CXLIV - The Tempe era set to begin as ASU opens Mullett Arena

[BlueSeal]

Just because you need one component to work doesn't mean you don't need another.

Yes, the Coyotes need a new arena in a good location and likely with other revenue streams surrounding the arena. Yes, the Coyotes need stable ownership. Yes, the Coyotes need to market properly to the individual traits of the Phoenix market. Yes, the Coyotes will need to bring in corporate support. Yes, the Coyotes will need to put a higher quality product on the ice.

The arena is just one aspect of the equation, but being set up in a stable, lucrative arena situation lets you improve the experience for fans, so when the marketing gets them in the building they're willing to come back. It lets you sell the prestige factor to interested corporate parties. And if the additional revenue streams are stable, it lets you keep quality players, which helps you put a quality product on the ice.

The arena is the foundation that lets you do everything else well.

True but he’s talking about the fans. Without them you have nothing and the Yotes have never had as strong a fan base as many seem to think.

 

[Devils 3silverones]

That’s gross income.

It also included 28 Coyotes home games.


Nice try. But you’re pumping the tires on a short term moral “victory” while ignoring the real end game here. What will they do if/when a third arena comes into play?

Glendale has been betting on stopping the Coyotes from doing that for the last 10 years. According to their own “research” they need at least 20 “major” level events to offset the 41 hockey games they lost.

They made a big splash about PBR League becoming an anchor tenant (they actually occupy the old Coyotes facilities in the arena) and that gives them two days worth a year.

Given the potential TED has from location alone (near downtown Phoenix, ASU and the airport) it’s going to have a distinct advantage over an arena that’s 12 miles out “in the middle of nowhere”.

If they have anything to build on here it’s the mega water resort currently under construction just south of Westgate (fall 2023 completion) that will be the largest of its kind in Arizona (~3000 rooms). But the resort even plans to hold their own events. More competition.

At least the new tax revenues will help offset what it’s still costing them at DDA.

I will take this with a big grain of salt..
Glendale is doing what they have said their intentions were.
The city has moved on, and good for them.
50 events is great, regargless of in which city.

It is great to hear that events are filling ANY arena/venue.

I look forward to the showcase next weekend to promote the State of Arizona.
All things are look good.

 

[TheLegend]

I will take this with a big grain of salt..
Glendale is doing what they have said their intentions were.
The city has moved on, and good for them.
50 events is great, regargless of in which city.

It is great to hear that events are filling ANY arena/venue.

I look forward to the showcase next weekend to promote the State of Arizona.
All things are look good.

Nobody does Super Bowls like Arizona. One of the reasons why the league likes coming here, but I can imagine Las Vegas is going to give everyone something to think about when it gets there.

 

[Devils 3silverones]

Nobody does Super Bowls like Arizona. One of the reasons why the league likes coming here, but I can imagine Las Vegas is going to give everyone something to think about when it gets there.

So true.

Nobody does Super Bowls like Arizona. One of the reasons why the league likes coming here, but I can imagine Las Vegas is going to give everyone something to think about when it gets there.

I was there in 08

Nobody does Super Bowls like Arizona. One of the reasons why the league likes coming here, but I can imagine Las Vegas is going to give everyone something to think about when it gets there.

I was there in 08. Houston a couple years before.
Probowl in Hawaii a few times.
But AZ has by far in my travels, got it right.

 

[Dirty Old Man]

Nobody does Super Bowls like Arizona. One of the reasons why the league likes coming here, but I can imagine Las Vegas is going to give everyone something to think about when it gets there.

Also while you're at it notice how many of the official SB events are NOT taking place in Glendale, the city where the stadium sits:

Events - THE ARIZONA SUPER BOWL 2023 HOST COMMITTEE

EVENTS Play Play Play Play Previous Next Let's Talk Football Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates from the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee

www.azsuperbowl.com

 

[TheLegend]

Also while you're at it notice how many of the official SB events are NOT taking place in Glendale, the city where the stadium sits:

Events - THE ARIZONA SUPER BOWL 2023 HOST COMMITTEE

EVENTS Play Play Play Play Previous Next Let's Talk Football Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates from the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee

www.azsuperbowl.com

That evolved for a couple of reasons.

The committee who organizes them thought it would be better to spread the events around the Phoenix Metro and utilize venues that could maximize participation.

