[News] Tempe voters reject the Coyotes Arena and Entertainment District

[Lanny_McDonald]

Posted this in November, much to Jordan's chagrin.

"The best location for a new arena is in the location that is proposed. No doubt. The only issue is "should" that space be used and if there is a need for a new arena and yet another entertainment district?

As a hockey fan who wants to see NHL hockey, I would say yes.

As a citizen of region who understands the needs of the cities and the needs for attracting employers that will pay the money needed to afford to live in the core, I would say no. We already have three arenas capable of hosting large events over 15,000 people. Every municipality has jumped on the entertainment district bandwagon and has developed unique and vibrant areas to be exploited. Every municipality has at least one major performing arts center which sit idle more often than not. The last thing we need is another entertainment district that draws flies when the major tenant does not have an event, which is pretty often given the number of properties available for performances.

The land in question should be used for commercial development and more high-end office space which will draw in businesses that will pay a good wage and drive gentrification efforts in both Tempe and south Scottsdale. A new entertainment district will not bring in the businesses that will pay the wages needed to live in the very community where the investment is taking place. This is why these efforts are being viewed with a very skeptical eye, especially those in government. The Glendale and Mesa white elephants (Cubs spring training facilities) have people concerned about the investment, the benefits, and long-term viability of the project."

As soon as this went to a plebiscite this was dead in the water. Too many people could read the materials presented by the Coyotes group and see it was smoke and mirrors and then get behind killing this off. The political temperature of Tempa and surrounding municipalities (Jordan's own included) is all about spending money that generates real money. Sustainability and critical infrastructure are the big issues and another entertainment district doesn't meet those concerns.

[PeteMoss]

However, NHL sources indicated there has been a significant disparity in spending by Political Action Committees tied to both sides. The belief is the Coyotes side has spent less than $250,000 to activate the vote, opting for a bootstrap campaign, while the opposition has spent upwards of $2 million, backed by high-power labor unions who have not received a guarantee that they will be the ones building the project.

This from Seravalli yesterday is pretty damning on the Coyotes ownership. Why are you getting out spent on something that impacts the future of your team.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/te...ona-on-tuesday

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Too bad Chase Center in San Francisco isn't designed to host NHL games, it would be an attractive destination.

Ya, if you want to take your kids through the zombie apocalypse down town...

[Ozy_Flame]

Lanny - what was the issue with the Footprint Center (formally Talking Stick Arena?) I know the Coyotes played there the first seven seasons, still has decent capacity for hockey (around 16,000 I think), and seems like a prime location.

If I recall correctly it wasn't ideal for an NHL ring but they managed, but it had a ####ty lease situation. Wondering if that could have been resolved? I mean with Chase Field next door it seemed like a great location. I saw a couple of events in the arena and it was great. The location is great for pre and post-game activities too.

I'm not familiar with Phoenix all that much, but is that former location an absolute no-go these days?

[dustygoon]

Friedman thinks backup plan for Coyotes is to go back to the Suns owner and say "what will it take?".

[Geeoff]

Proposal:

-Dispersal draft of Coyotes roster based on Amateur Draft order. Option to opt out of picking. Coyotes plethora of draft picks are either available to be picked in the dispersal draft or when a pick that belonged to the Coyotes comes up in the amateur draft, it just gets skipped over

-Winnipeg Jets 1.0 history to Jets 2.0

-new expansion team to Houston or wherever ASAP

-maybe the league just pays the Coyotes LTIR guys until their contracts are up instead of someone getting saddled with these?

[Strange Brew]

NHL teams don't really belong to cities, they belong to the owners.

So the first question is whether Gutierrez still wants to won an NHL team if Phoenix is not viable. If he is looking to move his team, it changes the markets/arenas that would be an option.

Seems to me the NHL would be better off with a different owner. Some people like our friend Jordan have drunk the kool-aid but they seem kind of shady to me. The half hearted effort on this vote, the refusal to pay their property taxes to Glendale, the Phoenix airport public argument.. And they blames the dumb voters when things don't go their way.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Friedman thinks backup plan for Coyotes is to go back to the Suns owner and say "what will it take?".

To buy the team?

[Ozy_Flame]

I'm actually hoping they stick around in Phoenix, Matt Ishbia buys the team and moves them downtown, and find a way to utilize/augment the existing infrastructure to fit a hockey team in. Baseball, basketball and hockey all in the span of two blocks on Jefferson street would be really cool.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by getbak

The new arena in Milwaukee can host hockey games and hosted a preseason game last fall between the Wild and Hawks, but it has the same basketball problem as others which reduces its hockey capacity to around 15,000.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by getbak

The (now) T-Mobile Center (formerly the Sprint Center) in Kansas City is 15 years old, was built to woo either an NHL or NBA team and has only ever hosted preseason games for both leagues.



