The Arizona Coyotes ice hockey team may build a new arena at the current site of a compost yard.
The team has for years been talking about putting up a new facility somewhere in the Phoenix metro area, including Tempe.
At the same time the team has expressed dissatisfaction with its current home in the Gila River Arena in Glendale.
According to reports, the site in question is located at 55 S. Priest Drive, roughly 2 miles to the west of downtown Tempe, and is owned by the city.
Tempe earlier issued a request for proposal to develop just under 50 acres that include the compost yard at the northeast corner of Priest Drive and Rio Salado Parkway.
That RFP suggested that the acres could be used for the development of a sports arena, as well as up to 1,000 housing units and 200,000 square feet of commercial space.
In a statement sent to the Phoenix Business Journal, a Coyotes spokesperson said the organization was “highly interested in this development opportunity and will be responding to the City of Tempe’s request for proposal.”
The statement added that the team is “actively working to identify the best long-term home for the Coyotes, our devoted fans, and this great community.”
Arizona Coyotes and City of Tempe officials have previously engaged in informal talks regarding the possibility of the team building a new home.
If the city responds positively to the team’s RFP that could begin a process resulting in a multi-billion construction project that would also include restaurant space and a large shaded plaza.
The idea behind building what would essentially be an entertainment district around the new arena would be to attract visitors well beyond the Coyotes’ game days.
By Garry Boulard
