Paul McCann: Stupidity… thy name is Glendale

Paul,

I agree that Nashville has (somewhat surprisingly) become a hockey hotbed. However, based on my small time in Nashville, I think part of the reason is both the location of the arena and the relatively small "downtown" section of Nashville. After going to the Country HOF and seeing a live band for free, there's not all that much to do in the downtown area. With the arena right smack dab in the heart of it and within easy walking distance to the rest of the area, it's no coincidence that hockey sprung up there. Without knowing the geography and demographics of Glendale, I'd assume they may not be as fortunate.

In reality, they never should have put a team there in the first place.

What a joke

"Why is this stupid? Here is another reason… The Coyotes were in the process of bidding for an upcoming World Juniors tournament, bringing millions of dollars and thousands of hockey fans to Glendale… the action of the city council effectively killed that. Look up the definition of stupid in the dictionary and there is a picture of the City of Glendale’s government. "


The team is losing 50 million a year. This blog is an insult to taxpayers world wide. To hid behind "That's the agreement, that's the contract", is a thin, narrow minded, feeble, selfish attempt at logic.

I'm sure if you were on the wrong side of a bad contract for a failing service like cell phone service or a car lease, you would be upset if they threw it in your face that you "signed a contract" despite that whole thing failing and being wrong from stem to stern.

Stupidity was them agreeing to this arena deal that causes the city and inevitablythe tax payers lose millions of dollars each year. The smart thing was to use a legal clause that was clearly in the contract to cancel it and get this money losing franchise out of the area that obviously doesn't support the team enough to make it profitable.

Why is this stupid? Here is another reason… The Coyotes were in the process of bidding for an upcoming World Juniors tournament, bringing millions of dollars and thousands of hockey fans to Glendale… the action of the city council effectively killed that. Look up the definition of stupid in the dictionary and there is a picture of the City of Glendale’s government.
- pmccann

Serious question, Paul:

Do you really think that a World Junior tournament in Glendale would be anything other than a spectacular, money-losing failure?

FFS.

Millions of dollars and thousands of hockey fans to Glendale?

Double FFS.

The only WJCs on US soil that have ever been successful have relied on a close proximity to Canadian fans. The WJCs in Boston were a dismal failure - and Boston is a pretty good hockey town.

It would be a great service to everyone if you bloggers quit chugging the Kool-aid that having a pro sports team is automatically a good financial move for cities. It isn't. The City of Glendale gambled heavily on economic development through sports facilities - and it's been a total disaster. 40 per cent of their debt is now attributable to sports stadiums.

The Gila Monster Arena last year had 41 hockey dates, and less than 90,000 visits for other events. To think that you can derive urban and economic growth off of that is laughable.

Stupidity was them agreeing to this arena deal that causes the city and inevitablythe tax payers lose millions of dollars each year. The smart thing was to use a legal clause that was clearly in the contract to cancel it and get this money losing franchise out of the area that obviously doesn't support the team enough to make it profitable.
- viperxt

If I had to guess I would say its corporate support that isn't there. Those are the tens of millions or dollars we can't always see in the form of fans being in the seats.

Stupidity was them agreeing to this arena deal that causes the city and inevitablythe tax payers lose millions of dollars each year. The smart thing was to use a legal clause that was clearly in the contract to cancel it and get this money losing franchise out of the area that obviously doesn't support the team enough to make it profitable.
- viperxt

Let's go even further back.

Stupidity was a town of 250,000 (with no hockey fans) building a hockey arena, with absolutely no financial plan whatsoever.

Buffalo--Sabres, i agree, its probably lack of corporate sponsorships that cause most of the losses thats why i stated that its the area that doesn't support the team enough, not the fans.

juliann94
Joined: 10.15.2014

Today @ 11:18 AM ET
They must be Republicans
You must be an idiot

Paul,

I agree that Nashville has (somewhat surprisingly) become a hockey hotbed. However, based on my small time in Nashville, I think part of the reason is both the location of the arena and the relatively small "downtown" section of Nashville. After going to the Country HOF and seeing a live band for free, there's not all that much to do in the downtown area. With the arena right smack dab in the heart of it and within easy walking distance to the rest of the area, it's no coincidence that hockey sprung up there. Without knowing the geography and demographics of Glendale, I'd assume they may not be as fortunate.

In reality, they never should have put a team there in the first place.
- jmatchett383

yup, it was a big (frank) up to put the team out in Glendale. it basically hasn't been sustainable without some form of financial support (nhl, city).

The ownership group prior to 2001 had negotiated with Scottsdale about putting an arena there; and the team was developing some traction and excitement in the community... but they ended up selling.

The new ownership group found a cheaper deal for an arena out in Glendale. Set back the franchise completely. It's been an on-going mess to this day.

Serious question, Paul:

Do you really think that a World Junior tournament in Glendale would be anything other than a spectacular, money-losing failure?

FFS.

Millions of dollars and thousands of hockey fans to Glendale?

Double FFS.

The only WJCs on US soil that have ever been successful have relied on a close proximity to Canadian fans. The WJCs in Boston were a dismal failure - and Boston is a pretty good hockey town.

It would be a great service to everyone if you bloggers quit chugging the Kool-aid that having a pro sports team is automatically a good financial move for cities. It isn't. The City of Glendale gambled heavily on economic development through sports facilities - and it's been a total disaster. 40 per cent of their debt is now attributable to sports stadiums.

