April 13, 2023

Tempe, AZ – The two groups arguing for and against Propositions 301, 302 and 303 in the May 16 Tempe Special Election will discuss the particulars of the Tempe Entertainment District proposal at a virtual debate next week.

Hosted by the Arizona Republic and moderated by Republic reporter Taylor Seely, the debate will happen from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18. As a public service, viewers can stream the debate live at tempe.gov/tempe11 or watch Tempe 11 live via Cox cable. The debate also will be re-aired several times on Tempe 11 and posted to tempe.gov/TempeEntertainmentDistrict and azcentral.com the next day.
Community members are invited to submit questions by emailing TED@tempe.govor by emailing tseely@arizonarepublic.com.

Up to two members each representing the Tempe Wins and Tempe 1^st groups will field questions from Seely that are derived from public submissions and the Republic’s own questions. A structured process of responses and rebuttals will follow each question. Each group will answer the same number of questions. Opening and closing statements from each group will be allowed.

Register to vote by April 17
Residents who register to vote by April 17 will be able to vote on the Tempe Entertainment District during the May 16 Special Election. Ballots will begin to mail April 19, and they may be returned by mail, at Maricopa County drop boxes, or in person at vote centers. All election information is at tempe.gov/election.

The Tempe City Council approved in late 2022 the resolutions/ordinances for the development of the Tempe Entertainment District plan after two public hearings and months of negotiations, city due diligence and developer-hosted public meetings. Three aspects of the primarily privately funded proposal from Bluebird Development, the affiliate for the Meruelo Group and the Arizona Coyotes, were approved: a Zoning Map Amendment and a Planned Area Development (PAD) Overlay; a General Plan Amendment; and the Development and Disposition Agreement (DDA). These three aspects are what will go before voters in May.

Bluebird Development collected and submitted in December more than the needed petition signatures for each of three questions to refer the project to the ballot. If voters approve, the project would be built with a planned Arizona Coyotes hockey arena, hotels, multi-family residential, retail and more. The developer will use largely private funding to build the development and will pay Tempe $50.3 million for the land.

Full details about the project are at tempe.gov/TempeEntertainmentDistrict.