Good evening and thanks for joining us.
I'll be honest with you,
I thought we would be talking about a
resounding win for those who wen
favor of the new entertainment district
in arena for the Coyotes on this large
parcel of landfill on Tempe Town Lake
we've been talking so much abou.
Instead, tonight we find oursels
asking the question,
what now after Tempe voters
overwhelmingly rejected the proposal?
Essentially leaving the Coyotes
with very few or no options when
it comes to staying here longte.
So in five to 10 years,
will this look like a great mov,
rejecting the project?
Or will this be remembered as
a missed opportunity as a toxic
landfill continues to sit empty,
generating nothing for the city?
We have team coverage as we take
a deep dive into this issue.
We begin with Chase Go Lightly,
who has reactions to the loud
and clear statement delivered
by Tempe voters last night?
Chase joins us live from what wd
have been the site of the arena.
And Chase, why did it ultimately fail?
Well, Mark, from voters we spoke with
yesterday at the polls to voters today,
there really were a variety of reasons.
What we heard a lot was many
people thought this deal was
really just too good to be true.
They also said they didn't like the tax
breaks that the development group for
this project would receive from the city.
Now, while the majority of voters did
vote to keep this landfill a landfill.
They told us today they still wt
to see some sort of transformatn
with these 46 acres.
It would have brought jobs, hom,
a hockey arena and the
Arizona Coyotes to Tempe.
But the majority of voters decid
Tuesday night that wasn't going to happen.
We thought it would be close.
It wasn't close.
Former City Council member Lauren Kooby,
who was against the Tempe
entertainment district being
built on these 46 acres off of o
Salado Parkway and Priest Drive.
Admits the 12 point difference
that led to all three propositis
failing was a surprise I think s
a combination of the the Merella
groups history combined with the fact
that subsidies for sports arenas
are just not popular anymore. Ss
talking about the Coyotes
history in Glendale,
where for years they and the ciy
actually lost money while playing there.
There's also the huge tax breake
Coyotes development arm would get from Tempe.
Don Pennich Thacker with Tempe First,
who campaigned against the proj,
believes it also came down to voters.
Not trusting what was being put on the table,
including the promise Tempe
taxpayers would not have to paya
cent for this massive undertaki.
I think that some of the
promises seemed a little too far
fetched and too good to believe.
So what's going to happen with this land?
Tempe Mayor Corey Woods told us
over the phone the city is now
going back to the drawing board
and try to figure out exactly wt
another project might be that
would work well for that 46 acr.
Penage Thacker brought up a few ideas,
nature preserves and, you know,
our own Central Park to people r
on the opposite, saying let's he
some really innovative developm.
As long as Tempe residents are
involved in that conversation,
we need to look at all options,
put all options on the table,
which is frankly. What we should
have done in the 1st place
now, the mayor said. Those
conversations about the future of this
land will involve the public and
the City Council anticipates the
conversations will start this fall. Chase,
we know that some Tempe leadersd
the coyote said last night thaty
were disappointed by what happe.
What are they saying today?
Well, Mark, I did reach out to a
spokesperson for Javier Gutierr.
He's the President and CEO
of the Coyotes organization.
They said he's not doing
any interviews today.
However, we did see a statementt
was sent out to fans saying that they
really do want to stay here in Arizona.
In fact, in that statement,
Gutierrez said that they're reag
out to other organizations here
in the Valley and trying to make
some sort of connection to see
if there are other sites here.
As first city leadership yester,
before polls closed,
they sent out a press release
saying they were going to hold a
press conference this afternoon.
Win or lose,
they were going to discuss about
what's going to happen next.
However,
just hours before that press
conference was set to start,
they canceled it.
We're live in Tempe right now.
Chase Kolitely,
12 News.
All
right, Chase, thanks.
In the end, as it should be,
the decision on the project was
left in the hands of the voters.
Now, keep in mind there were a lot of
voices in the mix leading up to the vote,
primarily Phoenix,
which did not want the project.
Today we asked Tempe voters
about the outcome.
I kind of wish it did in a small way,
solely because entertainment suh
a huge district here in Tempe,
you know that's like 90% of the reason
that people come here in the 1st place.
It would have brought more jobs.
It also would have helped
with our tax issue here.
But for say it's crowded,
we're packed, we had no more sp.
My building is right next to the landfill.
It would be a lot nicer and brig
a lot more I think revenue to.
On the city of Tempe,
I was torn before I voted.
I could see both sides.
I thought that that had a lot tt
it could bring to our community.
But then I thought there's possibly a lot
that could destroy our small Tempe community.
Be a real loss.
I'm a Coyotes fan myself,
so I'd hate to see him go.
I don't imagine they'll stay in Arizona now.
I think they'll probably move o.
And really, when you think of ie
hockey in Arizona, what do you think?
Right.
It's not usually a place you thk
where ice hockey would be succel
now, if you're someone who likes
to place a bet now and then,
smart money says.
