Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton announced plans to pursue a path to find a new home for the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury and the Phoenix Coyotes while abstaining from raising taxes for a new sports arena at his State of the City address, Tuesday.
The Suns ownership recently informed the Mayor that they will be searching for a new home in the “near future,” Stanton said before a packed crowd at the Downtown Phoenix Sheraton.
“Just like the current arena, it will take a public-private partnership. And the obligation to act responsibly with those public dollars is one I take seriously,” Stanton said.
In this pursuit for a new sports facility in Phoenix, Stanton mentioned that it will have to not only keep the current activities the arena brings into the city, but also bring in new events to the city as well, such as the Phoenix Coyotes.
“Building two new professional arenas in our region simply doesn’t make sense,” he added.
Any plan for a new sports facility will use existing sports facilities funds, Stanton said, instead of raising taxes, or seeking a voter approved proposition.
The mayor did not mention the Arizona Diamondbacks during his speech. The Diamondbacks recently attempted to nullify a section in its contract with the county to be able to start seeking a new home.
