Coyotes Search For A New Arena

[Brian in Mesa]

Coyotes might announce arena site this week

http://www.12news.com/news/local/valley/coyotes-might-announce-arena-site-this-week/251747479

The Arizona Coyotes' search for a new hockey home is focusing on an East Valley site that was once a popular drive-in movie theater, 12 News has learned.

The site is on privately-held tribal land at the northeast corner of the Loop 101 and 202, at McKellips and McClintock. It was home to the Scottsdale 6 Drive-In for more than 30 years.

Coyotes Chief Executive Officer Anthony LeBlanc said last month that he would be surprised if the team didn't have something to announce before the NHL draft, coming up on Friday.

An announcement connected to the site could come on Thursday, I've been told. The arena would be part of a larger project at the site.

LeBlanc has set these kind of target dates before, only to see them pass without anything new to report.

This week, however, LeBlanc has an incentive to answer the biggest question surrounding the team: Where will the Coyotes play after their lease at Glendale's Gila River Arena expires one year from now?

The Coyotes' current and future season-ticket holders' want to know the answer before sinking any money into the team.

 

[puckhead]

It would be awesome. I would not know what to do with myself if the albatross was removed from the neck of this franchise. I mean, I could just watch hockey and stuff.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

That would be a great location. That land is just sitting there - mostly vacant - and it could be part of a much larger project/complex. This would be great news for Yotes' fans in the East Valley and for ASU if they get to play on the same ice. Great location for concerts and other events also.

 

[jf-08]

Make it happen.

 

[Dback Jon]

That would be very close to my house. I don't like plopping arenas down on vacant land like that though - too many places in Arizona are just drive there, and leave. And it is mile plus from light rail.

 

[WaywardFan]

Didn't they play downtown, and then get a new place out in the west valley? Did that place burn down or something??

 

[puckhead]

Didn't they play downtown, and then get a new place out in the west valley? Did that place burn down or something??

In a manner of speaking, yes.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...s-to-cancel-lease-deal-with-coyotes/71046260/

 

[Homer Simpson]

Not going to happen.

Oh, they may announce it, just to save face, because they've made missed so many deadlines in the past, but it will just be a nebulous "things are moving along" type of situation. Kind of like the ASU situation a few months ago, people got all excited over nothing.

Truth is, a move won't save the Coyotes. The location is just an excuse; if they move closer to the East Valley, people will just find new excuses not to go to the games.

They have an arena. You want the team to stay? Get in your car and drive. Make the effort, stop blaming the citizens of Glendale for not wanting to make the effort for you.

 

[puckhead]

Not going to happen.

Oh, they may announce it, just to save face, because they've made missed so many deadlines in the past, but it will just be a nebulous "things are moving along" type of situation. Kind of like the ASU situation a few months ago, people got all excited over nothing.

Truth is, a move won't save the Coyotes. The location is just an excuse; if they move closer to the East Valley, people will just find new excuses not to go to the games.

They have an arena. You want the team to stay? Get in your car and drive. Make the effort, stop blaming the citizens of Glendale for not wanting to make the effort for you.

Who are you talking to? Has anyone here blamed Glendale citizens for the problems with the arena?

 

[SunCityCarl]

Dear City Leaders of Glendale, 41 dates a year to make up with concerts, conventions, used car sales events & swap meets. If the Gila River Arena is still standing a decade from now I will be shocked.

 

[Shaggy]

Not going to happen.

Oh, they may announce it, just to save face, because they've made missed so many deadlines in the past, but it will just be a nebulous "things are moving along" type of situation. Kind of like the ASU situation a few months ago, people got all excited over nothing.

Truth is, a move won't save the Coyotes. The location is just an excuse; if they move closer to the East Valley, people will just find new excuses not to go to the games.

They have an arena. You want the team to stay? Get in your car and drive. Make the effort, stop blaming the citizens of Glendale for not wanting to make the effort for you.

So you would drive a hour in traffic to go to several games a year? What, they have like 4 or 5 game a week at times. They moved to to far west to make it feasible for the not so hard core fan to go. I feel if its close to downtown, they will get more of those type fans to go then they did when they played in Glendale.

