If and when baseball begins it season, Arizona could be at the center of it all.

According to reports, Major League Baseball is considering a scenario in which all 30 of its teams descend upon Phoenix to play out an abbreviated regular season without fans in the Valley’s various baseball facilities, including Chase Field and the area’s 10 spring training venues.

The Athletic reported last week that baseball was “entertaining” the idea, and the Associated Press reported the league discussed the scenario with the players association during a call on Monday. Industry sources told The Republic it was one of many ideas being considered as baseball tries to envision how its post-pandemic schedule could look.

“They’re talking about everything,” one source said. “There’s nothing they can rule out.”

Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall discussed the idea further during a radio appearance last week.

“This is going to be a place where hopefully, if we do things right, where we keep that curve flat, where it doesn’t become too much of a problem, where the summer is going to heat up a little bit,” Hall told Doug & Wolf on KMVP-FM (98.7).

“There’s ways to utilize Chase Field. And, of course, we’re more than willing to do so, to accommodate and to host, where we can all play at spring training facilities and televise and put those games on radio and have the nationally televised games at Chase Field, for example.

“There’s so many options that include Arizona as a solution. I just want to continue to reiterate to local government, to leaders, to the commissioner: We’re willing to do this and there’s a way to make it work.”

MORE:Chase Field could be home to more than just one team once games resume

The NBA reportedly is considering a similar idea in which it plays out its postseason in Las Vegas.

Much would need to happen for the idea to become a reality, starting of course with a steep reduction in new coronavirus cases. The plan also would call for constant testing of players and staff, which could mean diverting resources from public health care.

On the radio, Hall vacillated between calling the idea “realistic” and “far-fetched.” The AP reported that the players’ association would survey its members to see if the idea had support.

“You’re going to be largely separated from your families and you’re going to have to function in a very contained way,” agent Scott Boras told the AP. “It’s not a normal life, this idea. …

“You’re going to have an identified group of people. You’re going to have a constantly tested group of people. And you’re going to have a very limited access of those people to the outside world so that you can assure a very uncontaminated league, if you will, to produce a product that is inspirational to our country.”

MORE:In negotiating through chaotic spring, Arizona Diamondbacks have shown other teams the way

Even without fans, the idea would have economic benefits for the Valley, giving a boost to the hard-hit hospitality industry.

“Does each team take over a hotel?” Hall said. “We all know the hotels need it. Do we take over one or two restaurants? We all know the restaurants need it. And just go from bus to hotel to stadium. Boy, I’ll tell you, I know our nation needs some live TV and live programming at night and during the day. What a way that would be to provide it.”

The Valley has staged massive sporting events in the past, including Super Bowls and the Final Four, and bringing the entire baseball world to town would be a massive undertaking, calling not just for players, but also coaches, trainers, umpires, television crews, etc.

With baseball personnel coming from literally around the globe, local leaders were concerned about potential public-health issues.

Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell said measures would need to be put in place to ensure there are no risks posed to residents or for the local health-care system to be overwhelmed.

“I’m sure we’d work with the governor and cities to make sure people are properly tested in case something happens and if something does happen that we’d be able to handle the situation,” he said. “However, first and foremost, you have to take care of the residents of the community.”

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego sounded a similar tone, saying in a statement that while she would welcome the sense of a return to normalcy that baseball could bring, it couldn’t come at the expense of public health.

“We believe the health of both players and the public needs to be at the forefront of any decisions being pursued,” she said.

Said Mesa Mayor John Giles: “It’s all a matter of timing. If the CDC and the state department of health are still saying the priority is to stay at home, it could be irresponsible to be inviting people into the community. At some point in time, this may evolve to being the right time and the right place. But you’re going to have to see the curve flatten. We’re going to need to be solidly on the downhill side of the curve.”

Reporter Paulina Pineda contributed to this report.

Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or nick.piecoro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.

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