Log in

Opinion

Pies: Tempe’s leaders must reject ‘Yotes $291M development plan

Posted

The decision on whether the Tempe City Council should accept the proposal from the Arizona Coyotes goes well beyond the opposition from the Phoenix Airport opposition.

Although, that in itself should kill the project.

The Coyotes organization may be the worst in professional sports. After a decades long fiasco in Glendale, costing the taxpayers millions of dollars, the ownership decided to move the franchise to Tempe. Their project could cost Tempe taxpayers $291 million.

The project is proposed by the billionaire owner with many promises of what good it will do for the economy of our community. If the proposal is that good, one asks why do they need any taxpayer assistance.

Supposedly, they claim that their fan base is located on the east side, far away from the Glendale arena that was built for them. One only needs to look at the success of the Arizona Cardinals, who moved from Tempe to Glendale. The fact is that, success brings loyal fans.

The Cardinals have been successful at the gate because they put a quality product on the field. They have not won a Super Bowl. But, they draw thousands every single game.

The fact that ownership wants gambling attached to the project is telling. Perhaps, they are more interested in gambling than a winning hockey team.

I have been a resident of Tempe, a student at Arizona State and an administrator with the city of Tempe, since 1961. I have been involved in negotiations with professional sports franchises and studied the pros and cons of taxpayer subsidized sports. I have never seen a proposal as bad as this one.

It is time for the Tempe City Council to say no to the Arizona Coyotes. The Tempe Taxpayers demand it.