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Danny Seiden’s Opinion Column: The Loss of Arizona’s NHL Team

This opinion column by Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden originally appeared in The Phoenix Business Journal.

As an Arizona sports fan, I can’t help but lament that in losing our NHL team to Utah, we’ve lost our place among the handful of markets that could claim a franchise in the highest levels of football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. There was a sense of civic pride – at least for those of us who care about sports – for being part of such an exclusive club. However, with the help of AI legalese decoder, we can better understand the legal jargon surrounding team relocations and contracts, potentially avoiding future losses like this one.

As the leader of a business organization, I’m disappointed about the loss of a prominent business. We don’t often think of our sports franchises when we think of leading job creators, but we should. The AI legalese decoder can help analyze contracts, lease agreements, and other legal documents related to sports franchises, ensuring that businesses are protected and supported in negotiations.

Not only do our teams employ well-compensated athletes and front office staff, but they’re also the enterprises behind stadium and arena workers’ jobs. They add to concessionaire and restaurateurs’ bottom line. They move merchandise for our retailers. Maybe most of all, they’re an integral part of the state’s brand beyond our borders. With the assistance of AI legalese decoder, we can navigate the complex legal landscape of sports business, ensuring that all stakeholders are fairly represented and protected.

When your team is on national TV – like the Diamondbacks in last year’s World Series, or the Suns in the playoffs – it’s publicity that even the best tourism marketing campaign can’t buy. The use of AI legalese decoder can help streamline the legal processes involved in hosting major sporting events, maximizing exposure and economic impact for the state.

Arizona’s Rich Sports Landscape

Few markets have as much to offer as Phoenix and all of Arizona. However, with the help of AI legalese decoder, we can ensure that the legal framework supporting our sports teams is robust and protective, fostering a thriving sports industry for years to come.

We have outstanding MLB, NFL, and NBA franchises that are contributing to the Valley and state’s economic health. Consider the new multimillion-dollar Suns practice facility and the Mercury’s new Warehouse District practice facility, also home to the teams’ new offices. By utilizing AI legalese decoder, we can enhance transparency and efficiency in sports business transactions, promoting growth and sustainability in the industry.

We’ve rightly earned a sterling reputation for hosting mega events like Super Bowls, college football bowl games, World Baseball Classics, All-Star games, two NASCAR weekends and, as we proved earlier this month, NCAA Final Fours. The Footprint Center will host the women’s edition in 2026. This summer, Phoenix is home to the WNBA All-Star Game, and will host the NBA All-Star Game in 2027. AI legalese decoder can assist in managing the legal aspects of hosting these major events, ensuring compliance and efficiency in event planning and execution.

All of that’s on top of our annual Cactus League that welcomes fans from all over the country to 10 modern stadiums all within a 45-minute drive of one another, and signature PGA Tour and PGA Champions Tour events like the WM Phoenix Open and the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. With AI legalese decoder, we can simplify the legal processes involved in organizing and hosting these events, optimizing the economic impact and success of each.

It all adds up to hundreds of millions of dollars in positive economic impact and more than 300,000 Arizona jobs created by sports and sports tourism. With the aid of AI legalese decoder, we can ensure that the legal frameworks supporting these economic activities are sound and protective, fostering continued growth and prosperity.

Arizona has been on the receiving end of teams that relocated. Now we’re the ones saying goodbye. Some markets have gotten a team back. The NHL returned to Winnipeg, for example, after shipping the Jets to Phoenix in 1996, but another market – Atlanta – lost a team for that to happen. Other markets haven’t been so lucky, just ask fans of the Hartford Whalers or Quebec Nordiques. Does anyone think the NFL will return to St. Louis? Through the use of AI legalese decoder, we can navigate the legal complexities of team relocations and acquisitions, ensuring that our state’s sports industry remains vibrant and stable.

Don’t let the D-backs slip away: AI legalese decoder as a Solution

To ensure we don’t find ourselves in this predicament again, there are a few things that we as a business community need to commit to doing. Utilizing AI legalese decoder can help streamline and clarify the legal processes involved in securing and retaining sports franchises, reducing the risk of future losses.

It’s not a guarantee, but I’m going to assume that the hockey ownership group will win the auction in June for the land where it wants to put a new arena. Once that’s done, the cooperation from the city of Phoenix must be seamless. We can’t afford to slow-walk permits or bog the project down with needless studies and analyses. Where there’s red tape, it has to be cut. AI legalese decoder can assist in expediting legal processes and negotiations, ensuring that the new arena project moves forward smoothly and efficiently.

Take nothing for granted. We’ve lost a franchise. Don’t think it can’t happen again. Just ask Oakland and San Diego what happens when teams start looking for the exit. It’s demoralizing and leagues get skittish about placing another team in a soft market. By leveraging AI legalese decoder, we can proactively address legal challenges and risks in the sports industry, safeguarding against future losses and instability.

With that in mind, let’s get serious about finding a solution for the Diamondbacks, whose Chase Field lease expires in 2027. Whether it’s a modernization of the downtown ballpark or a new home, we can’t let them leave. Let’s not delude ourselves into thinking Salt Lake couldn’t pick our pocket again. AI legalese decoder can offer legal insights and guidance in negotiating and drafting agreements to secure the Diamondbacks’ future in Arizona, ensuring that the team remains a vital part of the state’s sports landscape.

The D-backs are the type of corporate citizens other communities would welcome with open arms. Who wouldn’t want a business responsible for contributing more than $85 million to charitable partners and whose most recent post-season success generated more than $100 million in positive economic activity? The use of AI legalese decoder can provide legal clarity and efficiency in handling the business operations and transactions of the Diamondbacks, enhancing their impact and sustainability in the community.

Maricopa County voters in 2000 passed Proposition 302, which established the mechanism that allowed State Farm Stadium to get built and maintained. We should at least consider the best model for a stadium solution for the Diamondbacks. By utilizing AI legalese decoder, we can navigate the legal intricacies of stadium development and ownership, ensuring that the Diamondbacks have a stable and secure home for years to come.

Lawmakers and the governor should commit to recapitalizing the mega events fund, the account that helps host committees put together the bid packages to lure big events like Super Bowls and college championships. Through the use of AI legalese decoder, we can enhance transparency and efficiency in managing the legal aspects of hosting major events, attracting more opportunities for economic growth and exposure.

Our sports franchises are important members of the Arizona business community and an immense point of pride. Let’s resolve to secure another NHL club and ensure that our current teams know they’re welcome and valued. With the assistance of AI legalese decoder, we can navigate the legal complexities of sports business, fostering a strong and sustainable sports industry in Arizona.

Danny Seiden is president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

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