Sunday Republic offers in-depth coverage, bold design
The Arizona Diamondbacks opened the 2024 season hoping for a return to the World Series and another championship moment at Chase Field.
What else were the Diamondbacks hoping for? That’s what Arizona Republic reporters Taylor Seely, Sasha Hupka and Corina Vanek wanted to know earlier this year when they began asking key insiders about the future of the baseball team in Phoenix.
Almost immediately, they found evidence of fresh discussions about the ballpark, which has been a source of controversy for the team and Maricopa County for almost 30 years.
In February, when owner Ken Kendrick told reporters his team “may run out of time in Phoenix,” but he’d rather make a deal to stay, Seely, Hupka and Vanek were ready.
After Kendrick’s curtain-raiser, they broke news of a proposed partnership to keep the team in place. The contours were vague, but on the table were land transfers, lease adjustments, tax deals and a super-sized entertainment complex near the stadium.
Chase Field is an anchor for downtown, a district that includes the Phoenix Suns’ home court at Footprint Center, the Phoenix Convention Center, concert venues, light rail stations, and James Beard-worthy dining.
To help us understand the high stakes, Seely, Hupka and Vanek spent two months interviewing stakehold
ers, past and present. Today, we’re featuring their latest story on the cover of a reimagined Sunday Arizona Republic.
This wasn’t an easy story to write. “It was a case study on how to report a story when the people who you most want to talk to won’t talk,” Seely said.
Hupka said that led the reporters to interview past members of the county Board of Supervisors, who remembered when the ballpark was approved in the mid-1990s and how earlier disputes with the Diamondbacks played out.
“Taylor and I talked to Mary Rose Wilcox together about the history of Bank One Ballpark/Chase Field and how things have changed,” Hupka said.
Vanek said their research showed despite public sentiment against public funding for sports facilities, “the surprising thing is it’s a huge exception when that’s not happening.”
Their cover story, with a sweeping photo taken inside the stadium, is the perfect centerpiece for an enhanced Sunday reading experience.
So, lean back and read about the future of Chase Field. And, as always, let me know what you think — this time about your new Sunday Arizona Republic.
Best, Greg