The Coyotes are "running out of options" in their quest to build a new arena in East Valley, leaving behind an "untenable situation in Glendale," according to Dan Bickley of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. A new home on tribal land "might be the only option keeping the Coyotes from relocating to another state." Arizona taxpayers "won’t approve any form of public funding for a hockey team that has delivered one extended playoff run in over two decades." A shared arena in downtown Phoenix seems like the "most convenient solution, where the Suns and Coyotes appear to be perfect roommates." However, the Suns have "all the leverage and little incentive." The Coyotes are "approaching another political crossroad." They need a new venue to be "financially competitive." Yet they are "incapable of investing in the moment, in the most pressing game on their schedule: making people care enough to never let them leave" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/1). In Phoenix, Laurie Roberts cites a poll as indicating that voters "aren't buying" into the idea of public subsidies for a Coyotes arena. According to the poll, 68% of Arizona voters "oppose the Coyotes’ plan to create a special taxing district in order to build another arena." In Maricopa County, 71% of voters "panned the idea." Just 13% (statewide) to 14% (Maricopa County) "approved the plan." In all, 65% of voters (66% in Maricopa County) said that the team "should stay in Glendale." The telephone poll "surveyed 786 registered voters on Feb. 24 and 25." The margin of error was 3.58% (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/1).
