The Arizona Diamondbacks might be joining the Raiders and the Golden Knights in the crew of new pro sports teams in Nevada soon.
The Major League Baseball franchise signed a nondisclosure agreement with the city of Las Vegas more than a year ago, on Aug. 14, 2018, according to a report fromShea Johnson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. It suggests the two sides discussed potential relocation for the Phoenix franchise.
While the Review-Journal concedes that “it is unclear exactly how far discussions have advanced between Las Vegas and the Diamondbacks or whether those talks are ongoing,” it reports that “the nondisclosure agreement indicated both parties were evaluating or pursuing ‘certain mutually beneficial opportunities.’”
Sin City becomes the second Nevada city to discuss potential relocation with the Diamondbacks.
The city of Henderson “quietly began a push to lure” Diamondbacks a year ago, according toanother report from the Review-Journal in August.That push came two weeks before Las Vegas swooped in, and reportedly included a proposal of a stadium worth an estimated $1 billion, according tothe Review-Journal.
“While a proposal for an Arizona Diamondbacks ballpark has not moved forward, the city of Henderson would welcome conversations with other major league franchises that may be considering a move to a different market,” the city said in a statement tothe Review-Journalin August.
The Diamondbacks were warned that the Review-Journal submitted a public records request, and the club asked Bill Arent, Las Vegas’ economic development director, to not disclose those discussions.
In a letter to Arent, the Diamondbacks cited a Nevada statute that calls for a city-formed economic development agency to keep records confidential at the request of a client.
The Diamondbacks expressed a desire to remain in Arizona and improve Chase Field, the team’s home in downtown Phoenix since its opening season in 1998, but they havenot shut the door on relocation.
"We’re focused on Arizona and a local solution and have not made any determination on the future stadium site for the Diamondbacks,” a team spokesperson said in a statement to the Review-Journal.
source By NJ.com