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How Are Other Cities Dealing With Empty Sports Facilities?

Published: Monday, April 3, 2017 - 2:58pm
Updated: Tuesday, April 4, 2017 - 1:30pm
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The Diamondbacks won their opening game on Sunday at Chase Field, although, as we heard last week on The Show, the team and Maricopa County are still at odds over potential improvements to the ballpark.

And in Glendale, across the street from where the NCAA will crown its men’s basketball champion tonight, the Arizona Coyotes are looking to leave Gila River Arena. And, that’s not to mention the Suns, who are also talking about a new arena.

So that’s potentially three sports venues in the Valley without teams playing in them.

To find out how other cities are dealing with empty facilities, we called Harris County, Texas, home to Houston and the Astrodome — the Astros moved out after the 1999 season.

County Judge Ed Emmett is one of five people in charge of deciding what to do with the building. He points out, by the way, that in Harris County, his position is more like that of a county executive.

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