Craig Harris

The Republic | azcentral.com

Legislation that would give the Arizona Coyotes $225 million in public funding for a new arena is nearly dead, Senate President Steve Yarbrough told The Arizona Republic Thursday.

"At this point, I have no expectation that that bill is going to move," Yarbrough said.

The Chandler Republican said Sen. Bob Worsley, the bill's sponsor, could not muster the necessary 16 votes for passage in the Senate. He also had difficulty getting help from his Republican colleagues, who control the chamber. House Republicans also have expressed opposition to the bill.

Worsley, who pushed the bill through a committee he chairs in February, said it "may be the case" the legislation is in trouble. Yet he noted that no bills truly are dead until the Legislature adjourns.

A team spokesman said the Coyotes will keep trying to get a new playing facility built in the Valley. The team contends it is not financially viable to continue playing in Glendale's Gila River Arena.

“The Coyotes continue to work hard to find a viable arena solution in the greater Phoenix area, a market that both the club and the NHL believe is a strong hockey market capable of supporting a successful NHL franchise. We will continue to pursue a long-term arena solution in the Valley that meets this criterion," said team spokesman Rich Nairn.

Yarbrough: 'Change the format'

Yarbrough said one of the few ways the bill still might pass is if it were included in the state budget. But he called that extremely unlikely.

Some lawmakers may be convinced to support the legislation if the Coyotes would put more money into the project and seek less public financing, he said.

"If you are getting no traction the way the bill is designed, you could see if the hockey team paid a greater portion," Yarbrough said. "I have been around this business long enough to know that if it's not working in this format, you change the format to make it more attractive."

In the current plan, the team has pledged to pay $170 million toward what is envisioned as a $395 million arena that would be located in downtown Phoenix or the East Valley. The team also would control the retail development and hotel within an "engagement district" that would generate new sales taxes to also pay $170 million toward the arena. The remaining $55 million would come from the host city.

Sen. John Kavanagh, another influential lawmaker, said the bill will not pass in its current form.

"As far as I know, it's finished," said Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, who opposed the measure.

The team and National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman earlier this month threatened to move the franchise out of Arizona if the Legislature did not approve the funding bill for a new arena.

Though the team has promising young players, it will not make the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

Second-lowest attendance in NHL

The team is averaging 13,020 fans per game this season at Gila River Arena, which has a capacity of 17,125 seats. With about one-fourth of available seats being empty on a regular basis, the team has the second-worst home attendance among the NHL's 30 teams. Only Carolina, which on average draws 11,786 fans, has lower attendance.

The NHL's average attendance is 17,493.

The Arizona franchise recently disclosed it would put tarps over four upper-level seating sections at Gila River Arena for the majority of home games next season, the final year the team is contractually obligated to play in Glendale.

"We may open these sections up for certain marquee games featuring popular opponents. We believe that removing some of this excess inventory and concentrating our great fans closer together represents an opportunity to improve the fan experience at Gila River Arena day in, day out," Nairn said.

He added that the sections (205, 211, 220, and 226) have not sold well in the past. The team will work with current season ticket holders to "help them select seats in comparable locations at the same price point."

Covering the four sections would reduce capacity by 1,256 seats for a total of 15,869 seats.

Covering sections of seats is not uncommon for professional sports teams that have difficulty drawing fans. The practice typically reduces the number of lower-priced seats, prompting fans to purchase seats with a better view but usually at a higher cost.

Reach the reporter at craig.harris@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8478.