Now that this has been shot dow,
the Coyotes are on their way ou.
Not next year. We know they're
going to play at Mullet next ye,
but within the foreseeable futu.
As to where some of the city's already
being mentioned include Houston,
Kansas City, Quebec City or Atl.
Continue our coverage with Team
12's Cameron Cox With more on
the future of the Coyotes Cam
Mark throwing out those names,
the Internet's already storming.
It's going to be a crazy place
as the rumor mill runs wild.
Are the Coyotes leaving Arizona?
The latest is the team does not know yet.
They're trying to find a Plan Bo
stay put in the Valley in Arizo,
but in the meantime we know exactly where
they're playing next season. Mut
Arena will be their home.
As to what happens after that, who knows.
The Coyotes had a winning
record there last year.
They have a potentially a three
years left on that deal with Mu,
a deal that was originally signd
with hopes of moving down the st
to that brand new Tempe arena.
Now that's not going to happen.
Staying at the Mullet.
Long term is not an option
because they won't make any mon.
Right now.
The team is searching for that Plan B.
The interest
is moving quickly online.
Howdy, Houston.
Look at that Just doesn't look right.
Like Houston. Atlanta,
Quebec City, Salt Lake City,
all looking for an NHL team.
Also add Kansas
City to that list.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick
Mahomes just tweeting this KC
Coyotes has a nice ring to it.
NHL What's y'all thinking?
But Mahomes says in that city
usually happens. KC, by the way,
did have an NHL team back in the 70s.
They are currently the New Jersy
Devils options here in Arizona.
Do they go crawling back to Glendale?
That's a very slim chance.
Both sides have moved
on after the yokes left.
There was also plans to renovatl
the hockey out of Gila River Ar.
What about the old home of Phoex
rising on the reservation acrose
street from Tempe Town Marketpl?
Remember in 2016,
former mayor Greg Stanton wanteo
build a Suns Mercury and Coyotes
arena in downtown on the old
side of the Convention Center.
What about the old Fiesta Mall in Mesa?
It's been closed since 2018.
Do they call Suns owner Matt Ishby to
see about playing in downtown a?
The footprint center would have
to be renovated to fix all those
terrible sight lines.
Also,
I just don't see the Suns lininp
to share any money with the Coy.
Bottom line fans.
I just want to see them stay he.
We've shot ourselves in the foot a lot.
However, there's also this
like outside thing of like,
it just seems to always somethig
always comes up over the
next hill and you're like,
how did that happen? You know, n
I grew up here, you know,
as a kid there was no coyotes he
and there was no
opportunity for me to learn how to skate or
learn how to play the game and.
Now it just exploded in the
last few years and you know,
the potential of them leaving is
it's going to have a ripple eff.
It's going to last a long time.
Mark, I have a couple of things
when I think of this vote.
Number one, I really wonder
what that plot of land is going
to look like in 5 to 10 years.
You just wonder if anything's ever going
to be done with it to this magnitude.
And #2, I think this message was pretty
clear to the Coyotes that communities
just don't trust them after alle
years of bad owners and bad decisions.
Even when Alex Murillo took oved
the bills that weren't paid rigt
away out there at Gila River Ar,
it just seems like there's too much bad
to overcome and who knows what they can
work out to stay here in the va.
Yeah, there's a lot of
culpability to go around.
Let me ask you one question
before you go, Cam.
In the end, if they leave,
did we fail them or did they fail us,
Mark, I think at the end.
Years and years of the
Coyotes failed this city.
If they would have cleaned up some of
those bad owners and bad decisi,
you wouldn't be looking at this.
Also to not to move to Glendale in the
beginning just to seem like the wrong move.
They could have moved to Scotts.
So many better moves.
Staying in downtown Phoenix,
it seemed like the Coyotes faild
this city over and over again
when they had chances to make
it right and just never did.
Multiple owners did.
It's not just blame on one pers.
Multiple owners had all hands in this,
in failing this city.
All right, Cam, thanks.
Well, they were always pros and
cons to this project. The pros.
It would have been privately fu,
so no tax implications for residents.
Yes, the Coyotes would get masse
tax breaks, but that land rightw
is generating nothing for the c.
In fact, at some point someone is going
to have to pay to clean up that landfill,
and it won't be cheap.
Also, there's no denying that this has been,
as Cam mentioned,
a very troubled franchise,
with the exception of the first few years in
the Valley when they were wildly successful.
And Speaking of success, think about this.
Had they been more successful on the ice,
maybe the project would have
passed with flying colors.
But when a team is constantly ia
rebuilding mode and can't pay its bills,
you can understand how people
might be hesitant.
To sign on.
Even though this did seem to
be a good deal in the end,
it bothers me that cities like Nashville,
Las Vegas and Columbus,
OH can support hockey and
we either can't or won't.
As we take deeper dives on
topics on 12 News at Six,
we want you to be a part
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