Arizona Arena Ownership Shift

The reshuffling in ownership of the Phoenix Coyotes, the anchor tenant at Arizona’s Glendale Arena, was an anticipated move that will propel a stalled development near the arena forward.

Doug Moss, president/COO of the Coyotes and the arena, said the amicable partnership breakup of Jerry Moyes and Steve Ellman is a plus, not a setback, for the venue.

“I think the ownership change is actually going to be good for the entire array of businesses. It’s going to allow Jerry to focus on the arena and the team, and let Steve focus on the real estate and getting that to where he wants it to be,” Moss told Pollstar. “The day-to-day operations won’t change at all. Our concert business continues and I think we’ll be even more aggressive in the future. It’s really exciting.”

Under the deal, Moyes takes control of the Coyotes and has installed Jeff Shumway as CEO. Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky retains a minority interest in both ventures. Moyes also takes over arena management, and has concerts including Bruce Springsteen & The Seeger Sessions Band and two Madonna shows on the books.

Ellman takes over the Westgate City Center project, a mega-retail development under construction next to the 20,000-capacity arena, which features hotels, shops, restaurants, office space, a movie theatre and more. The first phase is scheduled to open in October.

Moss said the project, which he describes as a “city,” will further enhance Glendale Arena’s appeal as an entertainment and sports destination.

“We’re unloading 12,000 to 20,000 people on that ‘city’ every night that we have an event. A major focus of our business is to get all the acts to come and play the arena,” he explained. “When Westgate opens outside our front door, that’s going to be more attractive to promoters and the acts, and the people that come here.”

– Tina Amendola