$1 billion Rate Bowl stadium boasts MLB-first pool where ‘disrespectful and classless’ Dodgers ignited feud

Home to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chase Field doubles as the site for college football’s Rate Bowl.

This year’s Rate Bowl features the 7-5 Minnesota Golden Gophers facing off against the 9-3 New Mexico Lobos.

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Chase Field will once again transform from a Major League Baseball venue into a rowdy college football environment.

The stadium first opened in 1998 at a cost of roughly $354 million. Since then, it has undergone numerous renovations and upgrades to stay current.

The state of Arizona recently announced that the Diamondbacks will remain at Chase Field for the next 30 years, following Gov. Katie Hobbs’ signing of a bill that allocates $500 million for renovations.

Between the original construction costs, naming rights, years of renovations, and the most recent $500 million bill, Chase Field is now worth roughly $1 billion.

Despite the countless dollars and renovations poured into the stadium, Chase Field is best known for one thing—and one thing only: the pool in the outfield.

And the pool has history of its own, just ask the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In 2013, after securing the NL West over their division rivals on enemy turf, the Dodgers celebrated the victory with a splash in the pool.

Predictably, the celebration didn’t sit well with the Diamondbacks or their fans.

Speaking to the Arizona Republic, Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall remarked, “I could call it disrespectful and classless, but they don’t have a beautiful pool at their old park and must have really wanted to see what one was like.”

“I think it’s tired and disrespectful,” Diamondbacks utility player Willie Bloomquist said. “It’s surprising, because they have a lot of veteran guys on that team that I thought were classier than that.”

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A decade later, the desert franchise got its revenge, sweeping the Dodgers in the 2023 NLDS and throwing a pool party of their own.

Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen said at the time just how sweet it was to beat the team from LA.

“I think it’s an understatement to say we were counted out, especially in this series, for sure,” Gallen said.

“And obviously, it’s no secret we’ve had our battles with them, our struggles. But yeah, this one tastes a little bit sweeter, for sure. Especially since I heard some comments that this is just gonna be a home game for them.

“That’s our pool.”

Indeed it is. The only question now is whether any Golden Gophers or Lobos will be celebrating with backstrokes or cannonballs after the Rate Bowl.