It has a decent hockey capacity of 17,544. Although, it has been speculated that the city government might not be willing to give up the revenue they currently earn from concerts and other events in the arena, so it might not be as lucrative as other cities could be (although sharing a building with an existing NBA team isn't likely going to bring in as much money either).

I could totally see that happening. I think the big markets have to pay the entrance fee to the others. KC I could see happening.

[getbak]

My understanding is the Suns' arena has been significantly renovated since the Coyotes moved out and they removed the ice plant during one of the renos. It also still has the same basketball configuration issue it had before (and might even be worse now).


The former owner of the Suns had no interest in sharing the building, but the new owner might be more open to it.

The problem is it won't be cheap to make the building NHL-ready, and it would go back to the problems of low capacity and bad sightlines.

[Dx54]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Lanny - what was the issue with the Footprint Center (formally Talking Stick Arena?) I know the Coyotes played there the first seven seasons, still has decent capacity for hockey (around 16,000 I think), and seems like a prime location.

If I recall correctly it wasn't ideal for an NHL ring but they managed, but it had a ####ty lease situation. Wondering if that could have been resolved? I mean with Chase Field next door it seemed like a great location. I saw a couple of events in the arena and it was great. The location is great for pre and post-game activities too.

I'm not familiar with Phoenix all that much, but is that former location an absolute no-go these days?

I was at Talking Stick Arena in October and after it's recent renovations, it has turned into a beautiful, modern arena. With that said, I still don't think the configuration is suitable for a hockey rink.

[Goriders]

Whenever you start thinking your team is a complete tire fire all you have to do is look at the Coyotes and you’ll feel better.

I have no idea why Bettman fights so hard to keep them there.

[dissentowner]

I can't see other owners being ok with this continuing to drag on when they are losing millions in revenue sharing to this sad sack franchise. I imagine they are telling Bettman to get them into a market where they can turn a profit ASAP.

[Toonage]

FFS, Jeff Marek on the 32 thoughts podcast suggests the Coyotes could suspend operations for the year. I like the guy, when he sticks to the basics and interviews anyone other than Whyshynski but when he tries to think outside the box or steps outside the lines just a bit he becomes a complete idiot.

[Bluzman]

Salt Lake City

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Lanny - what was the issue with the Footprint Center (formally Talking Stick Arena?) I know the Coyotes played there the first seven seasons, still has decent capacity for hockey (around 16,000 I think), and seems like a prime location.

If I recall correctly it wasn't ideal for an NHL ring but they managed, but it had a ####ty lease situation. Wondering if that could have been resolved? I mean with Chase Field next door it seemed like a great location. I saw a couple of events in the arena and it was great. The location is great for pre and post-game activities too.

The problem with the Jefferson Street Arena (Footprint) is it was designed for basketball. The sight lines are terrible and the experience is one of the worst in the league. They have done some renovations, but it is still a basketball arena and concert arena. Hockey was an afterthought and it shows. The Suns also want nothing to do with the Coyotes.

I'm not familiar with Phoenix all that much, but is that former location an absolute no-go these days?

The location is decent. Downtown Phoenix has its drawbacks but is good if you're trying to attract traffic from all over the valley. The best location is actually where the current Cubs spring training facility is. Mesa botched this when the arena debate was originally happening and it boiled down to liquor licensing and the Mormon ran City council not supporting having that level of debauchery in their city. Glendale swung in an snapped up the stadium and the area from where they ultimately should have been - the confluence of 101 and 202.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I can't see other owners being ok with this continuing to drag on when they are losing millions in revenue sharing to this sad sack franchise. I imagine they are telling Bettman to get them into a market where they can turn a profit ASAP.

The PA isn't happy with the situation either. I wouldn't be surprised if when they signed off on the ASU plan, they demanded the league have a backup plan if this deal fell through so the team wouldn't be perpetually in limbo.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Toonage

FFS, Jeff Marek on the 32 thoughts podcast suggests the Coyotes could suspend operations for the year. I like the guy, when he sticks to the basics and interviews anyone other than Whyshynski but when he tries to think outside the box or steps outside the lines just a bit he becomes a complete idiot.

For sure, like are their players going to agree to take a year off or play in the AHL? Not a chance.

Imagine if they had won the lottery to draft Bedard?