By Paulina Pineda | Arizona Republic
Tempe voters will choose three people to represent them on the City Council next week, but the mayor expects a decision on a new arena for the Arizona Coyotes to happen before any new members take office in July.
Mayor Corey Woods said sitting council members likely will publicly discuss and vote on the National Hockey League team’s proposal. Though city staffers are doing their due diligence and studying the proposal, Woods said he doesn’t think a decision will drag on another four months or longer.
The Coyotes submitted plans to the city in September to build a $1.7 billion arena and entertainment district on 46 acres near Priest Drive and Rio Salado Parkway that would be financed by owner Alex Meruelo and private investors. The team wants to use a portion of city sales tax revenues generated on the site to help pay for $200 million in additional costs to remediate the land and get it shovel ready.
