The Phoenix Suns’ owner is reportedly threatening to move the team in order to get his way with a publicly-funded arena renovation.
Suns owner Robert Sarver is pushing for the city to join him in paying for a renovation of Talking Stick Resort Arena, which is where the Suns play their home games. Sarver reportedly has a deal in place with the current Phoenix mayor to renovate the arena for $150 million, which would be mostly funded by the city, with the Suns kicking in $80 million. The problem is a new mayor was elected who has no interest in funding the renovations, so the Suns are rushing to try and get the measure approved.
According to the Arizona Republic, some members of the city council in Phoenix have asked to postpone a vote on the measure because they know it will fail. Polling has shown that around 65% of the city’s voters do not support such a deal.
In order to try and pressure/flip city council voters, reporter Laurie Roberts says Sarver is “telling some council members that he will take the team to Seattle or Las Vegas.”
Whether this is a hollow threat or has some teeth remains to be seen, but it seems like the city does not want to be pushed around, especially by the owner of a team that is 4-24. Seattle is still sensitive about losing its basketball team, while Las Vegas is also making noise in the pro sports arena by adding the Raiders.
