Tempe is officially rolling out the welcome mat for a major Tempe Diablo Stadium makeover, with the City Council voting Thursday to bring in global design firm Gensler to sketch out a new vision for the Angels’ long-time spring home. The move kicks off the early design phase of a multi-stage renovation tied to the team’s lease and signals to nearby residents that the aging ballpark is finally headed for a serious upgrade.
Council green-lights design hire
According to the Phoenix Business Journal, the council signed off on a contract that brings Gensler on board to begin reimagining the stadium. The agreement covers schematic design and planning work that will help staff and council compare options, refine concepts and weigh price tags before any construction contracts hit the agenda. Reporter Brandon Brown detailed the vote and the early scope of the deal.
Scope and price tags
City records outline a two-step renovation plan. Phase 1 carries an estimated cost of about $20.9 million for a new major-league clubhouse and nearby team facilities, with the Angels expected to chip in roughly $10 million while Tempe picks up the rest. Phase 2 is projected at around $30 million and would add a 360-degree outfield concourse, more shade, updated restrooms and improved pedestrian circulation. As noted by the City of Tempe, the second phase is proposed to be funded through voter-approved bonds, and all figures are still preliminary.
How the deal changes the economics
The renovation plan grows out of a memorandum of understanding that extended the Angels’ spring-training run in Tempe. MLB reported that the 2021 agreement keeps the club in town through at least 2035. That same MOU spells out financial terms, including the team’s share of Phase 1 costs, annual rent and how certain revenues are split, in an effort to help cover upgrades without leaving Tempe to shoulder everything on its own. Those details will shape how the city spaces construction over multiple years.
Gensler's remit and experience
Under the council’s action, Gensler’s first task is to produce conceptual layouts and renderings that nail down what the overhauled ballpark might look like and how much it could cost. In its own materials, Gensler describes a growing sports practice and recent leadership changes meant to bolster its work on stadium and arena projects. Tempe’s contract covers design services only; any actual building work will come back to the council later under standard procurement and approval rules.
What’s next for fans and neighbors
City staff say updates will land on Tempe’s Diablo Stadium renovations webpage as the design phase unfolds, and any bond measure tied to Phase 2 would need voter signoff along with more public outreach. The city’s project notes emphasize upgrades geared toward more shade, better restrooms and smoother traffic flow around the ballpark, though a firm construction calendar will depend on Gensler’s schematics and future council decisions. Neighbors are being urged to keep an eye on council agendas and the city’s project page for community meetings and budget hearings before heavy equipment shows up.
Diablo Stadium has hosted Angels spring training since 1993 and ranks among the older Cactus League venues, which is part of why team and city officials say they want to preserve the park’s quirks while dragging its infrastructure into the modern era. With a lead designer now on deck, the next big moment will come when concept options and more precise cost estimates return to council chambers, and into the public eye, for debate. Fans tracking every inning of this process can follow the City of Tempe’s renovation page and upcoming council materials as plans advance.
