What's brewing at ballpark and more: Sunday Republic offers in-depth coverage, bold design
The Arizona Diamondbacks opened the 2024 season hoping for a return to the World Series and another championship moment at Chase Field.
What else were the Diamondbacks hoping for? That’s what Arizona Republic reporters Taylor Seely, Sasha Hupka and Corina Vanek wanted to know earlier this year when they began asking key insiders about the future of the baseball team in Phoenix.
Almost immediately, they found evidence of fresh discussions about the ballpark, which has been a source of controversy for the team and Maricopa County for almost 30 years.
In February, when owner Ken Kendrick told reporters his team “may run out of time in Phoenix,” but he’d rather make a deal to stay, Seely, Hupka and Vanek were ready.
After Kendrick’s curtain-raiser, they broke news of a proposed partnership to keep the team in place. The contours were vague, but on the table were land transfers, lease adjustments, tax deals and a super-sized entertainment complex near the stadium.
Private talks started before the World Series.
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Chase Field is an anchor for downtown, a district that includes the Phoenix Suns’ home court at Footprint Center, the Phoenix Convention Center, the Arizona Science Center, concert venues at The Van Buren, Orpheum and Arizona Financial, light rail stations, James Beard-worthy dining, a sophisticated cocktail scene and plenty of pubs and eateries.
To help us understand the high stakes, Seely, Hupka and Vanek spent two months interviewing stakeholders, past and present. Today, we’re featuring their latest story on the cover of a reimagined Sunday Arizona Republic.
This wasn't an easy story to write. "It was a case study on how to report a story when the people who you most want to talk to won't talk," Seely said.
Hupka said that led the reporters to interview past members of the county Board of Supervisors, who remembered when the ballpark was approved in the mid-1990s and how earlier disputes with the Diamondbacks played out.
"Taylor and I talked to Mary Rose Wilcox together about the history of Bank One Ballpark/Chase Field and how things have changed," Hupka said.
Vanek said their research showed despite public sentiment against public funding for sports facilities, "the surprising thing is it's a huge exception when that's not happening."
Their cover story, with a sweeping photo taken inside the stadium, is the perfect centerpiece for an enhanced Sunday reading experience. Every Sunday cover will showcase in-depth coverage and bold design. We’ll start each edition with a compelling story in the tradition you’ve come to expect from The Republic. This is where you’ll find investigations of teen violence and the "Gilbert Goons," groundbreaking stories about water scarcity and the Colorado River and in-depth looks at the health of our schools and the sanctity of our elections.
Inside the Sunday newspaper, you’ll find stories about our shared history, a column from Republic editors, Q&As with newsroom staffers and behind-the-scenes looks at how our journalism comes together.
Our focus on local reporting begins with a commitment to a newsy Valley & State section and an expansive arts and entertainment section. To those standard bearers, we’ve added a new weekly roundup of articles from every county in Arizona, with stops in places like Kayenta and Flagstaff and Tucson and Yuma.
Key to this Sunday initiative is "Faces of Arizona," a weekly column about unheralded people doing amazing things. This feature anchors a new Inspiration page. The Republic’s opinion columnists are some of the most talked-about in the country, and you’ll find them, as always, inside Sunday’s Viewpoints section.
Our Sports page gets a refresh, too. You’ve watched the games; here’s where we’ll go deep with predictions, commentary and sophisticated analysis. This is a must-read for fans of Arizona’s robust sporting life, from the Phoenix Suns and Mercury to the Tolleson Wolverines and Chaparral Firebirds to the Diamondbacks, Sun Devils and Cardinals.
Finally, we’ve added a new section called Weekend Exclusive. This is where you’ll find stories that help you navigate life — like planning for retirement, fitness, home improvement and financial planning.
So, lean back and read about the future of Chase Field. And, as always, let me know what you think — this time about your new Sunday Arizona Republic.
Best, Greg
Greg Burton is executive editor of The Arizona Republic and a regional editor for USA TODAY in the West.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Revamped Sunday Republic features in-depth coverage, bold design
