Coyotes Search For A New Arena

[Bodha]

So Warren buffet can live in his $120,000 house for 60 years, but the Coyotes cant play in their billion dollar arena for 15?

 

[puckhead]

So Warren buffet can live in his $120,000 house for 60 years, but the Coyotes cant play in their billion dollar arena for 15?

I told you a trillion times not to exaggerate! (Construction cost was around $250Million IRRC)

But your point stands. I'm not sure the Phoenix metro needs another arena as much as it might help boost attendance for the hockey team.

 

[chickenhead]

How does it "pay for itself?" The consumers who are also taxpayers provide the revenue while you have a tax rebate? And is that rebate subtracted from the "millions" it will make the state/county/municipality? And all this happens after the deal makers and developers have made their millions, right? And what's the sustained job creation? Oh, low-paying jobs.

 

[puckhead]

How does it "pay for itself?" The consumers who are also taxpayers provide the revenue while you have a tax rebate? And is that rebate subtracted from the "millions" it will make the state/county/municipality? And all this happens after the deal makers and developers have made their millions, right? And what's the sustained job creation? Oh, low-paying jobs.

I was alerted that this post quoted me, but I'm not sure what the answers are to these questions. There really hasn't been anything published about how the details of the deal would look that I've seen.

Generally, the big arena/stadium deals are much more beneficial to the teams than the taxpayers though.

 

[jf-08]

So Warren buffet can live in his $120,000 house for 60 years, but the Coyotes cant play in their billion dollar arena for 15?

Glendale doesn't want the Coyotes. So the were basically evicted.

http://arizonasports.com/story/267347/city-of-glendale-cancels-lease-agreement-with-arizona-coyotes/

 

[Bodha]

Glendale doesn't want the Coyotes. So the were basically evicted.

http://arizonasports.com/story/267347/city-of-glendale-cancels-lease-agreement-with-arizona-coyotes/

The Associated Press reported this cancellation stemmed from the Glendale City Council being concerned that IceArizona had been using the $15 million the city pays annually to pay down debt built up when the group bought the franchise, violating the lease agreement.


Glendale sucks, but the Coyotes are the ones twisting arms here. Much like every sports franchise in the world, they force and blackmail cities to bend to their will, or else threaten them with leaving.

 

[chickenhead]

I was alerted that this post quoted me, but I'm not sure what the answers are to these questions. There really hasn't been anything published about how the details of the deal would look that I've seen.

Generally, the big arena/stadium deals are much more beneficial to the teams than the taxpayers though.

Yeah, I did quote your post but then cut it down to the LeBlanc statement only because I didn't want it to look like I was arguing with you.

I just don't think his pitch works anymore. Too much evidence that the public is nothing more than a minor partner to major private capital returns.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[BillsCarnage]

As much as I hate to say this, I've divested myself of any vested interest I had with the Coyotes.

This just sucks a big 'ol pile of dung and we've been going through this for what almost a decade now??

Sarver is more than happy to share a new arena with the Yotes, he just wants to maintain control of managing it - he wants that $$ to himself. And, that's exactly what the Coyotes need to pay the bills and why they fought Glendale to manage the arena.

I've been giving the middle finger to the rumors for years, but at this point, unless there's a local white knight lurking in the shadows, the Yotes will likely be on the move.. S-U-C-K-S

 

[puckhead]

As much as I hate to say this, I've divested myself of any vested interest I had with the Coyotes.

This just sucks a big 'ol pile of dung and we've been going through this for what almost a decade now??

Sarver is more than happy to share a new arena with the Yotes, he just wants to maintain control of managing it - he wants that $$ to himself. And, that's exactly what the Coyotes need to pay the bills and why they fought Glendale to manage the arena.

I've been giving the middle finger to the rumors for years, but at this point, unless there's a local white knight lurking in the shadows, the Yotes will likely be on the move.. S-U-C-K-S

It's amazing to me that anyone goes to games anymore. For exactly the reasons you give, I've found myself less and less invested in the daily rumors, chatter, politics. Let alone the actual games themselves.

When they had the full lockout a couple of years ago, I found that I got along just fine, found other interests and other places to spend my money.

It's too bad. It really is an amazing game at the NHL level.

There are plenty of hockey fans in the valley, just not enough Coyote fans. If they could actually beat those teams with such loyal followers, we might actually convert a few of them. Alas, one conference final is the best they could muster and it just lost all of its steam since.

