We back the Native American Community

Arizona is home to 22 Tribal Nations and has one of the largest urban Native American populations of any U.S. state. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Casino Arizona, an enterprise owned and operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), announced a new partnership in 2022, naming the popular casino and its sister property, Talking Stick Resort, as the Official Casino and Resort Partner for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) partnered with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies to build the award-winning Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, which opened in 2011 as the first Major League Baseball Spring Training facility to be built on Indian land in the nation. Since SRF opened in 2011, the facility holds the top 9 all-time attendance records in the history of MLB Spring Training, has brought infrastructure and investment to the area and is the site for the very moving USS Arizona Memorial Gardens, located at the stadium’s Home Plate entrance.

The complex is spread throughout 140 acres of scenic landscape that has unmatched views of Camelback Mountain, the McDowell Mountains, Four Peaks, Red Mountain, and the Superstition Mountains. The stadium design immerses fans in the game of baseball while using Native American influence and regional architecture to offer fans the ultimate Spring Training experience. The design allows fans multiple observation areas, allowing glimpses into the players’ daily lives and training routines.

Designed to also serve as a symbol within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, promoting and encouraging environmental stewardship, the facility earned prestigious LEED Gold Certification for New Construction from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Salt River Fields is the first LEED Gold-certified sports venue of its kind in the United States.

Native American Recognition Day

This festive day at the ballpark includes performances from various Native American drum groups, dancers and vocalists as well as art displays and educational exhibits. The team also recognizes several of Arizona’s Tribal Royalty Contingent and the ceremonial first pitch, national anthem and color guard display are all performed by members of the Native American community.

Saturday, June 15 will mark the D-backs' 25th Native American Recognition Day in partnership with Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort and the annual Inter-Tribal Youth Baseball & Softball Tournament.

Inter-Tribal Tournament

The D-backs Inter-Tribal Youth Baseball & Softball Tournament is the largest all-Native American baseball and softball tournament in the country. Games are played throughout the Salt River reservation at ballparks around the Valley. Since the tournament’s inception in 1999, it has boasted over 14,000 participants who have played in over 1,700 friendship games. Each year, approximately 75 teams travel to Phoenix from tribal nations all over the country to participate. More than 1,125 participants representing more than 23 tribes participate in the 2019 tournament. Trophies are awarded to the championship teams and MVPs before the game on Native American Recognition Day.

D-backs Give Back

For decades, the D-backs and the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation (Foundation) have been committed to investing in and supporting the Arizona Native American Community with over $3,000,000 in charitable contributions over nearly half a century. In 1999, the Foundation established the Native American Inter-Tribal Baseball and Softball Tournament, which has made it possible for 20,000 youth and young adults as well as 1,200 Inter-Tribal teams to participate in the friendly but competitive event. Continuing their commitment to quality tournaments and fields for the community, together with the Colorado Rockies, the D-backs refurbished Lehi Field.

Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and White Mountain Apache Tribe partner on Tribal Community Heritage Field Project
The Arizona Diamondbacks partnered with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to provide renovations of Lehi Field located on the reservation.
The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Gila River Indian Community baseball and softball programs and the White Mountain Apache Little League have participated in the D-backs Give Back Youth Jersey Program. Since 2015, the tribal leagues have received approximately $53,000 in free jerseys and caps.
Gila River Indian Community baseball program receives $20,000 per year for equipment
The Salt River Community Children’s Foundation received a $10,000 donation in 2015.
The Miracle House Foundation has received over $45,000 in support since 2009.
The Phoenix Indian Center has received over $20,000 in donations since 2014.
The Native American Community Health Center received a $10,000 grant in 2012.Native American Connections has received over $200,000 in grants since 2013.
Native American tribes received $225,000 in relief funding during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Navajo United Way received $10,795 for the Assayi Fire Relief Fund in 2014.

D-backs Give Back Youth Jersey Program

Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation launched the D-backs Give Back Youth Jersey Program, providing youth baseball and softball leagues across Arizona with high-quality jerseys and caps at no cost. The D-backs Give Back Youth Jersey Program has significantly offset diminishing resources and has allowed participating leagues to reallocate funds toward equipment, registration fees and facility improvements. In 2020, two new jerseys were added with our tribal word mark to the mix of uniforms worn by many Little Leaguers.