Town Council - Regular Meeting

Auto Town Press Valley special study session March 26, 20 26. First item up, Prescal Events Center hockey league discussion leading off. Can I take role? We can do that. Absolutely. Council member Lopez present. Council member Kio present. Council member Bring Council member Greer here. Council member Schumacher present. Vice Mayor Searcher here. Mayor Pura here.

We have a quorum. All right, first item up. Item 2A. Mr. Judy, welcome. Mayor, council, it's a pleasure to be with you today. If I can give just a brief history of the event center and then I'll turn the time over to Shane Cadwell from the from the arena. Uh the uh Fins Toyota Center that's currently known opened back in 2006. And if you were here back then, you'll remember it was called Tim's Toyota Center. I still hear a few people slip once in a while and call it Tims. But we are fortunate to have Fimbe as a major sponsor of the arena. There were a few years there where we didn't have a title sponsor. It was also called the Presky Valley Event Center. Originally, the town did not own or operate the event center, but we were a financial backer of of the arena. When it opened back in 2006, it opened with the Arizona Sund Dogs. I see some Sund Dogs uh uniforms in the audience behind me. It's great to see. And uh Unfortunately, after several years, in 2014, the Sund Dogs folded as did the hockey league that they played in the Central Hockey League. In 2015, the center entered into bankruptcy. And in 20 that process played out for a couple of years as Ivan is is real familiar. And in 2017, rather than see the arena go dark and potentially go into chapter 7 bankruptcy and liquidation, the town purchased the facility and immediately entered into an agreement with at the time Spectra, which is now Oakview Group. So we we contract with Oak View Group to manage and operate the arena. You see, also during those years, we had the Northern Arizona Suns come in, a basketball team sponsored with or affiliated with the Phoenix Suns, and we currently have the Arizona Wranglers in there. They just had their last game on Saturday. We have a great partnership with them. We want to see them be successful. Ever since the Sund Dogs folded, we've

been trying to get hockey back in the arena. That was one of the main uh reasons why it was built, you know, to provide an entertainment center for for the town and hockey was going to be an anchor tenant and provide 32 36 or more game nights during the year to help the arena be successful. Uh from the town's point of view, uh we want the arena to be successful. Uh we want it to be self- sustaining at some point. It's pretty common knowledge that the town subsidizes the arena at this stage and that's what we're looking for going forward is not to have to spend additional resources that could be used other elsewhere in the town. We've had many conversations over the past 10 years with different hockey groups that have expressed interest. None of them have ever panned out and that's why we're here tonight to entertain discussion about a a tier one junior hockey team. And with that, I will turn the time over to Shane to give his presentation. After that, we have somebody from Rounds Consulting that's online with us as well. They provided a third-party independent analysis of what type of fiscal impact this team could have on the town. That machine Shane,

thank you, Mr. Judy. Welcome, sir.

Thanks, Ryan. Mayor, counselors, thanks for having me. It's nice to see everybody here. exciting to the just got to get a little closer to the microphone, sir.

Exciting to see everybody here about hockey. So, um just to kind of start with a little bit, my name is Shane Cadball. I'm the general manager of the Finley Toyota Center. I've been here uh this just in February was 7 years. Um I started with the company in 2000, so I'm close to 26 years with the company. uh 2011 I became a GM. So this is the third building that I've been a general manager. So um excited to be here. Have had um a very uh very enjoyable seven years here in Prescat Valley uh and hopefully be here for a while to come. Um just a little bit of background on the company. So Group um we have about 200 accounts of venue management um across the country and even into England, some in Canada. Uh also about 200 food accounts across the country. Um some of the bigger accounts that you probably are familiar with are UBS Arena where the Islanders play in New York. Uh Seattle, the climate pledge arena. Regionally, you've been helping me. Thanks. Uh, regionally, we have also um several accounts in the in the southwest. A couple of the bigger ones would be Acer Center in Palm Springs. Uh, the Moody's Center in Austin, Texas. We have the Mullet Arena in Phoenix. And then obviously us here in Prescat Valley. Um, so that's a little bit of background on on the company itself. Just kind of wanted to then transition into what we've been doing at the center here

