After exploring different options for new spring-training digs, the Milwaukee Brewers have settled on a Maryvale Baseball Park overhaul as part of a 25-year lease extension for the Phoenix facility.
We have full details at our sister site, Spring Training Online.
The Brewers would contribute between $41 million and $63 million toward the renovations, with the city contributing $10 million from its Sports Facilities Fund. Under the proposal, the Brewers would take over the management and operation of the facility from Phoenix. The city would spend $10 million for the next five years on renovations and pay the Brewers $1.4 million annually (with a 4 percent annual increase) to manage the spring-training camp — about what the city is spending now to maintain the facility. At the end of the 25-year lease, the Brewers will have the option of buying Maryvale Baseball Park and the adjoining training camp. Future maintenance would be funded by the team, with $1 million set aside in a dedicated fund by the team beginning in 2022.
Some of the proposed changes:
- A new 65,000-square-foot clubhouse building with retail, expanded ticketing and additional office space. This would put the Brewers on par with other MLB teams training in the Phoenix area. The existing clubhouse would be converted to a minor-league facility.
- A spruced-up concourse, including a widened first-base concourse complete with more shade and expanded restrooms.
- A new kids play area down the first-base line
- An additional practice field mirroring Miller Park dimensions, as an existing practice diamond is expanded.
As of now, this is just a proposal agreed to by the city and the Brewers. The city will be asked to approve the new lease on Nov. 15. If passed, work would begin after spring training ends in 2018, with the first renovations unveiled in 2019.
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