That….. and the current mayor of Glendale kept whining over what it was costing the city and not getting enough perks for himself.

 

[TheLegend]

Getting back the the subject…..

The drafts for the theee propositions is now on the Tempe city clerk’s pages. I haven’t read them yet.

(PDF)

https://www.tempe.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/100187/638090273814730000

 

[Llama19]

Joyce Clark with a two-part blog...

Don’t Puck with Tempe, part I

oyceclarkunfiltered.com/dont-puck-with-tempe-part-i/

Don’t Puck with Tempe, Part II

joyceclarkunfiltered.com/dont-puck-with-tempe-part-ii/

It appears she has dug up quite a bit of bad financial information on Mr Meruelo...

 

[JasonDemersWasOkay]

Tempe city council and chamber of commerce did a full vetting process on Meruelo’s finances but yeah let’s believe a washed up former city council member with an axe to grind screaming into her blog that nobody in Arizona reads.

 

[Dirty Old Man]

Yeah, come on, have we abandoned all pretense of using credible sources on this forum? Really? ALthough to be fair, it does fit right in with the misleading disinformation campaign going on for the NO side in Tempe right now...like clockwork.

 

[aqib]

Tempe city council and chamber of commerce did a full vetting process on Meruelo’s finances but yeah let’s believe a washed up former city council member with an axe to grind screaming into her blog that nobody in Arizona reads.

She was a hero to Coyotes fans back in 2012 not they hate her. You live long enough you see everything...

 

[Stumbledore]

She was a hero to Coyotes fans back in 2012 not they hate her. You live long enough you see everything...

You're right. I wasn't sure if his comments about washed up and screaming was a Kari Lake reference. But Joyce was definitely a love her or hate her sort of gal.

 

[TheLegend]

The city of Glendale has a vested interest in whether or not TED gets built.

After all, it was another Glendale city council member (Bart Turner) who sent a damning article about Meruelo to a sitting Tempe council member to meddle with the negotiations some nine months prior to the RFP being issued. That former Tempe council member’s now rumored to be running the No campaign after losing a bid to get elected to a state commission.

I posted those link to Joyce Clark’s on the team forum knowing they would make it here eventually. But after scanning the articles they don’t offer anything more than a rehash of things already known about. It’s what she DOESN’T say that’s telling.

- That Meruelo was heavily vetted by both ASU and the City of Tempe before they decided to move forward with him.

- That Glendale themselves uses GPLET fairly extensively (especially around their airport) In addition to up front breaks they’ve given to this massive hotel/water/amusement project near Westgate scheduled to open later in 2023.

IOW… there’s nothing they (Glendale/née Clark) can accuse Tempe or Meruelo of doing that they haven’t done themselves or continue to do.

CasualFan back in the day used to refer to anything coming from Joyce as “Clarkonomics”.

 

[TheLegend]

She was a hero to Coyotes fans back in 2012 not they hate her. You live long enough you see everything...

Um…. Joyce is on your side until she’s not.

Best way to describe her is in the tale of the lion and the scorpion…. she’s the scorpion.

 

[aqib]

You're right. I wasn't sure if his comments about washed up and screaming was a Kari Lake reference. But Joyce was definitely a love her or hate her sort of gal.

Its also funny that her Coyotes support was part of the reason she lost her seat in the first place. Then flipping from no to yes cost her successor his seat. Now she is not only anti-Coyotes in Glendale she is trying to run them out of the state.

 

[TheLegend]

Its also funny that her Coyotes support was part of the reason she lost her seat in the first place. Then flipping from no to yes cost her successor his seat. Now she is not only anti-Coyotes in Glendale she is trying to run them out of the state.

It was just a very small part of the reason.

What’s actually funny is you’re barely even scratching the surface into Glendale politics. The Coyotes were not as big a factor as you’re trying to frame it. All you know is how it all looks from the Coyotes perspective because that’s what you choose to do.

Sammy Chavira was useless. I didn’t like him either but would put Joyce over him any day. The Coyotes were also a very small reason why Joyce replaced him.

There are things Joyce does that you can commend her for, but the last few years have exposed a lot more of her dark side that she used to keep hidden.

And she’s not “anti-Coyotes in Glendale.” Had Meruelo agreed to the 15 or 20-year lease on the city’s terms she’d be all for it. What she’s anti on is the Coyotes getting an arena in another part of Phoenix that will drastically affect the one the city owns at Westgate.

