By Steve Stockmar | YourValley
Glendale is anticipating at least one of its spring training teams — and possibly both — will begin legal proceedings against the city over proposed new construction at Camelback Ranch-Glendale.
City Manager Kevin Phelps told the city council at its Tuesday afternoon workshop that legal counsel for the Chicago White Sox notified the city last week they are preparing to take action against Glendale to resolve a dispute at the ballpark.
Phelps added that he also anticipates that the Los Angeles Dodgers, the facility’s other Cactus League team, will join the legal proceedings.
The dispute stems from the teams’ desire to build separate locker rooms for their female employees, Phelps says. Ostensibly the teams believe the city should pay for the construction.
“The city believes that this is a cost that should be borne by the teams and not the citizens of Glendale,” Phelps told the council. “The estimated net worth of these two teams exceeds $7 billion. So we believe that this is something that in the greater sense of our lease agreement … this is something that we will support them building out and changing locker facilities for their females, but it shouldn’t be a cost built into our capital.”
