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D-Backs' Chase Field Conflict Escalates As County Rejects Most Of $65M Upgrades

The ongoing dispute between Maricopa (Ariz.) County and the D-backs over ballpark repairs "has entered a new phase," as county officials in recent weeks "have rejected most of the team's request" for $65M in upgrades to Chase Field, according to a front-page piece by Rebekah Sanders of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. County execs said that the repairs "don't meet the lease agreement's requirements for funding." Requested repairs include "suite renovations, painting and a new scoreboard." Documents also show the "conflict has gotten personal." County Supervisor Andy Kunasek "sent a letter" to D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall as the dispute "reached a climax in April, describing the baseball business as 'evolving into a parasitic enterprise.'" Kunasek accused Hall of "selling a 'false narrative,' slandering county board members and doing 'irreparable harm' to taxpayer confidence in government." Kunasek also directed a "profanity-laced storm at Hall, calling on owner Ken Kendrick to 'take your stupid baseball team and get out' and go back to 'f--king West Virginia.'" Kunasek on Friday said, "I'm very passionate about the issues here. As a steward of the taxpayer, I'm deeply offended and continue to be. I apologize for any bad language I probably shouldn't have used, but I'm not going to deny it. I won't do it again." Documents show that "little progress has been made in the five months since the dispute blew up publicly" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/9). 

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