Russ Amaral is in his 24th year with the D-backs in 2021, his 23rd as Vice President, Ballpark Operations. Amaral oversees all ballpark and event-related functions, in addition to the engineering, security, operations, guest services and groundskeeping departments.
During the 2019-20 offseason, Chase Field undertook the project of further extending the backstop and dugout netting systems down the foul lines. Amaral and staff from the Engineering and Grounds Keeping Departments worked together to ensure that the project was done properly and on time. Other projects completed during this time included a refresh of the Diamondbacks Clubhouse lockers as well as concrete repair and restoration in specific areas of the outfield seating bowl. On the event-related side, Arizona Diamondbacks Events & Entertainment (aka “ADEE”), successfully completed its first full year of hosting events throughout Chase Field. Notable events include the Jehovah Witness International Conference, Drone Racing League, Central Christian Church service, Waste Management Phoenix Open Tee-Off Luncheon, Top Golf, Cheez-It Bowl game and the two-day “Duals on the Diamond” NCAA Wrestling event, presented by ASU.
During the 2018-19 offseason, Amaral and his team played integral roles in the converting of the natural turf playing surface to a newly engineered synthetic grass, all while working around and hosting four major events at the ballpark -- Go Daddy’s annual Holiday Party, the Cheez-It Bowl, WWE’s Royal Rumble and a Billy Joel concert. In 2017-18, Amaral and his staff oversaw several projects at Chase Field - the extension of the backstop netting over the dugouts, construction of a new kitchen facility in the players’ parking lot and the expansion of the Administrative parking lot. The year began with an 18-day run of Adele’s technical production, a construction/production run-through for her world tour kickoff in January, as well as a return to Chase Field by Kenny Chesney in June. In 2016, Amaral and his staff were instrumental in hosting and supporting several major events at Chase Field. Major League Baseball brought the MLB Diversity Summit to Phoenix, and for the first time in its existence, hosted it inside a Major League ballpark. Kenny Chesney brought his “Spread the Love” tour to the ballpark, which then was followed by the Arizona State University commencement a mere two days later. The year closed out with the Motel 6 Cactus Bowl football game in late December.
In 2011, Amaral coordinated all stadium operations for the All-Star Game at Chase Field and in the past eight years, he has played an integral role in the many renovations at Chase Field by overseeing construction projects to keep the 23-year-old ballpark up to date with many of the new stadiums opening in the market and around the country. He was involved in the planning and construction of the APS Solar Pavilion Project in 2010-11, the Legends Suites and Conference Center in 2011 and the Mountainside Fitness facility that opened in 2012 at Chase Field, in addition to the remodeling project involving Game Seven Grill on the Gila River Casinos Plaza. Additional projects include overseeing Daktronics’ installation of the 136-feet wide by 46-feet tall video scoreboard in center field, value engineering the rebranding of Chase Field and renovations of the suite level, All-You-Can-Eat section, Studio @ 122, the Coors Light Strike Zone and numerous other seating areas throughout the ballpark.
Amaral began his career in facility management with the opening of America West Arena (now Phoenix Suns Arena) in 1992 as well as Dodge Theatre (now Arizona Federal Theatre) in 2002, working in various capacities up to Director, Event Services. In 1997, he was given the opportunity to assist in the final planning and opening operations of Chase Field as a member of the D-backs. Amaral has also been called upon by Major League Baseball to assist in ballpark operations capacities at numerous World Series in addition to handling all operational aspects of the 2011 All-Star Game and 2006 and 2013 World Baseball Classic games hosted at Chase Field. In 2012, the team added his services to the committee which oversees the D-backs’ Academy in the Dominican Republic, assisting in the facility operations in Boca Chica.
He has been a member of the Stadium Managers Association since 2006, NCS4 and Green Sports Alliance since their inception and is active within several MLB working groups. He enjoys staying active in the community with involvement at UMOM and Illuminate Community Church, participating in volunteer opportunities at Cornerstone, Care Portal and House of Refuge functions.
He is a graduate of Oregon State University, where he earned a degree in Business Administration and currently lives in Scottsdale.