Representatives with the Arizona Coyotes said an arena and commercial district the team is proposing to build in Tempe follows applicable aviation rules and wouldn’t impact operations at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The National Hockey League team wants to move to a new 16,000-seat arena that would be built on the south bank of the dry Salt River near Priest Drive and Rio Salado Parkway. The team’s $1.7 billion proposal also calls for hotels, apartments, a theater and shopping and dining on 46 acres of city-owned land.
Airport officials have raised questions about the development’s proximity to the airport, estimated building heights and the team’s intention to build residential units that they say are an incompatible use of the land.