The Coyotes' future in downtown Phoenix "is growing
less certain" because a $20M proposal to renovate America
West Arena to make it more suitable for hockey "probably
won't work," according to Kent Somers of the ARIZONA
REPUBLIC. America West Arena President & GM Bob Machen said
a proposal last spring by MI-based Rossetti and Associates
which called for renovations to occur during the summer
"would be too costly" and construction "too disruptive" to
the arena's summer tenants, the AFL Rattlers and the WNBA
Mercury. Machen, who wants a plan that avoids closing the
arena, added that a new proposal "is being developed" by the
MI firm and Hussey Seating Co. Machen: "We're working on
something that may be interesting but it's not far along
enough to say, `Here's what it is.'" Coyotes officials are
also "considering participating" in the construction of a
new arena in Scottsdale and "have talked" with developer
Steve Ellman about building a $140M, 20,000-seat arena.
Coyotes President Shawn Hunter declined comment on the issue
"other than to say the Coyotes are committed to staying in
the Valley" (Kent Somers, ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/25).