The Gila Monster Arena last year had 41 hockey dates, and less than 90,000 visits for other events. To think that you can derive urban and economic growth off of that is laughable.
- Atomic Wedgie

Well said.

So you advocate the City of Glendale paying Millions of dollars to the Yotes who don't turn a dime of profit and haven't in anyway meaningfully built up Glendale? Who cares if they keep paying on the bonds for the arena! It's still a lot cheaper(and better for the taxpayers)to let the arena rot while paying the bond back. Why should they pay for a team that will bolt within 3 years anyways?

Serious question, Paul:

Do you really think that a World Junior tournament in Glendale would be anything other than a spectacular, money-losing failure?

FFS.

Millions of dollars and thousands of hockey fans to Glendale?

Double FFS.

The only WJCs on US soil that have ever been successful have relied on a close proximity to Canadian fans. The WJCs in Boston were a dismal failure - and Boston is a pretty good hockey town.

It would be a great service to everyone if you bloggers quit chugging the Kool-aid that having a pro sports team is automatically a good financial move for cities. It isn't. The City of Glendale gambled heavily on economic development through sports facilities - and it's been a total disaster. 40 per cent of their debt is now attributable to sports stadiums.

The Gila Monster Arena last year had 41 hockey dates, and less than 90,000 visits for other events. To think that you can derive urban and economic growth off of that is laughable.
- Atomic Wedgie

The Crowds in Buffalo for team USA when we had the Jr's were pathetic. 4,000 people and them some straglers from the earlier games. AHL games draw more here. I can't imagine how few would go in Glendale.

Paul,

I agree that Nashville has (somewhat surprisingly) become a hockey hotbed. However, based on my small time in Nashville, I think part of the reason is both the location of the arena and the relatively small "downtown" section of Nashville. After going to the Country HOF and seeing a live band for free, there's not all that much to do in the downtown area. With the arena right smack dab in the heart of it and within easy walking distance to the rest of the area, it's no coincidence that hockey sprung up there. Without knowing the geography and demographics of Glendale, I'd assume they may not be as fortunate.

In reality, they never should have put a team there in the first place.

jmachett383

I have family in Arizona and basically what happened to the Glendale area was the 08 recession/economic collapse. The area was an up and coming suburb with tons of subdivisions, malls, and other economic generators in the works. Once the economy tanked work literally stopped and the expected growth never happened. There are entire subdivisions made with no one living there and walmart parking lots set with lots and lights but no store.

Let's go even further back.

Stupidity was a town of 250,000 (with no hockey fans) building a hockey arena, with absolutely no financial plan whatsoever.
- Atomic Wedgie

I'd like to know how the Owners of the Suns and Coyotes, neither of whom has a pot to piss in, managed to each get their own arena. Even the Leafs and Raps share an arena.

Buffalo--Sabres, i agree, its probably lack of corporate sponsorships that cause most of the losses thats why i stated that its the area that doesn't support the team enough, not the fans.
- viperxt

Their attendance is crap...it's on the fans too. But, they built the arena so far away from it's actual fan base that it's understandable.

The Crowds in Buffalo for team USA when we had the Jr's were pathetic. 4,000 people and them some stragglers from the earlier games. AHL games draw more here. I can't imagine how few would go in Glendale.
- Buffalo--Sabres

I completely disagree with the comment on the 4000 people there. I went to the US Germany game and there was easily a good 10-13000 there. The lower bowl was filled and most of the 300s were. Now for some of the non US Canada games oo yea it wasn't as much.

Its Arizona, the council realized that over half of the team were Canadians, immigrants by another name, and then lost their poop.

Their attendance is crap...it's on the fans too. But, they built the arena so far away from it's actual fan base that it's understandable.
- djamon

Right and with a hr commute due to rush hour to games I can understand people not wanting to go even if there fans. Its hard to say its worth moving them down with the Suns in a new arena. I do believe in the the downtown region they would see better attendance, but building another arena for a team already with attendance issues would see like a really bad bet unless they could test out the downtown population again in the Suns arena for a few years.

I'd like to know how the Owners of the Suns and Coyotes, neither of whom has a pot to piss in, managed to each get their own arena. Even the Leafs and Raps share an arena.
- djamon

The Suns had an arena built in 1992, but was designed for basketball only. There is already talk about a new building for the Suns downtown in 2022. It's been reasonably successful.

They Yotes needed their own building down here when they moved. The owners at the time found a sucker government in Glendale to pay for it.

Let's go even further back.

Stupidity was a town of 250,000 (with no hockey fans) building a hockey arena, with absolutely no financial plan whatsoever.
- Atomic Wedgie

The area is full of Mid-West snow bird retirees. I assume the hope was that all those folks from Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin would fill the arenas; working about as well as it does in Florida...

What was stupid was building it in the first place. I hope the NHL and future potential owners pay attention and learn from others' mistake.

Stupidity was them agreeing to this arena deal that causes the city and inevitablythe tax payers lose millions of dollars each year. The smart thing was to use a legal clause that was clearly in the contract to cancel it and get this money losing franchise out of the area that obviously doesn't support the team enough to make it profitable.
- viperxt

This

According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 226,721

Do not confuse common sense of a tax paying member of that city with the sports mentality of those who think you're stupid to want to flush the 'cooked up' lease deal done with greasy palms and no interest for the best interests of the people footing the bill. Give your head a shake before you label the city Councillors dumb when the decision to create the boondoggle NEVER should have been made.

This blog was stupid