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Good things will come with arena

Comments 0

October 11, 2008 7:17 PM

Soccer, hockey, football, boxing, Blue Man Group, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, Maroon 5, Cirque du Soleil in Yuma? Yes! The city is letting us vote "yes" on Proposition 400 to bring them here.

There are so many good things that the event center can bring to Yuma while also providing a larger indoor arena for high school graduations and community events like home shows and golf expos. There will be open skating, concerts, conventions and pro sports like hockey, where Yuma will have the chance to take the CHL Cup from Prescott Valley.

We can experience all of this with no new taxes. Existing sales tax amounts from a designated entertainment district will be directed toward bond payments along with taxes on food and merchandise at the event center as well as ticket surcharges.

If all of these factors combined do not cover debt service, they will simply dip into the general fund, which will have increased due to additional spending in Yuma outside of the entertainment district because of the event center. There will be no new taxes.

Yuma needs positive growth. People move here every day and no one can stop the growth. We are being given the chance to direct that growth in a positive way though. Voting "no" on the event center will limit growth in the Yuma Palms area and force parents to wonder on every Friday and Saturday night "Where's my 16-year-old tonight?" or "What is little Johnny doing?" or "Is little Jenny safe?"

The couple of hundred acres surrounding the event center will benefit so much from it being built. With the anchor tenant of an event center - great restaurants, fun entertainment, additional shopping and fine hotels benefiting all of Yuma will rapidly follow.

I just can't understand why anyone would vote "no." We don't have a choice to vote on whether or not Yuma grows, but on Nov. 4 we are being given the opportunity to vote on making it a positive growth. It will give us the ability to stay one step ahead of surrounding communities like El Centro and bring family activities to Yuma.

On Nov. 4, vote "yes" on Proposition 400.

--
MARK J. BANACH
Foothills

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40 comments

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civics101

10:26 PM on October 11, 2008

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Mr. Banach,

You are confused about not having to pay any "new" taxes. I would compare it to having a room mate that pays rent for the guy next door. Your rent (taxes) may not have increased, but you are now having to cover your room mates (arena) share of the rent (taxes). You will now have a $10,000 a day mooch that can't and won't be able to gererate enough income to cover his share.
All off these events are expected to drain the city coffers a least $10,000 a day. Check out Prescott's money pit. It lost $3.5 MILLION last year. We are looking at $4 MILLION or MORE LOSS each and every year. There is NO WAY the entertainment district will ever cover these losses.

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civics101

10:43 PM on October 11, 2008

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Imagine having to take a $10,000 loss every day. How can this be a good business plan for anyone? Yet, we are going to ask the local taxpayers to do just that. Watching a hockey game, a $10,0000 loss. Kids ice skating, a $10,000 loss. A idle day, a $10,000 loss.

A simple cost verses benefit chart would look something like this: Cost - $10,000 a day loss + Benefit - Kids skating = POOR INVESTMENT.

Score: 0

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bob2873

3:17 AM on October 12, 2008

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As Mr.Banach says, "The city is letting us vote "yes" on Proposition 400 to bring them here."

Now, I ask you... Just how gracious is that? It's nice to see the City fathers are sooo concerned about the folks that they are going to LET us vote on a White Elephant and there won't even be any costs associated with feeding it. Where's the voting poll? Can I vote early? Gimme a break!

If the new Entertainment district will be so positive for the city please tell me why the taxpayers have to go in debt for this thing? Looks as tho' private funding would jump at a once-in-a-lifetime chance like this and reap ALL the profits.

NO on 400!!!

Score: 0

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notoarena

12:59 PM on October 12, 2008

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Mr Banach refers to the arena as being "positive growth". He is very confused or, perhaps, concerned about his emploment with Mr Pancrazi. Positive growth is when a business comes to town and increases the tax base. The arena will cause negative growth as it sucks up our taxes to pay its costs. If it were privately owned then all of the taxes paid would go to the city rather than paying arena overhead, debt service and losses.

All of the past growth in Yuma came without an arena. Is that growth negative because there was no arena? Will future growth be negative if there is no arena?

Vote no on Prop 400 to protect your way of life. Go to notoarena.com to learn the truth about the arena.

Score: 0

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binthere

1:34 PM on October 12, 2008

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Oh, good- another self-serving letter from one who expects to profit personally from this vote. FYI: the city is not letting voters "vote yes", the voters petitioned the city to place the issue before the citizens of Yuma. And voters will now vote either yes or no to the proposition, whichever they feel is the most responsible thing to do.