 

[Devils 3silverones]

It was just a very small part of the reason.

What’s actually funny is you’re barely even scratching the surface into Glendale politics. The Coyotes were not as big a factor as you’re trying to frame it. All you know is how it all looks from the Coyotes perspective because that’s what you choose to do.

Sammy Chavira was useless. I didn’t like him either but would put Joyce over him any day. The Coyotes were also a very small reason why Joyce replaced him.

There are things Joyce does that you can commend her for, but the last few years have exposed a lot more of her dark side that she used to keep hidden.

And she’s not “anti-Coyotes in Glendale.” Had Meruelo agreed to the 15 or 20-year lease on the city’s terms she’d be all for it. What she’s anti on is the Coyotes getting an arena in another part of Phoenix that will drastically affect the one the city owns at Westgate.

There is one part that stands out. None of the numbers that are "new".

This BoH.
There IS something in the stale, and "almost" spite of the blog.

New to most all of us, because none of us knew this info. If we did... Well, it was Absolutely never mentioned.
I do not recall ever " seeing/reading" anything posted on personal assets/debts. Etc.

 

[TheLegend]

There is one part that stands out. None of the numbers that are "new".

This BoH.
There IS something in the stale, and "almost" spite of the blog.

New to most all of us, because none of us knew this info. If we did... Well, it was Absolutely never mentioned.
I do not recall ever " seeing/reading" anything posted on personal assets/debts. Etc.

What numbers are you referring to?

She doesn’t bring up anything of relevance that’s recent. His deal with purchasing SLS Las Vegas was covered here. His banking venture as well.

The point is Clark knows nothing more than you or I, or anyone else does that couldn’t be already found ourselves using Google.

And as I said above…. ASU and Tempe both vetted him hard with his finances. I doubt Glendale did after he bought the Coyotes. Just as they didn’t when Steve Ellman sold them on building Westgate to begin with. Because Scottsdale wanted to do that and Ellman refused.

 

[Llama19]

There is one part that stands out. None of the numbers that are "new".

This BoH.
There IS something in the stale, and "almost" spite of the blog.

New to most all of us, because none of us knew this info. If we did... Well, it was Absolutely never mentioned.
I do not recall ever " seeing/reading" anything posted on personal assets/debts. Etc.

It appears that these financial 'vettings'...either by Tempe or ASU...was not an exhaustive one...

The Dun & Bradstreet also appears to be a cursory once over...and ranked Meruelo as a moderate to high-risk player...and a higher-risk in the most important category that focused on the Tempe Sports and Entertainment District proposal and development...

As Tempe asked for...and received promises of money up-front...as was the case with ASU...in order for Meurelo to 'temporarily' play at ASU...

Seems Meruelo is playing charades whereby he can claim...look at me, look at how much I believe in the market...and his wonderful gifts to ASU...in a new annex and upgraded facilities to NHL standards...all of which are very likely to be business/tax write-offs, too...

Then...Bettman enthusiastically endorses the temporary home...and this massive project...with promises of an All-Star game and NHL drafts...same thing happened with Glendale...yet none of it materialized...and that ridiculous 30-year non-relocation clause...knowing that it is not anywhere in writing...nor legally binding...

 

[Dirty Old Man]

^Naturally, people who *want* this all to be true - whether it actually is or not is immaterial - will defend her to the hilt. It totally follows the pattern established over years by such folks.

 

[Devils 3silverones]

What numbers are you referring to?

She doesn’t bring up anything of relevance that’s recent. His deal with purchasing SLS Las Vegas was covered here. His banking venture as well.

The point is Clark knows nothing more than you or I, or anyone else does that couldn’t be already found ourselves using Google.

And as I said above…. ASU and Tempe both vetted him hard with his finances. I doubt Glendale did after he bought the Coyotes. Just as they didn’t when Steve Ellman sold them on building Westgate to begin with. Because Scottsdale wanted to do that and Ellman refused.

?.... Um. Not sure how to reply to this.
Does "ALL of them" work?

I am aware of the Vegas yes. So all of them but vegas. That work?

You obviously didn't know about them. Nor did I.
Or anyone else.
This is why this blog is either picked apart, or looked at as, "hmmm"... "Maybe we DONT know as much as we thought we did"

Open minds. Good or bad.

