It has been 18 years and 49 days since the city’s pledge to build the West Branch Library.
The City of Glendale received 3 bids to manage its arena. The bids were from AEG Facilities, Comcast Spectacor and SMG. All are extremely reputable, large national companies, experienced in operating venues throughout the country. After senior management reviewed all 3 bids it recommended AEG to the city council. All of the discussion with council was done in executive session and the public is not privy to those discussions. On January 2, 2016 in its executive session council approved AEG and directed staff to negotiate a final contract over the next 60 days.
It is a very positive development. AEG can add another premier venue to its portfolio that is sure to benefit Glendale when AEG negotiates packages of venues with performers. It had previous experience operating the Gila River Arena from 2006 – 2009 and during that period it acquired some major performers: one that comes to mind is Bruce Springstein. It manages over 120 facilities worldwide and the majority is located in the United States.
What does that mean for the Coyotes? I, and many others, remain hopeful that AEG and IceArizona can negotiate a deal that benefits both. That still is the best option for all parties: the city, IceArizona and AEG. Anthony LeBlanc, an owner of IceArizona and its spokesperson, continues to play poker when discussing the situation with such recent comments as, “The good news is that all of the discussions we have had have been pretty open as have other organizations — be it the city of Phoenix or Tempe or Arizona State. Everybody has been pretty open that we have had discussions with and they have all been positive (www.arizonasports.com, Rodney Haas).” If this is his attempt to raise the ante with Glendale or AEG it doesn’t seem to be working. One has only to look back upon his previous history of blustery statements that were found to be less than forthcoming.
If the Coyotes are serious about moving there are still major hurdles to overcome. A new facility would not be available for at least 3 years. No matter whether is it Phoenix, Tempe or Timbuktu, pesky voters will have to be swayed to support the construction of yet another sports venue. Voters are becoming more discerning and will question the value of diverting precious tax revenue away from community needs and to another subsidized sports facility. In today’s day and age, it is not an easy sell as it once was.
Then there is the issue of location…location…location. Larry Feiner, a Coyotes fan, recently tweeted the results of an informal poll he did about the difficulty of the commute. His responses were split right down the middle, 50/50. Those fans who live in the east valley consider the commute to Glendale a hassle. Those fans who live in the west valley consider the commute to the east valley a hassle. The question for the Coyotes is will the ticket holders they pick up from the east valley offset the losses of west valley fans? All of the good will created among west valley fans could be lost. That is a question only the Coyotes will be able to answer. For the past 10 years the Coyotes have had a home in the west valley and it has served them and their fans well. It is a wonderful facility build exclusively for hockey. It is not to be dismissed lightly in a pique of anger because the city is no longer subsidizing losses to the tune of $15 million dollars a year.
I remain positive and believe that a successful accommodation can be achieved between all parties. Can the Coyotes?
©Joyce Clark,2016
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Just an FYI. A building can be built at ASU with no vote needed or tax payer money needed. If you check, they set up a tax district to fund the $250M rennovation of the football stadium. That district is slated to have massive commercial growth in the next few years. A possible 3rd party in that potential deal is USA Basketball. Thats how they will fund a new arena.
From what many have heard however, a deal in with Phx will be announced in the next 2-3 months. I dont think the Coyotes are trying to play anyone. Its clear financially the team would be better off in a more central valley location.
Either way, ASU is going to build a new arena. The reality is Phx will also get one done some how. Selling the hotel was a key part of that.
ASU and Phx can be sure of filling nights in their buildings. I am not sure what is left for AEG to put in Glendale. Siute sales will be gone. Arena fees will be gone. Those things dont happen without an anchor tenant.
If I was Glendale, I would be kissing the Coyotes rear end. Do you think AEG will replace the 600K people and their money spent at Westgate when the Coyotes leave?
Im a STH who believes the Coyotes should leave Arizona.
It is an insult to the team to watch bandwagon fans who live here, scream and yell against the YOTES and come to only one or two games a year.
They may have lived in some other city 5000000 years ago, but there is some sort of psychosis about rooting for other teams at the expense of the city these fans currently reside in.
Their kids go to school here, they fed their families from jobs they have …here and yet for giggles, love to eat the gear of other teams and scream against the team representing the city they currently live in.
Attendance matters in one sport only…hockey.
it’s a statistic that gets ATTENTION.
The bandwagon fans of Phoenix Arizona are the reason all these problems arose.
I don’t think anything will change wherever they go.
It’s time and about time, to say farewell.
I say this with great pain, because the Yotes are my favorite activity/team in the valley.
I feel badly for them night after night.
Some facts. Only 38% of those living in Arizona were born here. A large number of that % are kids, teen agers or college students.
If it was not for Glendale, the Coyotes would be in Portland. Having said that the largest group of STH was/is from the East Valley. Other issues in Glendale is non “on ice” revenue. The amount of business, suite and advertising revenue in Glendale and the West Valley is far short of what it would be in central Phx or the East Valley.
The Yotes didnt leave Phx because of attendance issues or even the large number of sight imparred seats. They left because Colangelo would not share the suit and advertising revenue.
Fast forward to now. Glendale has a great arena. I love the Westgate area. Nothing like it in the valley. However there has been to much damage. A lack of trust between the Coyotes and Glendale. Frankly after all is said in done, there is plenty of blame to go around on both sides.
The reality of now is that the Coyotes will thrive with a move to either Phx or Tempe. Glendale and the West Valley are still a few years away from being able to support a anchor tenant in the arena. The revenue sources are soooo much greaater in the other locations. The access is so much better. The team will thrive in thise areas.
Glendale had the right idea when they built the arena. They got duped by the developer. They then got duped by an owner that had no business running a hockey team. The sad part of all this is that if the current Coyotee owners had the team in the beggining, we would not be having this discusssion. Even if a couple of the failed bidders owned the team all would be well.
The past cant be undone. Its time for both parties to part ways and seek what is best for them. Both can now find out if they can survive without each other.