"If all of these factors combined do not cover debt service, they will simply dip into the general fund, which will have increased due to additional spending in Yuma outside of the entertainment district because of the event center." SIMPLY dip into the general fund? What exactly, apart from blue-sky projections, makes you think the vacant land will be built on "rapidly", thus increasing tax revenues, and if it doesn't, well, hey no problem- there will be increased tax revenues from all that increased spending in the entertainment district, like Yuma Palms? Have you noticed that we're in the most profound economic crisis since 1929, and that people have lost up to 50% of their 401(k) funds, not to mention their homes which were their biggest resource, and that as a result of all this, people are spending less, which in turn means businesses are not only not hiring but laying off employees? Have you read the Sun articles on reducetions in sales tax revenues in 2008?

I also wish someone would explain just how an arena "directs" urban growth in a "positive" direction? This makes absolutely no sense. The direction growth takes is dependent on both local and outsidwe factors too numerous and complex to even define- if it were simple, everyone would have the playbook in city halls across the nation by now. Whether or not the effect on a community is "positive" depends most of all on whether that community cares about its people- neighbors helping one another, befriending one another, exerting social pressure on one another to maintain a stable, law-abiding, involved and committed network. This isn't just a matter of increasing business revenues, however much you may want to think it is. (And there's not a whole lot of evidence that an arena even does that.)

And finally: "Voting "no" on the event center will limit growth in the Yuma Palms area and force parents to wonder on every Friday and Saturday night "Where's my 16-year-old tonight?" or "What is little Johnny doing?" or "Is little Jenny safe?"

Whaaaat?? All those generations of parents past and present have somehow managed to raise their children to be safe, sensible, responsible people- without an arena. This is fear-mongering of the most despicable sort- threatening people with Johnny getting into drugs, gangs, whatever- and little Jenny getting hurt (was "is she safe" code for she's getting raped or pregnant?Because ther's no arena?)

Parents have always had- and still have- the same power to unfluence their children's choices, and oddly enough, they are most effective when they keep a close personal communication and relationship with the kids, as opposed to, say, dropping them off at a mall or arena with a fistful of cash.

I raised a 16-year-old who was expected to provide me with names, locations, and phone numbers for the evening, and if he was at an event without a phone contact, he checked in by phone periodically. Being a youth of honor, he did this, because he understood it was necessary; he even likes me still. And there was no arena. Amazing.

Score: 0

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jrrhea

2:16 PM on October 12, 2008

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Civics 101 and all you who keep reporting losses of 10K per day for the city. Please, ENOUGH! You are knowingly spreading false information. If you for some reason do not feel that the Sun's recent article on that topic http://www.yumasun.com/news/arena_44567___article.html/exceeds_expectations.html?orderby=TimeStampAscending&oncommentsPage=1&showRecommendedOnly=0
was the truth, well then, call Prescott Valley yourself and re-confirm that they are NOT paying out that kind of money to keep the facility open. For the most part, these were accounting principals or losses "on paper".

But to actively keep telling people here that we stand to lose at least $10K per day and not willing to re-confirm what you are "reporting" here, to my mind, is in extremely bad taste.

There were no such losses in PV and the City of Prescott Valley confirmed to the Yuma Sun that the facility has EXCEEDED their expectations for what they hoped it would do for the city. The city nor the private partnership in that venture (the Fain Group) are throwing in 10K per day to keep the doors open. If that were the case, they would close the building itself and just pay down the debt service on a unoperating building which would probably be cheaper!

See excerpt from the recent article:

"It's not the true operational cost of the building. There are other partnership expenses."

He explained that the Prescott Valley arena, named Tim's Toyota Center, is owned and operated by a private partnership between Global and the Fain Signature Group - the development side of the ranching family that owned the property where the arena is located.

"The filing with the FSC (Federal Securities Commission) includes the investment partnership's expenses that are not part of the operating expenses of the center," Yeager said.

Those other expenses include interest that accrues on the bond between debt service semi-annual payments and depreciation of the building, he said. "Those are two big numbers."

Yeager said he couldn't divulge the amount of depreciation because of the private partnership, but added that it is significant.

Otherwise, he said, the operating revenue is nearly meeting the operating expenses for the arena.