in the last four fiscal years. Uh, kind of really postcoid um to give you an idea what activities we have. Um, we're about 110 events annually. Um those events range from sports to concerts to rodeos, uh family shows. I would say of those 110 about 65 are in the neighborhood of uh 25 to 4,000 people more more impactful. Um in attendance, uh average attendance on the year about 235 uh thousand. um kind of the big categories that we uh put events into that we're seeing. uh 15 concerts a year, uh 15 concerts/comdy shows, three bull riding events, uh we do four different motorsports events each year, a couple that fit into the category of WWE or mixed martial arts, uh trade shows, about 20 days of differing types of trade shows, and then we have a fair amount of activity in the sporting world. Um that ranges from the Northern Arizona Wranglers games obviously to some GCU hockey games, youth wrestling tournaments, a couple youth gymnastics meets, Harlem Gro Globe Trotters um or some of the bigger events and then to provide kind of some background on the financial performance that we've had. Um the last four fiscal years have been fairly strong for us. Um you can kind of see from year to year. It varies slightly. Um but we just finished up one of our bigger years uh getting up to about 1.418 million in in revenue to the building. That includes all event revenues, its sponsorship, its premium

seating, public skating. Basically everywhere we're we're drawing in revenue. Um a four-year average of about 1.2 236 million. Um, just to give everybody an idea what we're doing and what the results look like. Um, it's also important to note uh facility expenses at the venue don't ex or they exceed those revenues on an annual basis. So the town then provides a subsidy on the variance. Um on an annual basis kind of on an average we're about 600 um 600,000 that's the the annual subsidy. And I think it's also important to note that for venues in markets our size that's the majority need some sort of subsidy. So it's fairly standard across the across the country. And then um kind of on to hockey know that's why we're all here. So just kind of wanted to go through kind of the starting point. We've been approached by a startup hockey the junior hockey league and they've got interest in the venue and the market. So we've had conversations with conversations with them going back three or four months now I suppose. um their intent is to start this league in September of 2027, so next fall. Um in those conversations that we're still ongoing, um the proposal that they brought to us initially was kind of a two-part scenario. It would be team games and then also ice programming. So the the games I think obviously speak for themselves. would be a 32game home schedule, potential for playoff games.

Um the ice programming piece to it would include um kind of in their projection the potential for like 1,250 hours annually. Um that usage would look like team practices, um community and youth practices, games, adult hockey, even starting figure skating. Um it was estimated that the facility would generate about 321,000 of net revenue from that ICE programming. Um so that was something that we've digested talked about internally for quite some time. Uh as we've gone forward and stand before you today we have some considerations that we obviously have to factor into what becomes the best utilization of the facility. So, as we've done that, um, kind of some of those considerations are to to maintain that facility as a primarily as a spectator venue. Really was designed for to be a multi-purpose facility. Concerts, shows, obviously, hockey games. Initially, that's always been the been the case and continues to be the case, I think. So, for just a little bit of a description of what that looks like, it's it's really intended for people to go to an event, be entertained, buy a ticket. Um, for us, it's being able to get that subsidy as low as we can by generating the revenue from food ticketing, from sponsorship, from sales of suites, all those types of things. So, that's really why these buildings get designed. That's the intent. Um, so it's really moving forward how we can best continue to to

