ASU baseball announces move to Phoenix Muni
Apr 23, 2013, 4:10 PM | Updated: 4:57 pm
In the 1960s and 70s, Arizona State’s baseball team played several high-profile games at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Some forty years later, the Sun Devils will be calling the park home on a permanent basis.
The City of Phoenix and Arizona State made the announcement that the Sun Devils would be relocating to the ballpark for the 2015 season Tuesday morning.
“This is a walk-off grand slam for ASU and the City of Phoenix,” Mayor Greg Stanton said. “I was proud to work with President Crow at the development of this idea and to continue our partnership on economic success in Phoenix and our region. Thank you for partnering with our city, and I look forward to seeing the Devils continue their brand of winning baseball in their new stadium.”
Arizona State had been in talks to share the new Riverview Baseball facility in Mesa with the Chicago Cubs, but an agreement couldn’t be worked out.
Instead, ASU will be the chief tenant of Phoenix Municipal Stadium starting in 2015. The Oakland Athletics, who have headquartered their spring training at the park since 1982, will be relocating east to Hohokam Park in Mesa the same year.
The Sun Devils will be vacating their on-campus home, Packard Stadium, after playing home games there since 1974. Phoenix Municipal offers a higher seating capacity, better press facilities and is located only two miles from the ASU campus in Tempe.
“Arizona State baseball has a long history at Phoenix Municipal Stadium dating back to the 1960s,” Vice President for University Athletics Steve Patterson said. “We’re excited to work with the City of Phoenix on this project. Our baseball team has played some great games at this stadium. This move is both a nod to our tradition as well as a dramatic leap forward to an exciting future. We expect to continue Sun Devil baseball’s prominence and success at Phoenix Muni.”
The Phoenix City Council unanimously approved a 25-year lease agreement that allows ASU to have priority use of the stadium. The university will also be responsible for all operating expenses and capital improvements to the facility.
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