The future of professional hockey in the Phoenix area is in doubt after voters rejected three ballot measures that would have allowed the construction of a new stadium for the NHL’s Coyotes in Tempe, Ariz.
The opposition to the plan was twofold. Some residents decried the portion of the deal that precluded the proposed arena from paying property taxes over the next 30 years, particularly because the overall plan did not include any affordable housing. The city of Phoenix also had filed a lawsuit against Tempe, claiming the proposal breached
between the two cities that prohibited housing from being built within the airport’s high-noise flight path.“a victory by Tempe for Tempe. This win goes to show that Tempe residents love our community, we know what’s best for it and we must be part of every conversation when it comes to our land, our tax dollars, and what we value as our city grows.”The election defeat leaves the Coyotes without a plan for a viable NHL-size arena in the Phoenix area.
The Coyotes have had a fraught history since relocating from Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1996. They first played their home games in Phoenix at what was then called America West Arena, the home of the NBA’s Suns, where a rink had to be shoehorned into a venue that was not built with ice hockey in mind. As a result, some seats hung over one end of the ice, and fans sitting in those sections could not see the goal directly below.
The move did not change the team’s sagging financial fortunes, and in 2009 the franchise declared bankruptcy and was purchased by the NHL. Since then, the franchise has cycled through ownership groups and has been a frequent subject of relocation rumors, mainly because of its arena situation.
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