Coyotes President, CEO & co-Owner Anthony LeBlanc said that "despite being turned down by one key lawmaker," the team will "continue seeking legislation to allow creation of a municipal taxing district that would give" the franchise a new arena, according to Craig Harris of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. One proposal "floated at the Capitol would allow" from $350-750M to be "generated for an arena from sales and excise taxes imposed within a new taxing district." Sources said that the plan, detailed in a 49-page draft bill, also "could allow public funds to be used to build a hotel or other commercial real estate within the district." The Coyotes "confirmed they would want a hotel in any arena project," but public funds "would not be used to build it." LeBlanc said that the team would contribute $100-170M "toward any project." He added that the franchise "is looking to build on 50 to 60 acres." Coyotes officials said that the concept of using sales and excise taxes generated from businesses within a district to retire debt on an arena "has been used numerous times for arenas around the country." State Sen. Debbie Lesko said that there "wasn't enough time to fully vet such a plan this year at the Legislature, and that's why she wouldn't sponsor the bill." She also said that it was "unlikely such a plan would be thrown into the state budget in the waning weeks of the Legislature." But Lesko said that she would "be willing to keep listening, and possibly consider a similar plan in the near future." LeBlanc said that the team "would continue to lobby lawmakers after the session ends and plans to bring a similar proposal to the Legislature" in '17 (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/15).
