CXLIII - UPDATED 6/3 - Coyotes arena deal takes next step after Tempe council votes to open negotiations

[Dirty Old Man]

I've been in the Phoenix area the last few days and on a tangent given how Sky Harbor seems to think that any building in Tempe will mess up flight patterns I'm amazed that they were fine having Footprint and Chase being built over flight paths about the same distance the other direction.

Was there any objection from Sky Harbor when AWA/BOB were built or is Tempe being a different city giving them extra scrutiny that doesn't happen in Phoenix proper?

For all the crap you've given Arizona on here, looks like you've learned a valuable lesson about the motivations behind this objection. Keep it in mind going forward. And that goes for the rest of you too.

 

[Llama19]

Arizona Coyotes' ticket prices for single-game tickets spike at ASU's Mullett Arena

To quote:

"Due to the smaller capacity at the team's temporary home, Mullett Arena at ASU, which holds 5,000 seats, the demand and price of single-game tickets for the Coyotes is on the rise.

As of Wednesday morning, the least expensive tickets for the Coyotes' home opener against the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 28 were going for $267 each before fees on Ticketmaster.com.

With fees they were more than $315 each.

ESPN reported that the average ticket price at Gila River Arena for the Coyotes was in the $90 range.

"We're not gouging people here," Gutierrez said. "You're slightly above an NHL average now while you were well below an NHL average before. And we're in a much more centrally located area.""

Source: www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2022/09/14/arizona-coyotes-ticket-prices-spike-asu-mullett-arena/10381556002/

 

[TheLegend]

Arizona Coyotes' ticket prices for single-game tickets spike at ASU's Mullett Arena

To quote:

"Due to the smaller capacity at the team's temporary home, Mullett Arena at ASU, which holds 5,000 seats, the demand and price of single-game tickets for the Coyotes is on the rise.

As of Wednesday morning, the least expensive tickets for the Coyotes' home opener against the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 28 were going for $267 each before fees on Ticketmaster.com.

With fees they were more than $315 each.

ESPN reported that the average ticket price at Gila River Arena for the Coyotes was in the $90 range.

"We're not gouging people here," Gutierrez said. "You're slightly above an NHL average now while you were well below an NHL average before. And we're in a much more centrally located area.""

Source: www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2022/09/14/arizona-coyotes-ticket-prices-spike-asu-mullett-arena/10381556002/

Not a real issue here....

Quick check of Ticketmaster showed for Winnipeg's home opener against the Rangers on October 14, their comparable lower bowl ticket prices were the same.

Coyotes were vilified for years about giving away tickets and now they charge what is comparable to everyone else because they have a smaller temporary venue is something bad???

 

[mouser]

Not a real issue here....

Quick check of Ticketmaster showed for Winnipeg's home opener against the Rangers on October 14, their comparable lower bowl ticket prices were the same.

Coyotes were vilified for years about giving away tickets and now they charge what is comparable to everyone else because they have a smaller temporary venue is something bad???

If anything Ticketmaster should be vilified. The monopolistic power over ticket pricing and fees they wield is toeing on antitrust boundaries. $50 in fees for a ticket is absurd.

 

[LPHabsFan]

Not a real issue here....

Quick check of Ticketmaster showed for Winnipeg's home opener against the Rangers on October 14, their comparable lower bowl ticket prices were the same.

Coyotes were vilified for years about giving away tickets and now they charge what is comparable to everyone else because they have a smaller temporary venue is something bad???

It's not that the Coyotes are charging that amount for tickets, it's why they are able to charge that amount for tickets and you know that.

 

[TheLegend]

It's not that the Coyotes are charging that amount for tickets, it's why they are able to charge that amount for tickets and you know that.

It's what can be done to slag a franchise that's....... per some people..... "not in a real hockey market."

 

[gstommylee]

If anything Ticketmaster should be vilified. The monopolistic power over ticket pricing and fees they wield is toeing on antitrust boundaries. $50 in fees for a ticket is absurd.

Doesn't the team decide who they go with in terms of ticket venue?

 

[aqib]

Doesn't the team decide who they go with in terms of ticket venue?

With technology these days why do teams even need 3rd party vendors?

