The D-backs are "threatening to sue Maricopa County and leave downtown Phoenix" if the team is "not provided with a 'state of the art' facility," according to a front-page piece by Craig Harris of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. County officials said that they are "willing to work" with the D-backs to "enhance Chase Field." But they do not plan "to give in to the team's demands, saying they are protecting taxpayers." They added that a contract between the team and the county's ballpark district prohibits the D-backs from "looking for a new home" until '24. Harris notes one of the key issues is "which side is responsible" for roughly $187M in "current and future maintenance obligations" through '27 at Chase Field. County records indicate that maintenance includes "painting the facility, fixing lights, maintaining landscaping, upgrading video surveillance, improving luxury suites, replacing heating and cooling systems and updating scoreboard panels and display boards." The D-backs contend that the county is "on the hook for those repairs," and also argue that because Maricopa "won't do the repairs, the county should let the team modify its lease." Maricopa County officials said that the team is "responsible for the funding of stadium maintenance." Maricopa County Manager Tom Manos said that the D-backs for the past four years "have tried to lower their annual rent payments to $200,000" from the current $4.2M, adding that he and other county officials "have turned them down." D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall sent a "blistering 15-page letter to the county Thursday outlining the team's grievances." Originally written in January, the letter "was not sent until the dispute heated up Thursday." The team in a separate letter dated March 16 also "notified Maricopa County that it wanted permission to begin looking for another stadium location" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/25).
