Phil Gordon

AZ I See It

My 87-year-old mother, even with health complications that restrict her to a wheelchair, enjoys nothing more than attending Diamondbacks baseball games at Chase Field.

This apple fell far from that family tree. In fact, when I was introduced to Curt Schilling by Diamondback management I was ignorant enough to ask, “What do you do for a living, Mr. Schilling?” And that was after the 2001 World Series championship.

As the former mayor of Phoenix, during the worst economic downturn in the city’s history, my affection and appreciation for the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team has everything to do with the team’s economic impact on the city, county and state — not the game.

You don’t have to be a baseball fan to be a strong supporter of having the Diamondbacks in downtown Phoenix.

As we observe the now public dispute between the D-Backs and Maricopa County over the county’s duties as a landlord, it’s important to keep two guiding principles in mind: 1) public-private partnerships are a two-way street; and 2) focus on our return on this investment; has it paid off and will it continue?

I was involved in many multiple public-private partnerships as mayor as we sought to revitalize downtown, including CityScape, a thriving project present Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick invested in heavily with his own funds. The formula for success is always similar. Taxpayers make an investment on the promise that it will create jobs and tax revenue that exceed the initial public investment. Some perform better than others.

In this case, our investment as county taxpayers in the stadium that was required to secure a Major League team has delivered an enormous return. Not just for restaurant owners, street vendors and parking lot attendants, but in taxes paid by the team that benefit us all.

Chase Field and the Diamondbacks have generated an estimated $457.7 million in taxes — i.e. actual dollars — directly to the state of Arizona, Maricopa County, and the city of Phoenix. Our initial investment as taxpayers was $238 million. (It’s easy to forget that the team paid for the rest of the initial $397.7 million to build the stadium). Looking at that alone, we’ve already nearly doubled our money.

Looking at the broader impact, the picture is even brighter.

According to the Valley’s leading economist, Elliot Pollack, the total economic output is $7.5 billion, or about $415 million per year. That figure include taxes from ticket sales, merchandise, utility bills, hotel bills, advertising revenue, maintenance and repair bills, concessions, food, etc.

When it comes to jobs, the figures are equally strong.

The economic output of the construction alone is valued at $689.7 million. Included in this figure is the impact of an average of 2,627 jobs that were created each year during the construction phase (1996, 1997 and 1998).

Chase Field and the Diamondbacks have employed an average of 1,500 people for each of the 18 years they have been playing downtown, generating $487.6 million in wages, which has generated $5.8 million in income tax for Arizona.

The Diamondbacks’ players themselves have received wages that have averaged $79.1 million each year over the 18 years, which has generated an estimated $44.6 million to the state in income tax.





There’s more data, but you get the point. The fact is, Chase Field has been a very good deal for all of us — fans and non-fans. Regardless of whether you attend games, tax revenue is pouring into the state to pay for other things we need in this community — a good thing to think about when the impulse strikes to just send the team packing.

And a good reminder for this son that Mom is always right, even if it’s for a very different reason.

Phil Gordon served as Phoenix Mayor from 2004-2011 and is currently the director of the Chan Soon-Shiong Nant-Health Foundation as well as the chairman of the board of directors for The Veterans Directory. Email him at philgordon10@gmail.com; follow on Twitter, @PhilGordonPHX.