D-Backs want a new stadium site? Fine by me

It’s clear that the Arizona Diamondbacks want out of Chase Field.

The team can begin looking for new digs immediately, according to the terms of a proposed lawsuit settlement with the county.

To which I say: Fine. Go. Build somewhere else.

Downtown Phoenix is strong enough to survive without a baseball stadium. In fact, if that site were to go on the market, I’m sure it wouldn’t be long before some tall tower was proposed to take its place.

There are other sites in metro Phoenix on which the team could build. My money is on the D-Backs moving near Salt River Fields, given that the team already trains there, and because the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community already has proven it’s willing to build lavish baseball digs.

Maybe the D-Backs can get what they want there without an additional taxpayer investment.

Actually, scratch that: The team is going to to get what it wants without a significant taxpayer investment. Because I can’t think of a city in these parts with enough spare cash and enough willing voters to approve anything that’s going to cost them millions.

Particularly when the life of a professional sports stadium these days is only about 20 years. And voters are already going to be bombarded over the next couple of years with other funding requests, like, oh, say, those promising to better fund schools.

No economic-development study could spin the figures well enough to get voters to bite on adding another couple hundred million dollars for a baseball stadium, I’ll bet.

The beauty of Chase Field is that it’s central and on a light-rail line, making it a doable trek for fans on the east and west sides of town. Surely, it’s occurred to the team’s owners that if they move too far in one direction, they’re losing potential visitors. They must know that not all fans are willing or able to travel an hour or more in traffic to routinely catch a game.

But, hey, Diamondbacks, if you think that’s in your best interest, more power to you.

Just don’t come asking taxpayers for help with the move, because I don’t think you want to know what our answer will be.