CXLVIII - NHL BOG approves sale and relocation of Coyotes to Ryan Smith, league announces establishment of franchise in Utah

[Fenway]

The Arizona State Land Department set the auction for June 27 in a legal notice published Thursday. The starting bid is $68.5 million.





​

06/27/2024 11:00 AM

53-124365

Land Sale

T4N, R4E, Sec 27 Maricopa County

110.06

$68,500,000.00

Auction Notice Flyer Phase 1 ALTA City of Phoenix Infrastructure Letter

This really is the end of the saga



​

Click to read more...

 

[LT]

I'm assuming it's also just a coincidence the auction results will be known just before the draft, too. Gonna make for an interesting month.

This new talk of relocation from the Coyotes themselves has to be concerning, though, and suggests this is something the league (and now the team) is already prepared for.

The comparative silence from Houston, despite the fact that there is now: 1) a willing and able owner, 2) an NHL-caliber stadium suited for hockey (recently renovated to re-add an ice sheet), and 3) an immediately lucrative TV deal available; makes me wonder if there's some kind of under-the-table back-up plan already in place. SLC and Atlanta have been much more vocal about wanting a team despite not having as ideal of a situation as Houston.

The renovations to Toyota Center are especially interesting. I cannot imagine they would've just dropped several million on an ice-maker without some inkling of an idea that they'd actually use it regularly in the near future.

This is all speculation on my part. I do have to admit bias for wanting Houston to get a team (I grew up here and just moved back to the city last month), but I'd obviously prefer that not to happen at the expense of another fanbase's team. Losing the Aeros in 2013 was a gut punch and I wouldn't wish that on any other fanbase.

 

[TheLegend]

@LT … the state set the date. That was all under their control.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

No matter what happens, I'm expecting this to still drag out and not be the final topic.

 

[hangman005]

No matter what happens, I'm expecting this to still drag out and not be the final topic.

Even if the complete the auction, build the arena, everything goes perfect, the win 5 Stanley Cups in a row, I think we still have to have an open Coyotes megathread.... these threads are like 90% of the loadbearing structure for the site

 

[TheLegend]

[re-upping this post from last thread.]



Here are all the notices attached to the auction.

Auction Notice (PDF,10 pages) - Contains all the details of the auction including qualifications, and requirements.

https://land.az.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/53-124365 notice.pdf

Auction Flyer (PDF, 1 page)

https://land.az.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/53-124365_flyer.pdf

Phase 1 ESA (PDF, 325 pages) (Note: Looks like same as the original 200 acre study)

https://land.az.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/53-124365 phase1.pdf

ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey (PDF, 6 pages)

https://land.az.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/53-124365 alta.pdf

City of Phoenix Infrastructure Letter (PDF, 10 pages)

https://land.az.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/53-124365 City of Phoenix Infrastructure Letter.pdf

 

[Tom ServoMST3K]

No matter what happens, I'm expecting this to still drag out and not be the final topic.

Obviously.

I actually expect the Coyotes to win the auction, and then fall at a later, sillier hurdle.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Obviously.

I actually expect the Coyotes to win the auction, and then fall at a later, sillier hurdle.

Yeah, watch 'em win, but then they start building literally everything else before the slated arena.

 

[TheLegend]

Obviously.

I actually expect the Coyotes to win the auction, and then fall at a later, sillier hurdle.

That would fit the profile.

 

[ponder719]

Yeah, watch 'em win, but then they start building literally everything else before the slated arena.

Instructions unclear: accidentally built arena in Phoenix, Oregon.

 

[mouser]

So what're the odds that they put in a low-ball offer compared to some random real estate developer, goes all shucks, and tries to blame that sap?

It's an open bidding auction, not a sealed bid auction.

 

[Llama19]

[re-upping post from previous thread]

Arizona Coyotes 'fully committed' to winning June state land auction, building new arena

To quote:

"A roughly 100-acre rectangle of desert land in north Phoenix will be auctioned for sale on June 27, and the president of the Arizona Coyotes says the team’s owner is “fully committed to being the winning bidder.”

Even if they are the highest bidder, the Coyotes will have to clear other hurdles before breaking ground.

Those include reconciling with Phoenix whether an arena is allowed on the property under its current zoning. Team leadership is also likely to seek a special taxing arrangement to help finance construction.

