City of Phoenix Suing to Halt the Arizona Coyotes Arena Project

Phoenix has filed a lawsuit over the housing component of the Tempe Entertainment District, which includes the Arizona Coyotes arena.

Another Hurdle For The Arizona Coyotes Arena Plan

“The Phoenix Aviation Department does not object to a sports arena, restaurants, shops and other compatible uses related to the proposed Tempe Entertainment District,” Chad Makovsky, Phoenix director of aviation services, said Tuesday, March, 28.

“Today’s action is about ensuring Tempe lives up to its commitments to protecting our state’s largest economic engine – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the more than 57,000 employees and 44 million annual travelers who depend on the airport, and the communities surrounding the airport who depend on the long-standing agreement between our two cities.”

The following video demonstrates why Arizona Coyotes fans have nothing to worry about in this suit filed by their neighboring city of Phoenix. You see, Phoenix spent quite a bit of money to remodel Footprint Center where the Phoenix Suns play NBA basketball.

Plenty of other events such as concerts and other entertainment attractions are booked there. IF the Tempe Entertainment District comes to fruition after a vote by Tempe citizens on May 16, the Footprint Center will have some competition to deal with… and lost revenue.

As many know, former Suns owner Robert Sarver was dead against having the Coyotes as a tenant in their building.

The Hockey Guy Explains Things About Arizona Coyotes Arena Project

The well-known Youtube contributor has a good perspective on why the suit filed by Phoenix against the Tempe Entertainment District just doesn’t make any sense. He points out that the site now has a landfill. And while it will cost to renovate the land, that is included in the expected expense of the $2.1 billion project.

It almost seems that the city of Phoenix is trying to bully Tempe and that it really doesn’t have anything to do with noise levels of aircraft from the airport. The 1994 agreement controlling sound levels between the two cities doesn’t take into account the fact that there are already 400 apartments near where the proposed new apartments are to be built.

To ensure the project works financially, Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo needs the apartments to generate revenue.

The other factors include that soundproofing materials are much better than back almost 30 years ago. Another point is that the aircraft are much more advanced and quieter than back then. The prospective tenants will still be required to sign an agreement that they will not bring a noise complaint lawsuit against Tempe.

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Will This Have Any Bearing on Tempe Vote?

It is quite possible that this is a last ditch effort by Phoenix to reject the Arizona Coyotes arena project. The positives for the hockey team is they have the full and enthusiastic support from Gary Bettman, the NHL Commissioner. It is way beyond about time that the Coyotes have a path to build a permanent home for the team.

Yet. there are skeptics who only think that the team is a joke, playing in a 4,600-seat college arena and should be relocated. THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!

There are also many who support the project and see it as a winning solution for the city as well as the Arizona Coyotes.

Former Mayor Hugh Hallman did not mince his words with how he felt about the City of Phoenix bullying the City of Tempe & his unwavering support for Props 301, 302 & 303. Tempe it’s time to take a stand and vote YES. Visit https://t.co/4rL5btbQDB! pic.twitter.com/j85SuhTCLy

— TempeWins (@Tempe_Wins) March 30, 2023

In Conclusion

The complaint filed by the Phoenix Aviation Department represents new heights of hypocrisy. While it is OK for Phoenix to build a baseball stadium, a basketball arena, and a soccer stadium in the flight path of  Sky Harbor Airport, somehow, it’s wrong when Tempe attempts to convert an old polluting landfill into a new sports and entertainment district. And there is no shortage of new residential development in and around Downtown Phoenix sports venues. Nor is there a shortage of residential units around the airport in Phoenix.

Is this really about Phoenix protecting a handful of apartment units in Tempe or is it really a matter of Phoenix protecting the interests of its downtown sports franchises at the expense of Tempe taxpayers who stand to gain many millions of dollars in revenues and benefits.

Unlike other stadium deals and developments in other cities including Phoenix, the Tempe proposal costs taxpayers nothing. 

Indeed, it results in hundreds of millions of dollars in net positive benefits for taxpayers. The ultimate question for Tempe voters is this: Do you stand with Phoenix hypocrisy or an incredible environmental and economic opportunity for Tempe?

At issue appears to be different interpretations of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the cities. Tempe believes that the residences, including their height, soundproofing and their built-in legal protection from lawsuits over noise are permitted. Phoenix disagrees.

At issue is a 1.2-square mile area of land adjacent to the airport in the City of Tempe which is exposed to noise levels exceeding 65-decibel day/night level (65 DNL). The Federal Aviation Administration recently re-affirmed [sic] the boundaries of this high noise area and confirmed that it is not compatible with housing. The cities of Phoenix and Tempe formally agreed back in 1994 that Phoenix would actively defend a modified flight path that follows the Salt River bottom in order to keep departing planes away from homes, while Tempe promised not to permit the development of homes under that modified flight path in the 65 DNL.

Arizona Coyotes insider Craig Morgan on GOPHNX.com at the 3:50 mark comments on the lawsuit and the Tempe Entertainment District.