I think it's a perfectly fair criticism to consider Jobing.com Arena in the middle of nowhere. It was built in what use to be farmland and I know the first time I went there I was certain my GPS was wrong after it had me 'exit' the city and pass a beaten down barn with some donkeys. Was just about to turn around when I saw the University of Phoenix Stadium.
Not necessarily saying it's a long drive, and it's important to understand the makeup of Arizona, but when the arena complex is bordering farmland on 3 of it's 4 sides and the other is a suburban community it's a fair judgement. And as beautiful as the complex is, it was absolutely dead when there wasn't a game being played even on the weekends, at least while I stayed there.
I would maybe say the best comparison would be placing the Flames arena in Airdrie. Like Glendale it would have it's own fanbase of people from Airdrie (and although Airdrie's population is a lot smaller there's probably a much higher amount of hockey fans) but when you're relying heavily on people from Calgary showing up for 40 games often on weekdays you would be limiting some fans in southern Calgary who don't want to have to drive home after work, drive there and then drive back home after the game.
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