Tempe and Coyotes combine for huge lawsuit against the City of Phoenix
The Arizona Coyotes have launched a retaliatory attack against its former host city. The team, the City of Tempe, and Bluebird Development have launched a lawsuit against the City of Phoenix, claiming it had previously promised not to interfere with a new development in Tempe that included the new Coyotes' arena. They are asking for $2.3 billion, the estimated worth of the plans for Tempe.
It was just a little over a week ago when Phoenix said it was suing the City of Tempe over its proposal for the development that would include the Coyotes' new home arena. Phoenix said the two cities agreed in the 90s not to build any residential units within a 1.9-square-kilometre radius of Sky Harbor International Airport, due to the high volume of noise.
"The Arizona Coyotes and its development arm, Bluebird Development, have had enough of Phoenix's bullying bureaucrats. And now the City of Phoenix is facing a $2.3 billion claim after it broke its word and decided to undermine a plan to convert a hazardous unlined Tempe-owned landfill into a new sports and entertainment district next to Tempe Town Lake."
According to the documents, Tempe asserts that its decision to proceed with the new arena was based on the understanding that Phoenix would not obstruct the development.
"In addition to this claim, the Coyotes and Bluebird will continue to investigate Phoenix and Sky Harbor's use of taxpayer's dollars to interfere with a neighboring city's election".
Tempe's residents are poised to determine whether the proposed arena project, encompassing commercial and dining establishments, and residential units, can proceed. A referendum has been slated for May. In the interim, the Coyotes are playing at Mullet Arena, a 5,000-seat facility in Tempe that is utilized by the Arizona Sun Devils. The Coyotes were forced out of Gila River Arena in Glendale after the 2022-2023 season due to a conflict over taxes and delinquent rink fees.
Previously on Markerzone
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 5 | 226 ANSWERS Tempe and Coyotes combine for huge lawsuit against the City of Phoenix Do you think the Coyotes can win this suit? | ||
| No, they're done | 115 | 50.9 % |
| Yes, they'll get the new arena in Tempe | 58 | 25.7 % |
| Not sure | 53 | 23.5 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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