D-backs file suit against county to seek other stadium partners

PHOENIX — Seeking relief to look at alternative stadium options or partnerships, the Arizona Diamondbacks filed suit today in Superior Court of Arizona against the Maricopa County Stadium District.

“It is extremely unfortunate that we have been forced to take action today following several years of attempts to resolve this matter out of court,” D-backs managing general partner Ken Kendrick said in a statement. “We have made a promise to our fans, who have been partners with us on the building of this stadium and our franchise, to provide the best experience in all of baseball in a safe and welcoming environment. The inability of the Maricopa County Stadium District to fulfill its commitments has left us with no other option.”

At issue are the cost of capital repairs and improvements to the stadium, which opened in 1998. An assessment done by the Maricopa County Stadium District concluded that $185 million will be needed.

The D-backs contend that $135 million of that figure are capital repairs that the Stadium District is responsible for. The team has said in the past that it would take on those costs in exchange for a reduction of license fee payments and the ability to book the stadium for non-baseball use.

The Stadium District has denied that request.

“We have spent more than four years suggesting alternative solutions that would help the Maricopa County Stadium District hold up its end of our agreement, including multiple offers for us to assume all …

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