 

[Yuma]

I do not have a quote to post, but after the recent election here in Glendale, the mayor reached out to the Coyotes, noting the board make up is different now, and he would like to work things out. Kinda sounds like the Yotes have moved on anyway.

I like the Yotes a ton. I like the youth movement. It is hard to get to that corner of town to see a game. I have no problem with the facility. I have sat almost everywhere except right against the glass, and I like the stadium. Even though the stadium is on my end of town, I can see where folks in Tempe don't want to come way over to Westgate. If they move to Tempe, I would be less likely to go to games. If the light rail were way easier to take to the game downtown, or to Westgate, I would go more. We need MORE light rail for sports imho. Just for moving people around in general.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

NHL commissioner to state legislature: Coyotes 'must' have a new arena

http://www.abc15.com//sports/sports...-have-a-new-arena?utm_source=SilverpopMailing

In a letter addressed to Arizona's senate president and speaker of the house, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has made it clear: The Arizona Coyotes cannot and will not remain in Glendale for the long term.

In the letter dated Tuesday, Bettman told Arizona Senate President Steve Yarbrough and House Speaker J.D. Mesnard that the Coyotes' current arena situation in Glendale is "not economically capable of supporting a successful NHL franchise" and the team "must have a new arena location to succeed."

Bettman's letter was delivered as the Senate continues to weigh SB 1149, which would pave the way for $395 million in funding for a new Coyotes arena in the Valley. The bill would require Coyotes ownership to contribute $170 million of that funding, while the host city would pay for $55 million and the remaining $170 million would come via sales taxes.

In response to Bettman's letter, Mesnard said SB 1149 has a tough road ahead.

"While I very much want to see the Coyotes remain in Arizona, what they're asking for is no small thing," Mesnard said in a statement. "The NHL first needs to make the case for a state-funded arena to the taxpayers. We're not seeing a lot of enthusiasm that the public wants to foot the bill for a new arena, and until the NHL can win over taxpayers, they're going to have a tough sell at the Legislature."

Last month, SB 1149 made its way out of the Senate Transportation and Technology Committee. But it is reportedly facing tough opposition in the Senate as a whole, where it must be approved before it goes to a vote in the House.

"The Greater Phoenix region represents a strong hockey market which we are proud to have included in the NHL. With that said, let me be abundantly clear: the Coyotes' current location in Glendale at Gila River Arena is not economically capable of supporting a successful NHL franchise," Bettman wrote in his letter.

"For the past 15 years, a succession of ownership groups and the League have tried everything imaginable to make the Glendale location financially sustainable. Our combined efforts all have yielded the same result a consistent economic loss."

Bettman then delivered the following sentence in bold type:

"The simple truth? The Arizona Coyotes must have a new arena location to succeed. The Coyotes cannot and will not remain in Glendale."

 

[BillsCarnage]

^ Unfortunately it's falling on deaf ears Bettman. Might as well call in the moving vans.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Haven't been to a Coyotes game in years. Is the arena consistently empty or do people actually show up?

 

[TJ]

Congrats to Seattle on its new NHL team.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

They should just run a charter school or a private prison in the offseason. The legislature would give them all the money they want.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Yuma]

Attach an armory to the stadium, maybe some troop barracks on site, and apply to the Trump administration for some of those defense bucks to revitalize our military!

 

[puckhead]

 

[SunCityCarl]

Well this just continues to be a cluster, which still reverts back to Steve Ellman, Jerry Moyes, Wayne Gretzky, the NHL & now Tony LeBlanc. I remember when all this started, remember the picture of Steve Ellman sitting in the crane & with a wrecking ball knocking a wall down at the old Los Arcos Mall? How about the Wayne Gretzky presser? Now were here, I still lay this at the feet of the prior Glendale City Council & yes I've heard Global is running the arena for 1/3 of the price of LeBlanc's team. But on the other side of it this franchise has been atrocious (See 1988-2006 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals) now on their 7th losing season & likely 4th last place in the Pacific finish since moving to Glendale, their best seasons during the NHL ownership. I don't think there's a chance in hell they stay in Glendale longer than a season or two & if anyone believes Robert Sarver is going to give up anything to keep a wobegone NHL franchise in the desert I think it's another ice cube in hell scenario. I'd like to see them stay in their current digs as even though they were terrible they averaged 15K in the building until 2006-2007 season. Sadly with the constant lack of a decent NHL product, this or any ownership group has not been able to turn a profit. Outside of downtown Phoenix or back to Glendale, this franchise is likely on the move & Mr. Bettman can kiss my backside as Glendale was "good enough" 3 years ago & now isn't?? Most major sports commisioners are tools!