make progress and and incrementally improve what our financial operation looks like. Um, so those those events are are the most important. Um, obviously hockey can be a huge benefit to the building. So having those events be in place is is certainly why we're all here trying to figure out what the best use would be. Finding the best league, the best team, best operator to to partner with, excuse me. um kind of the second part there just as part of going through it and managing that process. I think an important thing to do would be to establish what our priorities are as it when it comes to scheduling. Um so laying that out obviously then becomes the the way that we best utilize the facility. So we've done that in the in the following ways. The first one being the major events that we currently have. It includes the concerts, the bull riding events, the the motor sports, um sporting events that we already have in place. And then obviously number two being any sort of sporting tenant that we can get into the facility. Currently the Wranglers are contracted. So obviously we have an agreement with them that that lays out their scheduling needs. Um, obviously if we were to go two terms with a hockey team, we'd be in a similar situation where we'd have to um be required to schedule them into dates and be able to accommodate what their what their league schedule calls for. Um, and then the third one would be the ice programming that if we were to have hockey, obviously we'd have ice in the facility for a much longer term, which would allow for us to then schedule those types of events around the other events.

Um, here's a little more background kind of in in our process of evaluating a hockey team and what it might look like. Obviously, projections projections are a little bit difficult to to come to, but I I think in many ways we could lay out this in terms of revenue expenses and then a net. So we have three slides here that show first first what our revenues could look like then the second one will be expenses and then the third one will show the net. But on this first one what we've done is shown effectively what all of our revenue sources and streams would look like. um and then done the best to project based on 1500 tickets sold per game 2500 and 3500. So I think if you if you look at this and um kind of look at the middle is probably the best place to look you can kind of see each stream and what that does and it it pulls to about 868,000 in revenues as potential. Um, and then obviously, you know, those those numbers will change based on the average number of tickets sold per game. And then as you move to expenses on the next slide, we obviously will take on a fairly significant amount of expenses to to be able to manage those games. Um, when you look at the list there, you're looking at utilities and that's mainly coming from having ice in for about seven additional months each year. Um, and running chiller plant that long. It's a pretty extensive amount of utility cost. Um,

game expenses, that's your game night expenses. uh security, box office, building conversions, cleaning. Um and that's that's a total for a season as you're looking at these numbers. Um couple of full-time staff members would need to be added. Um obviously, we do a lot of dry events. Now, if you're going to have hockey in for an additional 7 months, the conversion cost going back and forth. It's just a it's a longer process, more expense attached to it. So, we've assigned some expense there to make sure we're covered on what that would look like. We do four to five dirt events every year. So that the process of putting dirt in on top of ice requires some some plywood to to allow for the logistics of that to happen, right? And then obviously um when you take on a team tenant like that, you're going to schedule in 32 games. Um it's a pretty significant amount that you're going to have some loss of events. There's just going to be scheduling conflicts. Those things are anticipated. You're adding a team. you're getting all that additional revenue, losing out on some of those is just a product of what will what will happen. Um, and then the next one just kind of shows a net of what this would all look like. So again, I think, you know, looking at the the middle column of 2500 tickets sold, you know, you've got 8 868,000 in expenses or I'm sorry, revenue and about 600,000 in expenses, which would net to the facility about 270,000 on a on a season. um certainly would be a benefit and I think as we all you know wish we could project what what can happen what would

happen these are all things that we have to take into account as we as we evaluate you know what what is best for the facility and so that's what that looks like and I think it provides a pretty good snapshot of um at least some some real you know thought and process into what the games could look like and what they could mean for us. Um obviously as we you know look towards adding a team um the building is at 20 years so dasherboard system would be necessary if we get a new team. Uh the number that's up there is probably the high higher end of what that cost would look like. There are four to five different levels of dasherboard you can get depending on level of league. And so as we go through our process, we'll we'll get league specs on what that looks like and be able to then get get it out to bid and find the best pricing. Um netting system would also be one that's needed. Upgrading our Zambonis and making sure those are good to go. And then probably a locker room remodel would be necessary as it's been quite some time since that's been updated. Um down the line a little bit we'll we'll have to look at a replacement of our chiller plant system. Um that's a big number. I think we've got several years before that needs to be really addressed, but it's something that we need to at least be planning on as as we get we're at 20 years now. you know, two, three years down the road is probably something that that will be necessary. And then just to kind of wrap up, you know, moving forward and and what we've talked about internally, um, as we move forward, I think it's important to know that, you know, what we're doing is evaluating all the options and all the potential hockey teams, leagues that may

