Phoenix approves Brewers' plan to renovate spring facility and remain there 25 years

The Milwaukee Brewers will continue to hold spring training at Maryvale Baseball Park for at least another 25 years.

By a vote of 6-2, the Phoenix city council approved a plan Wednesday afternoon for a private-public partnership in which the Brewers would commit up to $63 million for a substantial renovation of their spring training facility. With that agreement, the Brewers will extend their lease at Maryvale through the year 2042.

With the backing of the city council, the Brewers can move forward with plans to begin construction immediately after spring training in 2018 and have the expanded and renovated facility ready by the next spring.

"It's nice to be moving on to the next step," said Brewers executive vice president Bob Quinn, who attended the council session. "It's a big commitment from our ownership group.

ANALYSIS: Spring training plan years in the making

"We're dedicated to putting together a first-class facility, that when our ballplayers show up for 2019 spring training, they walk in and say, ‘Wow!’ " 

District 5 councilman Daniel Valenzuela, whose constituency includes the Maryvale area of the city, made the motion to approve the proposal. He called the plan "something we should celebrate" and added it was "a win all the way around."

Valenzuela also called the plan "a great model" of how a city and team can work together to get something done that benefits both sides. 

During the 20-minute discussion of the proposal, two council members announced they would be voting no. But District 2 councilman Jim Waring said his no vote was merely from a "fundamental core belief" that city government should not be in the business of professional sports.

"Otherwise, it's actually a pretty good plan," Waring admitted. 

Speaking on behalf of the Brewers at the session was Arizona lobbyist John Kaites, who noted the plan also called for the team to make a commitment to the community in the areas of education, public parks and programming for children.

"There are pluses and minuses to any deal," Quinn said. "On balance, there was overwhelming support for the deal.

"We’re very pleased. I can’t thank enough the staff that pulled all of this together. We’re looking forward to breaking ground at the end of spring training."

The proposal includes a financial commitment by the Brewers of $41 million to $63 million, depending on what is needed to complete the project to their satisfaction. The City of Phoenix will contribute $10 million to the project over a five-year period as well as annual $1.4 million operating fees.

The Brewers will assume operation and maintenance of the facility, where they have trained since 1998.

The centerpiece of the project will be a 65,000 square-foot clubhouse and office building that would house the major-league and minor-league clubhouses and training facilities as well as administrative offices. The current clubhouse/office building will be re-purposed, not torn down.

Other improvements will include a wider first-base concourse, new concessions and restrooms, a kids’ play area, a retail and ticketing building, enhanced parking and landscaping as well as expansion of one practice field to meet the playing dimensions of Miller Park.

The Brewers also will partner with nearby Grand Canyon University to open a “learning lounge” in which local high school students would get free tutoring. The team already has relocated a front office employee to Maryvale to implement and manage team-funded events with schools and the community.

The agreement officially ends what had been a fruitless search for another place to hold spring training. The Brewers had explored possibilities in both Arizona and Florida without success, so they finally decided to go all-in at Maryvale.

As for the team's next step, Quinn said, "We're going to finish our architectural plans and get our general contractors in place. The plan is to break ground at the end of spring training 2018."