After presentations from developers and the airport, 96 public speakers, over 200 written comments and plenty of discussion, the Tempe City Council voted to move forward with negotiations to bring the Arizona Coyotes to the East Valley.
The council approved the measure in a 5-2 vote after 8 hours of deliberation on June 2. Councilmembers Doreen Garlid and Lauren Kuby voted no. Kuby is set to step down from the council in July.
The approval does not mean the Coyotes are set to bring their arena along Priest Drive and Rio Salado Road, but only that negotiations between the developer, Bluebird Development LLC, and the city can begin.
