The Arizona Republic had an article on this today by Paola Boivin. Here's an excerpt:
A key is the finalization of a new arena deal. The organization is deep in talks with Arizona State about the land at Karsten Golf Course which would house a joint facility. ASU -- which launched a Division I hockey program last season -- will not comment and the Coyotes, out of respect for ASU, have been quiet, other than president and CEO Anthony LeBlanc’s proclamation at the team’s kickoff luncheon last month that he would have information soon.
A new facility in Tempe would be an important boost for the organization. The location is better, near the intersection of the 101 and 202 freeways, and accessible by light rail
Full article link
We talked last year about this possibility, and we mentioned that the reason it didn't get much push then was the fact that Coyotes wanted ASU to share more of the financial burden than the school was comfortable with. Then reports came out that the Scottsdale Drive-in which is owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Native American Tribe was going to house the new arena with the Casino revenues funding that project. So now this new arena location has come full circle and projected to be built on ASU's land.
It's important to point out that this new arena will likely not house ASU basketball because of overlapping schedules which make it hard to share coveted weekend dates. So the renovation of Wells Fargo Arena and/or possibly a new basketball arena being built, are very much on the table regardless if this hockey arena project comes through or not.
A key is the finalization of a new arena deal. The organization is deep in talks with Arizona State about the land at Karsten Golf Course which would house a joint facility. ASU -- which launched a Division I hockey program last season -- will not comment and the Coyotes, out of respect for ASU, have been quiet, other than president and CEO Anthony LeBlanc’s proclamation at the team’s kickoff luncheon last month that he would have information soon.
A new facility in Tempe would be an important boost for the organization. The location is better, near the intersection of the 101 and 202 freeways, and accessible by light rail
Full article link
We talked last year about this possibility, and we mentioned that the reason it didn't get much push then was the fact that Coyotes wanted ASU to share more of the financial burden than the school was comfortable with. Then reports came out that the Scottsdale Drive-in which is owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Native American Tribe was going to house the new arena with the Casino revenues funding that project. So now this new arena location has come full circle and projected to be built on ASU's land.
It's important to point out that this new arena will likely not house ASU basketball because of overlapping schedules which make it hard to share coveted weekend dates. So the renovation of Wells Fargo Arena and/or possibly a new basketball arena being built, are very much on the table regardless if this hockey arena project comes through or not.
