Just two months after openly talking about the possibility of his MLB franchise relocating out of Arizona, Ken Kendrick is weighing in on the Coyotes’ move to Utah.
“The entire Diamondbacks organization is disappointed in the now official news of our NHL team being relocated out of state. We firmly believe that we deserve and can support teams from each of the major sports and are troubled that a solution could not be found for all parties involved. We are sad for all sports fans and all who care so deeply about our community,” said Kendrick, the managing genital partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and released on the Diamondbacks’ official X (Twitter) account.
As most WVU fans know, Kendrick is a major donor to Mountaineer athletics, so much so that the West Virginia baseball stadium was recently renamed “Kendrick Family Ballpark” in his honor.
Back in February at the start of MLB spring training, Kendrick discussed the opportunities available to him and his partners when the Diamondbacks’ lease with Chase Field expires in 2027.
“There are opportunities available,” Kendrick said. “There are other cities that would covet having Major League Baseball… we’re not in dialogue with those cities, but we are aware.”
While Kendrick clearly feels strongly about professional sports in Arizona, the lease with Chase Field is set to expire and the club pushing for between $400 and $500 million in renovations to the facility. This means the negotiations are likely to become heated, even if it’s just for the purpose of brokering a favorable deal.
City names that have been floated regarding expansion include Las Vegas—where the Oakland A’s are expected to move soon—and Montreal, where the franchise now known as the Washington Nationals spent the first 35 years of their life. Charlotte, Nashville, and Portland, Ore. also come up frequently.
Kendrick has acknowledged that the Diamondbacks are not part of any expansion discussions yet, but has also reiterated the franchise’s need to keep their options open.
“We may run out of time in Phoenix,” Kendrick said. “We hope that won’t happen.”
Kendrick, 80, grew up in Princeton, W.Va., graduating from WVU in 1965 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. He has maintained close ties with his alma mater throughout his career, including helping to set up scrimmage matches between the Diamondbacks and WVU Baseball in each of the past two seasons. He also co-founded the Country Roads Trust NIL initiative.
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