be out there and and finding the best fit for us, not just the facility, but also the town. Um, we're continuing to have discussions with the league, um, that junior league specifically that will allow us to create a win-win for both the team and and the facility in town. Um, had several conversations recently and um, I think they're starting to understand how we're set up, all the things that we have going on, and how we can best work together. So, we've had really good conversations. Um, I'd like to point out and just clarify that we've talked some deal terms, but none of them have been finalized. Um, there's no contract in place, but we're continuing to have good conversations. Um, it's important to know that, you know, what we do on a daily basis is is maximizing utilization of the facility and making sure we have impactful events as often as we can. um and developing a sustainable business model that really aims at continuing to drop the subsidy that's needed for the facility. And then just the the last one there is balancing the potential for ice programming. If we have a team, it does allow us for a lot more of those opportunities and how we can best fit those into our programming overall. Thank you sir. We usually don't have a applause for a speaker like that. So something new for us.

Before we go further though, can we get a representative from I'm sorry. Go ahead, Mr. Mayor. I believe we do have I was just going to tell everybody here too. I know closer to the microphone. I know there's a lot of Sunund Dogs fans here. So in ' 08 when they won the championship, I actually worked at the venue in Colorado where they won was on the road when they won the last game. So pretty.

Mr. Judy, Mr. Mayor, Council, I believe we have Luis from Rounds Consulting online with us. Luis, if you could kind of go over your your study and the kind of impact that you believe this could have on the arena. And again, as we've talked about, it really all depends on the number of tickets that are sold. Just like any business, you know, the more sales you do, that the better it will be. So, we would hope for the higher end, but they did do some projections based on those various levels of tickets sold. So, I'll turn the time over to Luis. Welcome, sir.

Thank Thank you. Thank you. Uh thank you for your time and I'm glad to be able to join virtually today. So uh my name is Luis Cordova. I am vice president and uh co-founder of Rounds Consulting Group. Um I have nearly 15 years of experience analyzing the uh economic impact of various uh large scale projects, small business development, tourism events, uh transportation infrastructure. um a lot of economic development for uh private, public and nonprofit organizations across the state. Um so our firm uh conducted an independent third party economic and fiscal impact analysis uh to assess the incremental activity and the tax revenue benefits uh that could be generated by this uh opportunity uh under the same uh ticket sales scenarios that were um uh introduced briefly. Um um so that ranged from uh 1,500 to a maximum of 3,500 tickets per game. Um so in our analysis uh the the what we determined was that each year uh the new activity would support between 70 to 84 full-time uh equivalent jobs. Uh generate between 4.2 2 million and 5.1 million in labor income and produce about 11.8 million and uh 14.6 million in economic activity. So uh what does that mean for the town? Um so the town would collect between 119,000 and $272,000 in tax revenues each year from this activity. Um and this this is all tax revenues. So, this includes the revenue revenues from the new ticket sales, um, on-site food and beverage sales, as well

as the expected tax revenues generated by visitors as they stay within the town and spend locally at restaurants, uh, retail shops, local, uh, hotels. Um, a few things to consider. Um these these impacts can be um considered net new since this uh this adds new entertainment that expands overall activity. Uh which means that limited uh cannibalization of current local spending is is expected. Um out of town visitor spending uh really drives this economic activity. So um the success of the opportunity really depends in part on the team's ability to um draw from the from a regional uh broader regional market. Um so um so so you know just to conclude um when considering whether to you know approve this or not the full financial picture should be evaluated. Um but uh the overall uh tax revenues that we analyze would be should be considered net. Um and uh that concludes it for me but I'll be around for any questions.

