SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega is telling the Arizona Coyotes that the team is not welcome to bring their proposed arena to the northern edge of Scottsdale.
The NHL team is eying a 95-acre parcel of state-owned land near Scottsdale Road and Loop 101 that sits within the Phoenix city limits. The minimum sale price for the land has been estimated to be $68.5 million.
In an editorial released Monday, Ortega said the proposed arena is not "feasible" and should stay far away from Scottsdale because the mayor will not support the endeavor.
"As it stands today, the fantasy hockey project must move west, away from Scottsdale," Ortega wrote.
The mayor highlights how there's no infrastructure west of Scottsdale Road in this area so he's demanding that any infrastructure must be pulled from Phoenix because Scottsdale has no available water assets to spare.
Last year, Tempe voters rejected a proposal that would have allowed the construction of a new entertainment district and Coyotes arena near Rio Salado Parkway and Priest Drive.
The Coyotes declined to comment on Mayor Ortega's opinion.
“Hopefully, they will stay here for sure," Chad Schatz said.
Fans who spoke with 12News are in favor of the Coyotes' proposed development.
“I’ve seen already what he wants to do-- phenomenal," Mark Swearingen said.
Businesses on the other side of Scottsdale Road are also hopeful for a new entertainment space.
“Construction might be a little rough in the beginning like everything is but I think eventually once everything gets built up, it’s only going to add extra opportunities around for other businesses," Jalapeno Inferno General Manager Brandon Willan said.
The Coyotes don't own the land just yet. They still need to win at auction in June. If successful, the team anticipates the arena would open in 2027.
The mayor's full statement can be read below:
Last week, the Arizona Coyotes developer team, rolled out the same fantasy renderings used in the Tempe mega arena and mixed-use site proposal, which was resoundingly defeated at the ballot box.
The proposed Phoenix version, bordering Scottsdale, was presented without mention of market demand for a new entertainment venue disguised as a hockey arena, or congested highway access, or questionable arena zoning entitlement. And the glitzy proposal was portrayed as the last gasp to keep hockey in Arizona.
The prospect of a rookie developer attempting to buy Arizona State Trust Land with absolutely no infrastructure on the Phoenix side of the 101/Scottsdale Road intersection at the doorstep of Scottsdale is not feasible, or welcome.
Why? The dream Coyote retail components sit too close to the retail lions of Scottsdale. The Greater Scottsdale Airpark area commercial giants have infrastructure and access in Scottsdale. The bare Arizona State Trust Land at the edge of Phoenix has no frontage roads and water and sewer lie miles away to the west. And as a condition of sale, the 100 acres of property must develop entirely the 64th Street off ramp for access.
As Scottsdale councilman in 2000 and now as mayor, I have seen the inside dealings when the Coyotes suddenly left Scottsdale in 2002, and recently as they vacated their former home ice in Glendale in 2022. The team is struggling at Arizona State University Mullet Arena, at less than 90% capacity. And coincidentally, there is a new measure at the 2024 Arizona Legislature which would permit surcharges, an on-site sales tax to boost viability for an arena such as the Coyotes organization now proposes.
In March, Arizona State Land Department officials met in my office, and I pointed out that all Scottsdale Road improvements from the 101 north are entirely in our city. There is zero infrastructure west of Scottsdale Road. I demanded that infrastructure for the proposed site, including water and sewer, be pulled from Phoenix assets along 56th Street to the west. Scottsdale Water assets are absolutely not available.
Furthermore, I have demanded that the 64th Street - AZ Loop 101 north exit be built out to serve the area, again to the west of Scottsdale Road. At our meeting, the Arizona State Land Department agreed that these requirements will be bundled with any successful bid for the property. I also met with the mayor of Phoenix who confirmed that all utilities must be extended from 56th Street.
I admire the hockey sport, Arizona Coyotes community involvement and phenomenal youth clubs at the Scottsdale Ice Den. But I along with City of Scottsdale staff will continue to monitor any actions that occur, and negative repercussions for Scottsdale. As it stands today, the fantasy hockey project must move west, away from Scottsdale.
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