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Phoenix Mulls Over Arena Renovations
Officials in Phoenix voted in March to pay a consulting company $75,000 to investigate options for renovating
The 7-2 vote extended Barrett Sports Group’s investigations for the city, as the company already spent 2016 analyzing the feasibility and expenses associated with constructing a new arena for the Phoenix Suns (NBA), Phoenix Mercury (WNBA), and possibly the Arizona Coyotes (NHL).
facebook.com/usairwayscenter – Talking Stick Arena
The results of the research will likely be presented by late spring or early summer the deputy city manager told The Arizona Republic, and no specific strategy has yet been chosen.
A decision to renovate the 19,000-capacity Talking Stick with public funds may not require voter approval, but spending more than $3 million to build a new sports stadium would according to Phoenix’s City Charter.
The arena opened in June of 1992, and has been known by as America West Arena and US Airways Center. Mayor Greg Stanton has said he intends to get a new home for the Suns, Mercury and Coyotes.
The NHL’s Coyotes are trying to leave their current home of Gila River Arena in Glendale, which was mostly funded by Glendale taxpayers and built 13 years ago. The NHL commissioner recently wrote to the Arizona senate saying that the team would not remain in Glendale.