I ask this knowing downtown Toronto is a total pain in the ass for traffic so gotta figure downtown Phoenix is the same (around Talking Stick, for example).
I can attest to this, living 2 hours away from Toronto - but when I went to see the Coyotes play there this past season, I'd leave my place around 3pm for a 7pm game start....takes about an hour and a half to reach the 'border' of the GTA, and then about another hour and a half just to get downtown. No matter which road you take, you just can't get there quickly.....Toronto traffic is maddening.
That's why I'm so intrigued with any talk about whether the Coyotes play at GRA or another arena closer to downtown....I see both sides of it. Personally, I think they can (and should) make it work at GRA.
As has been discussed ad nauseum here, with everything they've been through in the last decade plus their lack of on ice success, they've still been able to get 70% attendance (average) - but winning will fix this. Guaranteed.
Hell, the Senators couldn't sell out their barn when they made it to the Conference Final a few years ago. I'm confident GRA would've been sold out if they made it that far.
Source:
Phoenix Coyotes 2011-2012 Playoffs Attendance | Hockey Attendance