 

[TheLegend]

Tidbit:

On this morning’s PHNX_Coyotes video podcast Gutierrez mentioned at this time last year’s pre-season sales were at $4 million.

It’s currently at $16 million.

Still a ways to go but the concept of playing in a smaller venue at much higher prices doesn’t seem to be a problem.

Also mentioned they’re going to be announcing a new major corporate sponsor soon. I’m speculating it Gila River Casinos since their logo patch is on the jerseys this coming season, but could be someone else.

 

[TheLegend]

More from the podcast yesterday… via Craig Morgan’s latest article which is unlocked.

Neutral Zone: Jakob Chychrun expected to report to Coyotes training camp - PHNX Sports

Arizona Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong provided updates on Jakob Chychrun, Barrett Hayton, Andrew Ladd and the goaltending situation in the latest Neutral Zone.

www.gophnx.com

Full outline here….

Gutierrez addresses ticket sales​

Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez appeared on the PHNX Coyotes show on Thursday to discuss ticket sales and a variety of other topics. Here are some of his main points.

• Gutierrez said that the team has sold more than 2,200 season ticket plans while at this time last year they were at 1,200. Additionally he said the team was below $4 million on plan sales last year at this time. Now, due to the premium nature of the seats at Mullett Arena, that figure is $16.5 million.
• To critics who contend that the Coyotes are charging too much, Gutierrez said: “We were well below the standards, the averages of where the NHL should be. Yes, we are re-pricing, kind of repositioning to the market.” For comparison, Gutierrez noted that comparable glass seats in Columbus cost $645. The Coyotes’ cost about $550. Center ice seats in Vegas cost $475. The Coyotes’ cost $360, including food and beverage.
• Gutierrez said that the ticket-sales revenue is in line with what the team had projected from Mullett Arena. “We think that toward the latter half of the season it will actually continue to accelerate and go beyond our expectations as people start experiencing hockey there, on that campus with all the excitement and entertainment that we want to bring to the game-day experience.”
• Gutierrez said that between 60 and 70 percent of the team’s previous season-ticket members have already renewed with many of them going to plans rather than full season tickets. He added that there has been a 50-percent renewal rate on full season-ticket plans.
• Gutierrez said that that between 60 and 65 percent of the team’s fan base comes from the East Valley (including Scottsdale and the Northeast Valley communities). When central Phoenix is added, it’s closer to 80 or 85 percent. That jibes with previous analysis of the team’s base over the years.
• Gutierrez said that the team is planning numerous ways for fans who can’t afford or obtain tickets to Mullett Arena to watch games in a festive atmosphere. “We’re talking about watch parties. We’re talking about being out in the community, bringing players, bringing alumni, having more connectivity to the community than we’ve had in the last couple years.” Gutierrez also said that the team plans to hold more open practices in the various communities with ice sheets later in the season when the team plays more home games. They also want to activate all of the spaces around campus including plazas, hotels or businesses on Mill Ave.
• Gutierrez said that the team will have mobile trailers in and around Mullett Arena that will sell Coyotes merchandise since the team will not have a shop inside the arena. ASU is also allowing the Coyotes to sell merchandise in bookstores around ASU.

 

[canuckster19]

So does this Sarver thing with the NBA make a return to Phoenix possible now or is that arena no bueno for hockey? Would it be faster to put in an ice plant there than building an arena in Tempe? Would Tempe still be a more desirable location?

 

[TheLegend]

So does this Sarver thing with the NBA make a return to Phoenix possible now or is that arena no bueno for hockey? Would it be faster to put in an ice plant there than building an arena in Tempe? Would Tempe still be a more desirable location?

It would be like the Islanders going back to Barclays. Not gonna happen.

The Suns situation will sort itself out. Sarver only owns 35% of the club. So he could be simply be bought out.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

So does this Sarver thing with the NBA make a return to Phoenix possible now or is that arena no bueno for hockey? Would it be faster to put in an ice plant there than building an arena in Tempe? Would Tempe still be a more desirable location?

They just renovated the arena so even if Sarver is out it’s not happening. Might have been possible if Sarver left before they started the renovation.

 

[TheLegend]

PSA

Tempe city council agendas for September 22nd is out and the arena/ED proposal is currently not on either one.