PLEASE, if you feel strongly about this subject either way please try your best to look deeply at both sides of the issue. I will gladly speak to anyone regarding this subject. You can email me from our website at yumaeventcenter.org

Jeanine Rhea

Score: 0

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cptjack

4:51 PM on October 12, 2008

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On November 4th, if you give a flying crap about the future liability of the taxpaying residents of Yuma, VOTE NO ON PROP 400!

Score: 0

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jackkretzer

5:18 PM on October 12, 2008

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ms. rhea,

false inofrmation from your web site:
"Is there any similar venue in Arizona?

Yes. The Town of Prescott Valley (population 39,000) 1/12 hours north of Phoenix built a hugely successful Events Center called Tim’s Toyota Center. Their hockey team, the Arizona Sundogs, just won their league championship. The facility in Prescott Valley can seat 4,800 people for hockey games, and this past season they averaged 4,310 fans per game (click here for CHL league attendance for past season). Most games are sold out. Community events and open skate time are very popular. Many additional businesses and restaurants have opened up around the facility and several hotels are now under construction to accommodate the growing need for overnight lodging."

the fain signature group owns the events center, not the town of prescott valley. the town of prescott valley had to provide funds to meet the debt requirements for the bonds sold. as a result the bonds were downgraded by fitch.

additional text is:
"If it is such a good deal for the city, why don’t private developers pay for it?

This issue has been discussed in every city considering building a stadium, event center, sports complex and city-owned conference center in the nation with the same outcome. Cities fund Events Centers to provide community usage of the facility and improve the quality of life for residents; similar to libraries, parks, soccer fields, etc. Why don't private developers pay for it? The answer is simple – financial. The Events Center, through its operations, should be able to pay for its day to day expenses but will not generate enough revenue to pay the debt service for construction. Therefore, not only in Yuma but across the US, the private sector has not and will not invest in these projects; it just doesn't make financial sense for them to do so."

since you and mr. clark are chairs of the opposing pacs, how about a debate between the two of you in prime time with your heavy contributors buying prime time on kyma or kswt?

Score: 0

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jackkretzer

5:30 PM on October 12, 2008

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mrs. rhea,

more misleading information from your web site:

What is Proposition 400?

"On January 16, 2008 the Yuma City Council approved resolution R2008-06. It allows the city to develop, build and manage a multi-purpose events center. Proposition 400 is a referendum that refers Resolution R2008-06 to the ballot."

resolution r2008-06 allows the city of yuma to have the city council establish a public policy to build an arena and all subsequent actions of the city council such as: selling bonds, buying real estate, wouild be administrative acts not subject to a referendum petition by the citizens of yuma.

the title of referendum petition ref2008-01 is titled "sall resolution r2008-06 be rescinded?" under the city charter the city council had a choice to rescind resolution r2008-06 or to place it on a ballot. a yes vote would rescind the resolution and end the game being played with the taxpayers of yuma.

if you look at prop 400, you will find that the city of yuma has changed the title. can you cite any authority for them to do so? the city has exercised authority not granted to the city by the charter, ars, or az constitution.

Score: 0

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jackkretzer

5:40 PM on October 12, 2008

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ms. rhea,

from your web site:

"What kind of contracts will be negotiated with the successful bidder?
Three separate contracts will be negotiated. One for the design and construction, one for the guaranteed hockey franchise, and one for the management contract."

global, i assume, is the preferred vendor? global offers services to:

"Global Entertainment Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated event and entertainment company in the United States. It engages in sports management, multipurpose events center and related real estate development, facility and venue management and marketing, and venue ticketing. The company operates and manages a minor professional hockey league known as the Central Hockey League, which consists of 18 teams located in mid-market communities in the central and western regions of the United States. It also develops multipurpose events centers in mid-market communities; and promotes, markets, and sells various services related to multipurpose entertainment facilities, including facility naming rights, facility sponsorship agreements, luxury suite sales, and club seat license sales. In addition, the company provides ticketing services for the multipurpose event centers, entertainment venues, theatres, concert halls, and other facilities and event coordinators by way of box office, phone, Internet, and print-at-home service that utilizes distribution outlets; and offers multipurpose events center operational services, such as administrative oversight in the areas of facility/property management and finance, event bookings, and food and beverage. Further, it provides services related to the development of multipurpose events centers and surrounding multi-use real estate development. The company, formerly known as Global II, Inc., was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona."

from your web site it would appear that there is no mention of selling land by the preferred vendor. does this suggests that global no longer has an option of the whitman trust property brokered by tom pancrazi?

since you have stated here that others are providing false information, will the heat web site be amended to provide factual; information?

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