 

[Devils 3silverones]

^Naturally, people who *want* this all to be true - whether it actually is or not is immaterial - will defend her to the hilt. It totally follows the pattern established over years by such folks.

I don't think anyone has defended her. I called her blog stale for petes sake. The fact she or who ever found out other financial issues that nobody here has ever talked about is the topic is believe.

 

[TheLegend]

It appears that these financial 'vettings'...either by Tempe or ASU...was not an exhaustive one...

The Dun & Bradstreet also appears to be a cursory once over...and ranked Meruelo as a moderate to high-risk player...and a higher-risk in the most important category that focused on the Tempe Sports and Entertainment District proposal and development...

As Tempe asked for...and received promises of money up-front...as was the case with ASU...in order for Meurelo to 'temporarily' play at ASU...

Seems Meruelo is playing charades whereby he can claim...look at me, look at how much I believe in the market...and his wonderful gifts to ASU...in a new annex and upgraded facilities to NHL standards...all of which are very likely to be business/tax write-offs, too...

Then...Bettman enthusiastically endorses the temporary home...and this massive project...with promises of an All-Star game and NHL drafts...same thing happened with Glendale...yet none of it materialized...and that ridiculous 30-year non-relocation clause...knowing that it is not anywhere in writing...nor legally binding...

“It appears”

C’mon…. If you’re going to preface something with that phrase your only intent is to cast FUD over things.

Dunn and Bradstreet was asked by Lauren Kuby to make a cursory look because decided she had to do “her own research”. That document she produced gave very little into their methodology (I know because I tried digging for it on their site).

Despite at the council meetings Meruelo was holding letters from five major banks he does business with which were ready to back up his financials.

BTW Llama… I’d say paying $30 million up front to ASU and another $40 million up front that’s non-refundable to Tempe before he can even turnover a shovel full of dirt is a pretty weird (and expensive) game of charades…. even by your own standards.

 

[Llama19]

?.... Um. Not sure how to reply to this.
Does "ALL of them" work?

I am aware of the Vegas yes. So all of them but vegas. That work?

You obviously didn't know about them. Nor did I.
Or anyone else.
This is why this blog is either picked apart, or looked at as, "hmmm"... "Maybe we DONT know as much as we thought we did"

Open minds. Good or bad.

Well...Meruelo's bank is in more hot water...as another lawsuit has been filed...

National Merchants Association’s (NMA) Announces Shift in Legal Strategy Against Commercial Bank of California

To quote:

"“We‘ve been able to demonstrate our ongoing case successfully, however, after going through several weeks of depositions and preparing for the trial, we are positive we have more to support our existing case and legal approach,” said Heather Altepeter, CEO, owner and founder of National Merchants Association. “This case goes beyond the National Merchants Association. I aim to put an end to the alleged toxicity, bullying and harassment that encompasses this industry and network of executives.”

The current case against Commercial Bank of California is for for various alleged violations, including:

- Breach of the Contract
- Rescission
- Intentional Interference with Prospective Economic Relations
- Negligent Interference with Prospective Economic Relations
- Fraudulent Inducement Re the Amended and Restated Merchant Marketing and Processing Agreement
- Conspiracy to Commit Fraud
- Fraudulent and Unfair Business Practices Pursuant to Business & Professions Code Section 17200, et seq."

Source (LAS VEGAS (PRWEB) February 10, 2023): www.prweb.com/releases/2023/02/prweb19156172.htm

Reference: meruelogroup.com/?services=financial-services

 

[TheLegend]

?.... Um. Not sure how to reply to this.
Does "ALL of them" work?

I am aware of the Vegas yes. So all of them but vegas. That work?

You obviously didn't know about them. Nor did I.
Or anyone else.
This is why this blog is either picked apart, or looked at as, "hmmm"... "Maybe we DONT know as much as we thought we did"

Open minds. Good or bad.

Other than that mentioning 2017 suit over his banking side everything there was old stuff to me. This is 2023.

BTW…. Alex Meruelo has brothers in Florida who have been involved with lawsuits regarding real estate there.

Alex isn’t part of that, (I dig some digging there too) but a woman showed up at the Tempe council meeting during the public comments with a big smirk on her face while holding her phone up and tried to make everyone believe he was involved with them.