Zoning and tax issues to come

One issue to be resolved is whether Meruelo’s planned development is allowed on the land under current zoning.

But arenas are not specifically allowed under the current zoning, according to Dan Wilson, spokesperson for the city. That means the property owner could argue an arena is allowed and seek an evaluation of the current zoning designation, or possibly need to rezone, according to Wilson.

But the team will likely ask Phoenix and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors for help in a way that could come at a cost to Arizonans who go to games or shop at the proposed development.

Meruelo would need those governments to create a special taxing district for the project, called a theme park district, which would establish a board that can issue tax-free bonds to finance construction.

The bonds are often repaid by revenue from an additional tax of up to 9% charged on transactions within the development."

Source: www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2024/04/04/arizona-coyotes-commit-to-winning-june-state-land-auction-for-new-arena/73184176007/

 

[GindyDraws]

Why does that tweet look like the interior of a casino?

 

[mouser]

Why does that tweet look like the interior of a casino?

It's the roofed entertainment district connected to the arena they're proposing.

 

[Tom ServoMST3K]

[re-upping post from previous thread]

One issue to be resolved is whether Meruelo’s planned development is allowed on the land under current zoning.

Source: www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2024/04/04/arizona-coyotes-commit-to-winning-june-state-land-auction-for-new-arena/73184176007/

I'm confused, in reading @TheLegend 's resources up in the thread, it seemed really clear that the parcel is 100 per cent going to need to be re-zoned, as it is currently Ranch/Farm Residence. But this article is acting like that's a question that's still up in the air.

I'm pretty sure you're not allowed an entertainment/arena district in Farmland, lol.

Unless the city spokesperson is implying that they'd allow that if the coyotes requested it without a re-zone? That seems weird.

Are we back to the era where the mega-thread is doing circles around everyone else covering this saga?

(PS that letter was great to read, thanks Legend)

My (very) cursory opinion based on covering small-town and small-city councils is that there's no major hurdles that shouldn't be easily overcome if the ownership group has the cash to support water main expansion.

If they ask the city to take on that burden, then we might get some problems, and now we're getting into water issues in Phoenix/Arizona, which can't be simple to untangle.

 

[TheLegend]

I'm confused, in reading @TheLegend 's resources up in the thread, it seemed really clear that the parcel is 100 per cent going to need to be re-zoned, as it is currently Ranch/Farm Residence. But this article is acting like that's a question that's still up in the air.

I'm pretty sure you're not allowed an entertainment/arena district in Farmland, lol.

Unless the city spokesperson is implying that they'd allow that if the coyotes requested it without a re-zone? That seems weird.

Are we back to the era where the mega-thread is doing circles around everyone else covering this saga?

(PS that letter was great to read, thanks Legend)

My (very) cursory opinion based on covering small-town and small-city councils is that there's no major hurdles that shouldn't be easily overcome if the ownership group has the cash to support water main expansion.

If they ask the city to take on that burden, then we might get some problems, and now we're getting into water issues in Phoenix/Arizona, which can't be simple to untangle.

I’ve looked a couple of zoning maps from Phoenix and I interpreted it has having dual zoning. Both commercial and mixed use.

ie: It can go either way.

Gutierrez said in a Q&A with Craig Morgan that the zoning is the same as for another ice arena project that’s currently incomplete and on hold in another part of North Phoenix.

Half-Built Sports Arena And Hotel Now Under New Ownership – Valley Vibe

valleyvibenews.com

 

[TheLegend]

Gutierrez Q&A is here…. not paywalled.

Coyotes arena primer: 95 acres, an auction and a plan

The Arizona State Land Department has officially posted for auction a 95-acre parcel of land (110 gross acres) in northeast Phoenix which the Coyotes hope to

gophnx.com

 

[Major4Boarding]

Even if the complete the auction, build the arena, everything goes perfect, the win 5 Stanley Cups in a row, I think we still have to have an open Coyotes megathread.... these threads are like 90% of the loadbearing structure for the site

I approve this message

 

[JimAnchower]

Gutierrez Q&A is here…. not paywalled.

Coyotes arena primer: 95 acres, an auction and a plan

The Arizona State Land Department has officially posted for auction a 95-acre parcel of land (110 gross acres) in northeast Phoenix which the Coyotes hope to

gophnx.com

For those wondering if other bidders will come in:

According to public records research conducted recently, since 2017, there have been 117 Arizona land auctions and of those, only 26 (22 percent) have involved multiple bids.

