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Broken pipes lead to flooding at Chase Field, home of the Diamondbacks

Posted at 7:28 PM, Jun 28, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-29 17:50:46-04

A source confirmed to ABC15 that a pipe burst on the press level of Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, on Saturday, leading to ankle-level flooding in an air conditioning control room on the stadium's surface level.

A separate incident occurred Sunday after a power grid failure at about 10 a.m. resulted in power outages throughout downtown Phoenix, including Chase Field. Power was restored by 11:30, just two hours before the D-backs' game vs. the Phillies. When power was restored, engineers discovered several leaks in the stadium's cooling and air conditioning system. At least one of the broken pipes was near Friday's Front Row restaurant in left field.

As a result of the power outage and pipe leaks, fans experienced hotter-than-usual temperatures inside Chase Field during Sunday's game.

Maricopa County Communications Director Fields Moseley said the broken pipes were a result of pressure from chilled water than began to run through the stadium's pumps when the power was turned back on. While Chase Field is owned and operated by the Maricopa County Stadium District, Moseley noted the chilling system that uses the pumps is maintained by the Diamondbacks as the facility manager.

According to Maricopa County, "operation, maintenance, and repairs are the Diamondbacks' responsibility, unless a repair meets a specific definition of a 'capital repair.' If a capital repair is needed, then a special reserve fund can be used."

In a statement, the Diamondbacks told ABC15 they believe the County should take responsibility for the incidents over the weekend.

"This is yet another example of their disingenuous positioning. As the facility manager, we continue to put costly band-aids on problems one at a time as the County continues to avoid accountability and responsibility for the capital repairs in the building it owns," the team said.

Moseley noted Maricopa County has spent nearly $20 million on capital repairs at Chase Field since 2005, and all capital repairs have been performed following discussion and approval by the Diamondbacks. A full list of those repairs can be found here.

In January, the Diamondbacks sued Maricopa County in an effort to remove a clause from their stadium lease that would allow them to explore other stadium options. The team contends in the suit that the county has failed to allocate some $187 million for maintenance and improvements at Chase Field, where the D-backs have played since they began play in 1998.

In March of 2016, the Diamondbacks asked permission from the Maricopa County Stadium District to explore other venues after the Stadium District indicated it will not pay for $135 million in requested maintenance and upgrades of Chase Field. The Stadium District denied that request.

"We have spent more than four years suggesting alternative solutions that would help the Maricopa County Stadium District hold up its end of our agreement, including multiple offers for us to assume all of the financial responsibilities they currently hold. All of our offers have been denied," D-backs managing general partner Ken Kendrick told MLB.com.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has sided with the Diamondbacks in their dispute.

"We take very seriously the obligation to have a major league-quality facility in each and every market. It's absolutely clear from the material that has been made available to me there are serious maintenance needs that need to be met with respect to the stadium," Manfred said during a visit to Chase Field in February.

"Unfortunately, they have not been able to reach a consensual agreement on how that was going to happen. That stadium, to be a major league-quality stadium, needs work."