Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority Suing Fiesta Bowl For $400,000

The Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority (ASTA), which operates Univ. of Phoenix Stadium, is "suing the Fiesta Bowl to recover more than $400,000 it says is owed by the group," according to Carrie Watters of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. ASTA President Tom Sadler said that the filing was "made Friday in Maricopa County Superior Court," and added that the disagreement "will not impact" the January 4 Fiesta Bowl at the stadium. Fiesta Bowl board member Mike Allen said the timing of the suit "speaks to the poor management" of the ASTA and Univ. of Phoenix Stadium.  Allen: "Our customers are going to be coming into town and reading this. ... It's just wrong." Watters noted the "possibility of a suit has been brewing since early fall when mediation failed between the two sides on game-day expenses." The dispute "revolves around two issues: the costs to operate and maintain the parking lots and erect additional seats for the bowl game." The ASTA in the suit said that it is "owed $211,000, which is the cost of overruns since 2007 when the Fiesta Bowl moved" to the stadium. Meanwhile, Sadler "pegged the outstanding bills" for additional seating since '08 at $194,000 (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/13).