Thank you sir. Mr. Judy, anything to add? Nothing to add unless you have any questions for Mr. Cordova or or Oshin or myself.

Sure. Um before we get going and just for the audience and everyone else, this isn't going to be like a council action. This isn't something that the council votes on. We don't approve Shane's, you know, if he wants to book Laney Wilson. He doesn't come in front of council and we give him the thumbs up or thumbs down. Our job is to make sure that we are as fiscally responsible as possible, right? Like we don't want to be subsidizing the event center a single dollar. And that's at least my goal as mayor. I would like to see that happen. So in my opinion, we have to try to figure out a way to have this symbiotic relationship between whatever new opportunities that we have and the amount of people that you show up to this and are in support of this. We also have to remember there's other events that need support too. I see uh the owner of the Northern Arizona Wranglers here and he puts on a great show with a great team. Eight games a year here. So those are the things that we have to show up to. might not be your thing, but you can go and support. So, we got to keep that in mind. And with that being said, I think there's a way there. We're going to miss out on some opportunities for some events, but I think if everyone knows going forward what the expectations are, Shane and his team and whoever the other team is are able to work together and plan throughout probably 12 18 months. So, that's that's what I'm hopeful in regards to that. So, I'm hearing today it's going to be creating jobs. It creates tax revenue. And I think most importantly, something like this would create memories. And we have families here. We have a lot of families here. We have a lot of kids here. This I think honestly this is the most young people I've seen in this for a council meeting ever. So kudos to you. So that's just my thoughts on it. I'll have a few more, but I'm going to open it up to council with any questions that they have um for any of our speakers or presenters. Councilman,

um I will say when I I read Round's report, it did say we really need to bring people in that not just from town, but we need to be marketing to flag staff and and you know, all the areas to to really get the attendance present. So, I just want to make sure that somebody's doing that. Councilman, anything? Vice Mayor?

Thank you, Mayor. I've been in contact with uh several people in the community and I know that we're we're just looking at a tier one junior hockey team proposal right now, but the potential is huge for this town because we have a lot of people in the audience that drive to Flagstaff and Scottsdale currently for youth hockey. that would bring back youth hockey to Prescuit Valley and be become a regional hockey hub so to speak. I just think the potential is huge and you know I think you know revenue wise that's just going to add to the you know additional revenue that we can expect. Normally, normally I don't open it up, but if there's some people out there that think this is a terrible idea, I'd love to hear that. Anyone think this is a bad idea? No. Curious. I I think there is a couple individuals here that I I'd like to hear from. They reached out to the vice mayor and uh you're more than welcome to come up. You will have three minutes to share your thoughts. I believe there's a dad of a current NHL player here. love to hear from you, sir. You're up first. Oh, were you not gonna say something? Okay. Okay. He gets to go last. All right. You go. You go first, sir.

All right.

All right. Uh and remember, sir, you're on.

Yeah. Hey. Hey, uh, mayor, council members. Uh, my name is Nick, uh, Nick Casten. I am a business owner here in Prescuit Valley. I am a coach uh, for both Roller and ice hockey. And, uh, more importantly, I'm a dad to two amazing hockey players. Um, I think they're over there in the audience over there. I got Ben and Braden over there, nine and 12. They're studs of hockey players. I think they're going to be awesome. Uh, we are one of those crazy families that travel to Flagstaff. three to four days a week. Um, put a lot of miles on my car when I'm doing that. Um, but, uh, they live and breathe hockey. I know a lot of families, a lot of them behind me, right? Uh, they are super dedicated to hockey. They are the community that comes from hockey is very tight-knit. It's very close. Um, and I think one thing that the consultant um, group uh, didn't really address, right? And something that um, Oak View Group didn't really address is what you addressed, Matt, and that's really what I'm here for is the youth hockey. Now, I think uh, tier one uh, junior hockey is amazing hockey. I know I've had a lot of people ask me what the difference is. You know, obviously I'm a sund dog. I did get to live the dream, if you would. I put this jersey on and actually skated on the ice with the Arizona Sund Dogs and played for the Arizona Sund Dogs. So, um I'm very partial to that, but uh the truth is the difference between tier 1 junior hockey, which I'm going to let uh Ken Swayman uh talk about, uh is very different because it's a huge emphasis on the youth aspect. um these players that play tier one junior hockey are are part of our community and I think that's a huge difference versus being a pro that's getting paid, you know, clocking in and uh clocking out. So my view for this is

