Arizona Chamber Of Commerce President Doesn’t Want Diamondbacks To Become ‘Utah Pika’

Arizona Chamber Of Commerce President Doesn’t Want Diamondbacks To Become ‘Utah Pika’

PHOENIX – The Arizona Diamondbacks’ proposed tax recapture bill, according to multiple accounts, is in the final stages of approval in the Senate. But until it passes a vote of approval, there will be concern lurking for the D-backs and the small businesses in downtown Phoenix that Chase Field supports.

Arizona Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Danny Seiden on KTAR News 92.3’s The Mike Broomhead Show presented the urgency he sees with the still-tenuous situation.

“Utah is being very aggressive. Oregon is being very aggressive,” Seiden said. “They’re passing legislation — you know, $800, $600 million — to pay for a new baseball stadium. That’s not anything the Diamondbacks are looking for (money-wise).

Now, Seiden said all that after pointing out that the D-backs’ HB2704 is in the final stages.

Diamondbacks CEO and president Derrick Hall said in early May that it was at the 5-yard line, and Seiden added Tuesday that while the city of Phoenix and Mayor Kate Gallego have pushed back with financial amendments to the proposals, she is “coming around” with changes to the legislation in progress.

“It’s at the final stages right now. It’s being worked out in the budget,” Seiden said. “The city of Phoenix has thrown up some objections and is requiring some different amendments and negotiations. We’re hopeful in hearing Mayor Gallego is coming around and finding things she should sign off on.”

“If we’re not careful, we’re going to see that the Arizona Diamondbacks become the Utah Pika or whatever awful animal they change it to. They took our Coyotes and turned them into the Mastodon Elephants (Utah Mammoth) … I don’t even want to say it. It hurts my heart. Some Utah nonsense. I’m very pro-Arizona here.”

Source: Google News