. And that includes its method of financing.
Success of Salt River Fields siphoning from other Cactus stops [Yahoo! Sports]