 

[BillsCarnage]

That would be very close to my house. I don't like plopping arenas down on vacant land like that though - too many places in Arizona are just drive there, and leave. And it is mile plus from light rail.

I miss that drive-in theater... But, yeah probably not the best location either. If an arena did go there you can bet the light rail would find its way there too.

Truth is, a move won't save the Coyotes. The location is just an excuse; if they move closer to the East Valley, people will just find new excuses not to go to the games.

Well, a large portion of the disposable income is in the east side, so it makes sense to look at options there, but, IMO, it needs to be downtown since all roads lead downtown.

They have an arena. You want the team to stay? Get in your car and drive. Make the effort, stop blaming the citizens of Glendale for not wanting to make the effort for you.

No one blamed the citizens. Well, maybe indirectly since they elected the politicians.

As for the drive, i don't know any fans that wanted the arena in Glendale. The former owner that put this franchise into this whole issue had a chunk of land to use. Outside of the NFL and can't think of any sports fan base that is willing to drive 1.5hr, or more, round trip 3 or 4 times a week in rush hour to support a team. Not on a year-in-year-out basis. And yet, that's what the hard-core Yotes fans have been doing. It's the casual fan the Yotes need to get back.

Dear City Leaders of Glendale, 41 dates a year to make up with concerts, conventions, used car sales events & swap meets. If the Gila River Arena is still standing a decade from now I will be shocked.

ZING!

 

[puckhead]

Key word in thread title: might.

 

[puckhead]

Well this is damn peculiar.

Private developers, in cooperation with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, are exploring the idea of building a 20,000-seat multi-purpose event center south of the Scottsdale Pavilions and west of the 101 Freeway that they say could potentially house the Arizona Coyotes or Phoenix Suns, multiple sources told Arizona Sports this week.

The facility would be part of a larger, approximately 65-acre sports village that could also include retail, entertainment, living and work spaces. A group of local businessmen, investors and advisors has been working with the community for more than a year, and multiple sources said the basic structure of the financing is already in place with Barclays Bank in the fold.

...

Multiple sources said the developer group working with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community had a meeting scheduled with the Coyotes the day after the team’s Faceoff Luncheon and the day before the season opener on Oct. 15 to discuss the possibility of the Coyotes playing there, but the Coyotes cancelled the meeting at the last minute for unspecified reasons. No make-up date has been scheduled.

When reached Wednesday evening, Coyotes president and CEO Anthony LeBlanc had this to say: “Throughout this process we have had a number of groups solicit our involvement. This particular group and site are not one with which the Coyotes are working.”

WTH? What if something flies in the ointment (again) in your current negotiations?

http://arizonasports.com/story/8771...ion-multi-purpose-arena-scottsdale-pavilions/

 

[Dback Jon]

That would not be a good site for either team

 

[puckhead]

Isn't that over by where the D-Backs hold their spring training?

Why don't you think it would be good?

 

[BillsCarnage]

KTAR said via their Coyote writer that an arena announcement is coming today.

 

[Dback Jon]

KTAR said via their Coyote writer that an arena announcement is coming today.

Hope so!

 

[BillsCarnage]

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[Dback Jon]

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I can't read tweets at work - what does it say?

 

[BillsCarnage]

From Craig Morgan (KTAR's Coyote writer)
I can confirm that the Coyotes expect to make some sort of arena announcement today. More details later.


Could be an agreement with Glendale or could be a new location.

I'd still like a new arena downtown, but if not off the 101 near the old drive-n would be nice.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Bye bye Karsten golf course.

The proposed site for the new Coyotes/ASU arena is at the NW corner of McClintock Drive and Rio Salado Parkway on Karsten Golf Course.

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[Dback Jon]

Great location

 

[BillsCarnage]

Facility is part of a 58-acre development: would include a 16,000-plus seat arena & adjacent 4,000-seat arena where ASU hockey would play.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Great location

Yeah, right smack dab in the middle of the disposable income.

So long Glendale and good luck with the arena
https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-announce-plans-for-new-east-valley-arena/c-283720238