 

[Scott MS]

I think the real issue here is that most teams in the NHL are losing money (Forbes report said all but 3 teams lost money in 2012). There just aren't any deep pocket owners here in Phoenix who want to buy and invest in sports teams.

I'd argue that Suns, D-Backs, and Coyotes fall in this category (Cards are exempt due to NFL revenue sharing -- all NFL teams are very profitable). The Yotes, D-Backs, and Suns all operate on a budget with little chance to ever win a title.

The Coyotes are valued at $150M, yet the Vegas Golden Knights paid $500M to enter the league and Bill Foley paid 85% of that! One guy! Why wouldn't he just buy another team and move them?

Ice Arizona bought the Coyotes super cheap. They'll stick it out knowing that one day they will sell and make a profit. It's just too bad we don't have a Paul Allen or Bill Foley or Mike Ilitch here to buy our teams and invest all his extra money to win titles!

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Maybe Chandler Jones could buy them.

 

[Bert]

Haven't been to a Coyotes game in years. Is the arena consistently empty or do people actually show up?

Actually yes people show up, the Coyotes have a really passionate fanbase that keeps the arena atleast half full most of the times. I am always careful when criticizing the fanbase because the people who do go to Yotes games are super passionate, knowledgeable hockey fans. I'm always impressed. It's not a huge fanbase, but there are some really great hockey fans here in the valley. It's just a location thing. Their previous stadium wasn't built for hockey and the entire upper deck was basically restricted viewing, now their new arena is, well I'll get to that.


It also sucks because I really like their current arena. I think it is totally charming and homey, it's a really good hockey arena, it's just in bumblefart Glendale and people aren't going to fight 2 hours of rush hour traffic a few nights every month to see a losing team.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Actually yes people show up, the Coyotes have a really passionate fanbase that keeps the arena atleast half full most of the times. I am always careful when criticizing the fanbase because the people who do go to Yotes games are super passionate, knowledgeable hockey fans. I'm always impressed. It's not a huge fanbase, but there are some really great hockey fans here in the valley. It's just a location thing. Their previous stadium wasn't built for hockey and the entire upper deck was basically restricted viewing, now their new arena is, well I'll get to that.

Yup. And outside of AZ, no one see's that unfortunately. AZ has a good hockey history going all the way up to Prescott valley.
Anytime i get into a Coyotes discussion with someone who doesn't think we deserve a team, my final reply is... "Only real hockey fans wear their sweaters when it's 110 outside." Drop the mic and walk away.

It also sucks because I really like their current arena. I think it is totally charming and homey, it's a really good hockey arena, it's just in bumblefart Glendale and people aren't going to fight 2 hours of rush hour traffic a few nights every month to see a losing team.

It's always been about the arena location. Even supporting a bad team would be more tolerable if the arena were more centralized or in an area with more disposable income. Putting it in Glendale pretty much cut off the casual or walk-up fans east of Central during the week.

 

[chickenhead]

I've maybe mentioned this before, but I have a lot of sympathy for Coyotes fans having lived in Montreal for the latter days of the Expos, when what had in fact been a great baseball city was reduced to a small but insanely passionate following. Those 9000 fans had way more heart than the corporate and bandwagon fans of a lot of other clubs. Meanwhile the media and a lot of other teams' fans played a constant drumbeat of "they didn't support the team" with zero understanding of what had actually happened there.

The premier of Quebec at the time said "When we're closing hospitals, I'm not sure we should be opening stadiums." I've never heard a convincing rebuttal to that. He also noted that the province was still paying for the white elephant that was Olympic Stadium - something that got a lot of people rich through cronyism. Sound familiar?

In short, I hate the thought of fans losing a team – and Sarver's rumblings for new digs make me especially nervous – but I will never fault any community that refuses to subsidize new buildings. In fact I'll applaud them. There are other choices. The Expos departure helped a renaissance for the CFL Alouettes and made room in the market for a successful MLS team.