Phoenix looks to hire California firm to help study new downtown arena (Glendale: high schools, universities)

[stevek64]

Originally Posted by cjseliga

Steve, it might be the first time a major sporting venue for one of the "Big 4" gets built on an Indian Reservation. I can't really think of any others currently.

IMO, the only way the Yotes are going back downtown in a new arena, is to share it with the Suns, and that seems pretty slim odds right now. So, I would guess the two main options, right now, would be on the Reservation or partnering with ASU and building the new arena on campus. With the current money being spent on the massive Sun Devil Stadium renovation, I just don't see ASU donors helping to pay for a new arena and/or the city of Tempe chipping in X amount for a new arena, but I guess you never know, time will tell.

Yes, it would certainly be a first for such a venture funded by/on an Indian Reservation. Perhaps the current Talking Stick naming rights is a bit of a foreshadow of something more/what might be in the future.

Right, I can't see ASU in any way shape or form coming in to help fund a stadium. I think there would be some major outcry on that from many angles and rightfully so. It will be interesting in the end how it shakes out.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by stevek64

Right, I can't see ASU in any way shape or form coming in to help fund a stadium. I think there would be some major outcry on that from many angles and rightfully so. It will be interesting in the end how it shakes out.

ASU hockey received over $30 Million in private donations to fund the program and facilities, and ASU also owns land in the athletic facilities district.

[stevek64]

Originally Posted by asufan

ASU hockey received over $30 Million in private donations to fund the program and facilities, and ASU also owns land in the athletic facilities district.

Any outcry over that such money didn't go to something more directly related to education vs college sports? Given our sports obsessed culture, perhaps not. And sports I believe is a marketing game to recruit students.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by stevek64

Any outcry over that such money didn't go to something more directly related to education vs college sports? Given our sports obsessed culture, perhaps not. And sports I believe is a marketing game to recruit students.

Usually private donations are ear marked for specific purposes. The law school breaks alumni donations down to specific furniture. If I donate money usually it's to get my name on something I get to pick even if it's just a table.

If anything it should be applauded. That's 30million less spent out of ASU funds.

[stevek64]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

Usually private donations are ear marked for specific purposes.

Got ya, knowing ahead of time what the donations will be used for, transparent.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by stevek64

Any outcry over that such money didn't go to something more directly related to education vs college sports? Given our sports obsessed culture, perhaps not. And sports I believe is a marketing game to recruit students.

Why would there be outcry if some private investors pour $32 Million of their own money into the hockey team? I didn't say they donated the money to ASU, I said they donated the money to ASU hockey. Obviously $32 Million isn't enough to build an arena, but that, coupled with the ASU land (Karsten I assume) which is earmarked for sporting venues, may be enough for ASU's share. I still think Downtown Phoenix is the better location, but like I said in the previous threads on this subject, the ASU partnership is worth exploring for those reasons.

[stevek64]

Originally Posted by asufan

Why would there be outcry if some private investors pour $32 Million of their own money into the hockey team? I didn't say they donated the money to ASU, I said they donated the money to ASU hockey. Obviously $32 Million isn't enough to build an arena, but that, coupled with the ASU land (Karsten I assume) which is earmarked for sporting venues, may be enough for ASU's share. I still think Downtown Phoenix is the better location, but like I said in the previous threads on this subject, the ASU partnership is worth exploring for those reasons.

From the context that $32 million goes towards building an arena/sports related for a college hockey team, not something directly related to education. ie, building a new wing/upgrade something on the ASU campus related to course work for the students, use the money for grants for students, etc. No, I don't consider partial arena funding directly related to college education anymore than building large grass fields on high schools, with private or public money.

I think some of those on this forum that look for more education related spending directly on any flavor of education in AZ might agree. Though with our sports obsessed culture, perhaps not as it can be rationalized as something all together different.

On to the reality of it all:

Amid funding crisis, college athletics soak up subsidies, fees - USATODAY.com

Rutgers Football Fails Profit Test as Students Pay $1,000 - Bloomberg Business

[Pink Jazz]

The problem with a location on the reservation is that it isn't central enough for most of the Valley, even though it is closer to the fanbase than the current Glendale location. It would really be only convenient for those living in Scottsdale, and would not be ideal for those living in Chandler, Gilbert, or Queen Creek which have a comparable number of fans. Either ASU or Riverview in Mesa would be more centrally located for both the East Valley as well as the Phoenix metro area as a whole, although for the latter I am not sure if the City of Mesa would be willing to pay for a new arena.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by stevek64

From the context that $32 million goes towards building an arena/sports related for a college hockey team, not something directly related to education. ie, building a new wing/upgrade something on the ASU campus related to course work for the students, use the money for grants for students, etc. No, I don't consider partial arena funding directly related to college education anymore than building large grass fields on high schools, with private or public money.

I think some of those on this forum that look for more education related spending directly on any flavor of education in AZ might agree. Though with our sports obsessed culture, perhaps not as it can be rationalized as something all together different.

On to the reality of it all:

Amid funding crisis, college athletics soak up subsidies, fees - USATODAY.com

Rutgers Football Fails Profit Test as Students Pay $1,000 - Bloomberg Business

What if the donations are from sports alumni of ASU who owe a thanks to ASU for getting them the coaching and opportunities that got them into pro sports leagues? It would be like if I donated to ASU and they wanted to give it to the general ASU educational fund, I didn't go to ASU as an undergrad, I went as a grad, I want my money to go where I was to help improve it and to give opportunities to others.

It wasn't ASU education that got them there, it was the sports program, of course they want their money to go to sports for the benefit of other young sports players in Phoenix and where ASU recruits providing more future opportunities.

I would like my taxes to go to ASU generally, however, but not private donations. My tax dollars are better spent there than they are in the Federal District Court defending nonsense bills and Arpaio.

[cjseliga]

Back in 2013 the Pegula Ice Arena opened in State College, PA. It was paid for by billionaire Terry Pegula, who's a Penn State alum and owner of the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills. He donated $100 million, the largest in the university's history, for the 6,000 seat arena (cost $88 million) and to help bring Penn State hockey (men's and women's) to the D1 level.