kind of like what Vice Mayor Matt uh Zurker was saying. Um but uh we're not just talking about one team. We're talking about a whole community of different things such as figure skating and youth hockey, club hockey sports, even open skate. I was thinking about it, you know, today about what it would be like on a Halloween night having ice hockey or ice down and having disco balls and, you know, uh, smokes machines and all that stuff while we're dancing to Monster Bash or something like that on the ice. Um, I I think that would be something huge for for families and and even schools to do fundraising. Um, I I just think about us having the chance to turn a hub that is not utilized enough in my opinion, uh, where we can see everyone utilize it from a 5-year-old that, you know, just for the first time is skating to a local business that's going to benefit from all the extra, you know, seats uh, or butts and seats for the restaurants and and hotels and so on and so forth. So, thank you for your time.

Thank you, sir. again. Sir, remind you of the three minutes. Did he remind me of something? Three minutes. Three minutes. Three minutes, sir.

Uh, mayor, vice mayor, council, staff. Thank you for having me. Thanks, Nick. Um, and Ken, for this opportunity. Um, I kind of wanted to approach this at a different angle. My name is Eric Tetro. I'm the vice currently the vice commissioner of the parks arts and recck commission. Um served on a few committees and I think my message here is the same as it's been on those committees is youth sports and tourism. Um we saw a lot of numbers for the arena. Those numbers were generally black. None of them were red and I think that's a good thing. I think that we see positive uh uh spectator numbers. That's good. Positive revenue numbers. That is good. Um, but part of what I wanted to talk about was the extras, the outside of the arena, the tourism impact, the youth sports impact. Um, my son is here. He's eight. I'm surprised I haven't heard him yet. Um, he is a potential hockey player. I want to see him in hockey. I've seen him do youth sports events, youth hockey events down with the Coyotes, and it was some of the most fun I've watched him do. He does every single other sport in this town. I'd like him to see him try that. And so, and I I purely see this as an opportunity to invite new kids. Um, we're going to hear more about what tier one is. Um, one of the things I wanted to bring to light was what these tier one teams bring and they bring younger 18 to 20 year old players. They live with families in this town. They become role models. They become coaches. Those players become coaches. Those coaches become ambassadors for the sport. the kids that live with those players become lovers of the game. So, I think it's very important that we not forget, yes, the arena will get tickets. Yes, the arena will have people in seats. Yes, we'll have 30 some odd games a year. All that's great. What's even better is we have a roster of 20 or 30 guys or gals or additional teams that end up in this

town living with our families and encouraging our kids to play a sport that really this community's never had. So, the Sund Dogs were great. I was a season ticket holder for six years. It was phenomenal. I won't I was going to say what I spent my money on outside of season tickets, but it's two two coolers lights and a hot dog. But that's a whole different thing and I intend to continue doing that. Um, but what it also did is it took us out to dinner and if I didn't live here, it' take me to a hotel a hotel and what we have now is a bed tax. So, I'd encourage that we think of this outside of the envelope with just the arena. understand that the impact that this will have even for the people that don't that do live here. They're still going to go to dinner. They're still going to buy something from the concessions. They might have family or friends that come to town, recruiters, um scouts that stay in hotels in addition to some of the event the eventual venues that we're going to build in this town that that would then further benefit. So, I appreciate the time. I look forward for the youth. I advocate for the youth. And so, I hope we have uh continued good discussions. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Welcome, sir. Good afternoon. My name is Ken Swamon. It's a pleasure to meet all of you and thank you, Nick, for asking me to participate and shed a few light. Um, I'm going to speak really quickly. I have so much to say in little time on what junior hockey is like from the perspective of a parent of a player. My son wrote a narrative that Nick put online and I'm sure he can provide you hard copies to to get the idea of what uh the perspective of a player is like from junior hockey. I could say to you all today with the absolute certainty and complete honesty that I would not be here speaking to you today or be able to say that my son just won a gold medal with team USA at the Olympics last month in Milan

