Voters already have good deal of arena data

The Yuma City Council's vote Wednesday to negotiate a possible arena deal with Global Entertainment Corp. officially ended speculation another firm might be selected to do the deal, but it did not end speculation on whether the arena is a good idea.

Global is the Arizona-based company that initially brought the events center concept to city officials, proposing that the facility be built north of the Yuma Palms Regional Center. As initially discussed more than a year ago, the center would seat 6,000 people and have state-of-the-art facilities for ice hockey, concerts, entertainment events and conventions.

The negotiations authorized in a 4-3 vote of the council will apparently formalize the details of the arena, something those favoring the events center believe is needed if voters are to have adequate knowledge to vote on whether to proceed with it in November.

The November vote is the result of an referendum petition that was successful after the city council voted in January by the same 4-3 split to go ahead with the project.

The question is whether any negotiations should be taking place before the vote.

Deputy City Administrator Bob Stull defended the decision. "The citizens have put it on the ballot. Now they should know what they're voting on," Stull said. He gave assurance that the negotiations would be moot if voters reject the arena.

It would also give the city a head-start on starting work on the $53 million arena quickly if it is approved by voters.

Actually, a fair amount is already known about the arena. Global's original proposal was detailed and we know the center would be based on arena models in other cities, like one recently put up in Prescott Valley. The city has also explained how it will be financed.

So voters already have a good amount of knowledge about the arena. But we suppose it does no harm to negotiate if the council wants to do so, as long as there is no cost to the city and there is a clear understanding it could very well be meaningless.

While these talks are taking place, the city also needs to be fully and critically vetting Global. Questions have been raised about the company's financial stability and problems with Global deals in other cities. That is something voters also need to know.