Kino Sports Complex
Tucson Electric Park opened its doors in 1998. This new facility stood four miles south of the older Hi Corbett Field at the intersection of I-10 and SR-86. The Arizona Diamondbacks began operations that same year in Phoenix. They chose to use this new stadium for their spring training games each March. The Chicago White Sox also moved from Sarasota, Florida to share the grounds. A minor league team called the Tucson Toros relocated from Hi Corbett to this new venue. They changed their name to the Tucson Sidewinders immediately upon arrival. These teams became the primary tenants during the first decade of the complex's life.
The Chicago White Sox signed a lease agreement to stay until 2012. However, they wanted to move to Glendale earlier than planned. On the 18th of November 2008, the Pima County Board of Supervisors approved a five million dollar offer. This deal allowed the team to leave TEP early for the 2009 season. The Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks stated they needed three teams to remain in Tucson. Without those numbers, the city lost all Cactus League games. Both major league clubs eventually shared Salt River Fields at Talking Stick near Scottsdale. That new facility opened in 2011. The departure left the main stadium without any Major League tenant for a time.
The San Diego Padres Triple-A affiliate moved from Portland, Oregon to the stadium in 2011. They renamed themselves the Tucson Padres. Previously, this team was called the Portland Beavers. The organization had planned to build a new stadium in Escondido, California. That plan failed when California eliminated their redevelopment agencies. The team departed Tucson before the start of the 2014 season. They relocated to El Paso, Texas and assumed the name El Paso Chihuahuas. Meanwhile, the Reno Silver Sox of the independent Golden Baseball League arrived
in Tucson. They chose to play at Hi Corbett Field instead of using the main stadium.
FC Tucson began playing home matches at the North Stadium of the complex in 2012. The club started in the Premier Development League which is now USL League Two. In 2019, they played in the higher-level USL League One. By 2023, the team returned to USL League Two. Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls used the grounds for preseason training. The Desert Diamond Cup tournament also took place there. Pima Community College Aztecs football played games at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium for several seasons. They
moved to the North Stadium for the 2014 season. The school ended its football program completely in 2018. The facility seats 11,500 fans and hosts concerts alongside baseball.
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Common questions
When did Kino Sports Complex open its doors?
Tucson Electric Park opened its doors in 1998. This new facility stood four miles south of the older Hi Corbett Field at the intersection of I-10 and SR-86.
Which teams were the primary tenants during the first decade of Kino Sports Complex life?
The Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, and Tucson Sidewinders became the primary tenants during the first decade of the complex's life. The Chicago White Sox signed a lease agreement to stay until 2012 before moving to Glendale for the 2009 season.
What happened to the major league spring training games after the Chicago White Sox left Kino Sports Complex?
The Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks eventually shared Salt River Fields at Talking Stick near Scottsdale because they needed three teams to remain in Tucson. That new facility opened in 2011 and the departure left the main stadium without any Major League tenant for a time.
Why did the San Diego Padres Triple-A affiliate move from Kino Sports Complex in 2014?
The team departed Tucson before the start of the 2014 season and relocated to El Paso, Texas where they assumed the name El Paso Chihuahuas. This organization had planned to build a new stadium in Escondido, California but that plan failed when California eliminated their redevelopment agencies.
Who plays home matches at the North Stadium of Kino Sports Complex as of 2023?
FC Tucson began playing home matches at the North Stadium of the complex in 2012 and returned to USL League Two by 2023. The Pima Community College Aztecs football played games at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium for several seasons before moving to the North Stadium for the 2014 season.