(end PSA)

 

[Llama19]

At a public meeting last week...this company...Public Finance Authority...was mentioned as the Coyotes financial underwriter...

This underwriter does not have the best reputation...as indicated from these article links:

www.forbes.com/sites/richardlehmann/2020/12/10/wisconsin-public-finance-authority--more-scandal/?sh=70863551dbf6

empowerwisconsin.org/wisconsin-public-finance-authority-in-hot-seat-again/

www.forbes.com/sites/investor/2021/04/29/wisconsin-public-finance-authorityits-time-to-investigate/?sh=240814cd2631

 

[LPHabsFan]

At a public meeting last week...this company...Public Finance Authority...was mentioned as the Coyotes financial underwriter...

This underwriter does not have the best reputation...as indicated from these article links:

www.forbes.com/sites/richardlehmann/2020/12/10/wisconsin-public-finance-authority--more-scandal/?sh=70863551dbf6

empowerwisconsin.org/wisconsin-public-finance-authority-in-hot-seat-again/

www.forbes.com/sites/investor/2021/04/29/wisconsin-public-finance-authorityits-time-to-investigate/?sh=240814cd2631

Underwriting them how....

 

[TheLegend]

Underwriting them how....

Exactly.

What public meeting?

None of the articles listed point to anything.

 

[Dirty Old Man]

Exactly.

What public meeting?

None of the articles listed point to anything.

The straw-grasping continues...

 

[aqib]

Underwriting them how....

An underwriter is the one that brings the bonds to the market. Like how an investment bank does an IPO when a company goes public, except its with bonds not stocks.

 

[powerstuck]

If anything Ticketmaster should be vilified. The monopolistic power over ticket pricing and fees they wield is toeing on antitrust boundaries. $50 in fees for a ticket is absurd.

And that's for a mobile/print-at-home ''virtual'' piece of paper.

 

[Llama19]

At a public meeting last week...this company...Public Finance Authority...was mentioned as the Coyotes financial underwriter...

This underwriter does not have the best reputation...as indicated from these article links:

www.forbes.com/sites/richardlehmann/2020/12/10/wisconsin-public-finance-authority--more-scandal/?sh=70863551dbf6

empowerwisconsin.org/wisconsin-public-finance-authority-in-hot-seat-again/

www.forbes.com/sites/investor/2021/04/29/wisconsin-public-finance-authorityits-time-to-investigate/?sh=240814cd2631

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 AT 6:30 PM

Arizona Coyotes Community Conversation
Graduate Hotel Ballroom
630-730/8ish
(Prior to this meeting from 6-630 University Park will be having a short Neighborhood Meeting)
Xavier Gutierrez, President of the Arizona Coyotes and other folks from the organization to talk to us about the proposed Stadium and Entertainment District in Tempe

No press was in attendance...that I am aware of...

 

[aqib]

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 AT 6:30 PM

Arizona Coyotes Community Conversation
Graduate Hotel Ballroom
630-730/8ish
(Prior to this meeting from 6-630 University Park will be having a short Neighborhood Meeting)
Xavier Gutierrez, President of the Arizona Coyotes and other folks from the organization to talk to us about the proposed Stadium and Entertainment District in Tempe

No press was in attendance...that I am aware of...

(drop)

 

[MNNumbers]

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 AT 6:30 PM

Arizona Coyotes Community Conversation
Graduate Hotel Ballroom
630-730/8ish
(Prior to this meeting from 6-630 University Park will be having a short Neighborhood Meeting)
Xavier Gutierrez, President of the Arizona Coyotes and other folks from the organization to talk to us about the proposed Stadium and Entertainment District in Tempe

No press was in attendance...that I am aware of...

Were you there?

 

[TheLegend]

So what we have here is (so far)….

- A group was mentioned to be a potential underwriter of the bonds at a meeting some five days ago.

- No press was in attendance (or unaware of it). No recordings, video, etc. So any info is essentially here say at this time.

- Quick Google search of said group comes up with articles dated over a year old (and older).

Still thin….. very thin.

BUT… in all fairness I would hope Tempe city staff are doing a thorough job and looking at everything so that we don’t have a repeat of Westgate.

 

[TheLegend]

The straw-grasping continues...

Don’t think so in this case.

This project does not need anything new that could draw any suspicion to it.