 

[Tom ServoMST3K]

Gutierrez Q&A is here…. not paywalled.

Coyotes arena primer: 95 acres, an auction and a plan

The Arizona State Land Department has officially posted for auction a 95-acre parcel of land (110 gross acres) in northeast Phoenix which the Coyotes hope to

gophnx.com

Okay, so I knew it would be an auction, but I didn't know it would be like, an actual auction, lol

"This will be a live and open, verbal auction, conducted by an auctioneer with bidders holding up paddles, much like you see at a livestock auction. The auction is open to the public and media and will be held at the Arizona State Land Department, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix."

This also stood out to me:

If you win the bid, do you foresee any potential roadblocks from unions, watchdog groups, citizen groups, etc.?

Gutierrez: “Anybody can always sue you for anything..."

I found it very strange he would go immediately to legal threats there, considering the history of the franchise. I wonder if he's heard rumblings of something, or maybe that airport-related lawsuit was more of an issue than I thought it would be.

 

[TheLegend]

Okay, so I knew it would be an auction, but I didn't know it would be like, an actual auction, lol

"This will be a live and open, verbal auction, conducted by an auctioneer with bidders holding up paddles, much like you see at a livestock auction. The auction is open to the public and media and will be held at the Arizona State Land Department, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix."

This also stood out to me:

If you win the bid, do you foresee any potential roadblocks from unions, watchdog groups, citizen groups, etc.?

Gutierrez: “Anybody can always sue you for anything..."

I found it very strange he would go immediately to legal threats there, considering the history of the franchise. I wonder if he's heard rumblings of something, or maybe that airport-related lawsuit was more of an issue than I thought it would be.

Airports won’t be an issue. They aren’t in any flight paths and since this site is in Phoenix I doubt Sky Harbor’s going to complain.

In fact they can build towers up to 50 feet higher there than they could in Tempe.

That said…. There’s always a chance of a lawsuit. Unions don’t have much ground to stand on in Arizona since it’s a right to work state. Meruelo did have support for TED from 3-4 locals in the state and he’ll probably utilize union labor with this project. Just won’t be a closed shop site.

But I think Gutierrez is just saying you can’t rule it out that someone could try to disrupt things.

The phase “never say never” sorta plays into this.

 

[Tom ServoMST3K]

Airports won’t be an issue. They aren’t in any flight paths and since this site is in Phoenix I doubt Sky Harbor’s going to complain.

In fact they can build towers up to 50 feet higher there than they could in Tempe.

That said…. There’s always a chance of a lawsuit. Unions don’t have much ground to stand on in Arizona since it’s a right to work state. Meruelo did have support for TED from 3-4 locals in the state and he’ll probably utilize union labor with this project. Just won’t be a closed shop site.

But I think Gutierrez is just saying you can’t rule it out that someone could try to disrupt things.

The phase “never say never” sorta plays into this.

For me when I read "Do you think of any potential roadblocks to this project?" I really don't understand why Gutierrez leapt to lawsuits in the first sentence of his answer, so I'm trying to guess at the reason why.

I'd think of referendum losses, not paying your taxes and others meeting with city councils to undermine your questionable plans to take a direct subsidy.

I didn't think the airport lawsuit would impact this deal at all, but I'm guessing it might have been a reason he had lawsuits on the mind. The more dangerous guess is he's hearing something could be coming down the tracks at them.

 

[Coyotedroppings]

The "amusement park legislation" is of concern, I wonder if Mereulo is depending on it.

 

[GKJ]

For me when I read "Do you think of any potential roadblocks to this project?" I really don't understand why Gutierrez leapt to lawsuits in the first sentence of his answer, so I'm trying to guess at the reason why.

I'd think of referendum losses, not paying your taxes and others meeting with city councils to undermine your questionable plans to take a direct subsidy.

I didn't think the airport lawsuit would impact this deal at all, but I'm guessing it might have been a reason he had lawsuits on the mind. The more dangerous guess is he's hearing something could be coming down the tracks at them.

If there’s another bidder who will be serious, I would think someone would find that out. But until that happens, it seems to me the only thing standing in the way is whether or not the city thinks the money is actually there based on what’s happened before.

 

[archangel2]

interesting take in this video