Renovation Funds Approved on Angels’ Next Spring Home

The Angels’ move from Palm Springs to Tempe Diablo Stadium in Arizona for home exhibition games beginning in 1993 was all but completed Wednesday when the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved about $3 million for renovations of the facility.

The supervisors approved an original $2.5 million request, plus $479,000 in additional funds. Kevin Uhlich, the Angels’ assistant vice president for stadium operations, said another $200,000 contribution was possible. The City of Tempe is to match half of the county’s contribution, Uhlich said.

“The whole deal basically hinged on this, even though we negotiated the lease and signed it back in July,” Uhlich said. “This was one of the timelines built into the deal. The deadline was supposed to be Dec. 1, but we gave them a few days leeway.

“Now we know where the money’s coming from. The architects are finalizing drawings and plans, and we expect bids after the first of the year and construction to begin after spring training.”

Tempe Diablo Stadium has been home to the Seattle Mariners, who are leaving because of a dispute over the renovations necessary. The Mariners wanted upgrades to include practice facilities; those weren’t an issue for the Angels, who will retain Gene Autry Park in Mesa as their practice and minor league headquarters.

The Angels have been the only Cactus League team playing home exhibition games outside of Arizona, at Angels Stadium in Palm Springs.

County funds for the renovation are to come from revenue generated by a new rental car surcharge. The Arizona Legislature has allowed Maricopa, Pima and Yuma counties to create stadium districts to pay for improvements to Cactus League facilities.

County Manager Roy Pederson said the countywide, $1.50-per-rental tax will generate about $2.7 million a year.

Diablo Stadium will be the first to receive funds from the new district because of the urgency of completing the deal with the Angels, Pederson said.