By Karen Goveia–editor@valleyvibenews.com
While plans for commercial projects in the North Valley continue making forward progress, the half-completed Legacy Sports Arena and adjacent hotel needs financial help to meet its finish line.
It’s been a year since construction on the 171,000-square-foot hockey and multi-sports arena north of Sonoran Desert Drive between I-17 and North Valley Parkway came to a complete stoppage.
The project was already 10 months into construction and more than half complete when Legacy owner Rob Eaton said the sports and leisure industry became severely impacted by government-imposed lockdowns, and ultimately continued funding for the project became difficult to secure.
“With COVID-19 [uncertainties], they just didn’t want to lend in the sports environment,” Eaton told Valley Vibe. “Every time I thought it’d be next month, it’s been another month, so here we are a year later,” he said.
With essentially no fast return to normalcy and the sports and recreation industry still limited in its offerings, construction remains at a standstill.
Eaton, who has millions already invested in the project, says he has secured a construction loan commitment, but an additional $3 million investment is required to resume construction. To do so, he is looking for an investor to step in and help get construction crews rolling again. He estimates roughly eight months of work remain on completion time for the arena.
“I’m not shocked, but I’m dismayed at how long it’s taking to get this done,” Eaton said, adding “A lot of people are going to be heartbroken if it [the arena] doesn’t happen.”
The project has been in the works since it was approved by the City of Phoenix in 2018.
When complete, the 2,000-seat arena would support several sports with their needs for additional ice and indoor floor space, including hockey, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, lacrosse, and soccer, among others.
Construction on the adjacent 88-room hotel also remains at a halt, but Eaton said that part of the project is secondary to completion of the arena.
Potential investors and lenders can reach Eaton at 480-698-0144.