or or been on the Boston Bruins as their goalie for six years if it was not for tier one junior hockey tier one junior hockey he played his tier one junior hockey in Sou Falls South Dakota in what was called the United States Hockey League at the USHL, an amazing league that has history and culture. It takes place in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and kids from all over the world go there. There's 16 to 20. These are top top level kids. But more than that, they're top level human beings. And that's because they're hockey players. If you don't understand the culture of a hockey player, I'm going to run out of time. But it starts as a little kid. When we grew up in Alaska, my son would be on a hockey team. He always played up. He was a good goalie. and they would go to games and he'd be six, seven, eight years old. The coach would have them go in shirt and ties. They would travel to different uh events around the country. People at airports would say, "Who are these young kids? They're the Alaska Allstars, the AAA hockey team from Alaska." The culture of hockey players starts at little. And all these kids from around the country, be it at Anchorage, Alaska, uh, all around the world, Ria Latvia, Helsinki, Finland, they all want to play in US junior hockey because they're seen by coaches for NCAA. They're seen by NHL scouts. It's no secret every NHL player, excuse me, every hockey player dreams of playing college hockey uh, or professional hockey. And why not do it in the United States? You're going to get seen more. These players develop relationships with their billet families, their host families where they're lifelong relationships. They're life-changing relationships. U be their billet parents, uh their billet siblings. Uh the my son billeted in South Dakota, we are lifelong friends with these people. The players themselves are among the best human beings you'll ever meet. Hockey has this reputation of rough and tough, but when they're off the ice, they're the exact opposite. They are the most humble, giving human beings. If I'm running out of time and I apologize, but I go on and on.

You know what? Sir, you get another minute. You deserve it.

Well, you need another minute. I'll take the other minute. Um, when I speak of like what the Boston Maroons do for the community, uh, if if I go on and on, I could go after detail after detail, story after story. You'll get watery eyed and teeyed for what they do, what's known that the media covers, but so much is unknown. This culture starts in junior hockey. These junior hockey kids are going to go to the elementary schools and introduce the team, introduce the sport, and introduce the whole concept of student athletes. Junior hockey is a student athlete league. It's a bus league. They bus to different communities on they play on Friday and Saturday night. Typically, they go to high school if they're 16, 17, going on 18. Uh, and even the older kids that are 19 going on 20, you can't participate once you turn 20 during that season. Usually organizations encourage, I'll say strongly encourage those kids to take college preparatory classes or even college classes online. It's a student athlete mentality. These kids become part of the community. It's a symbiotic relationship like I've never seen before. They go to car washes for first responders. They go to nursing homes, senior centers. And what really gets me is I'm in healthcare is they will not miss a Halloween dressing up, going to hospitals to brighten kids' days. They will not miss uh toy drives, bringing kids toys uh on on Christmas. These kids in junior hockey are getting their first taste of stardom and fandom and they do it so humbly. And that's why when they transition to collegiate hockey or professional hockey, be it, you know, the prize be in the National Hockey League, but all the, you know, not everyone can make the National Hockey League. They go to play not professional hockey and European leagues. These foundations start in junior hockey. That's the kids you're going to be inviting into this community. I I'll end real quick if I could have 30 more seconds. I I believe Got it.

that every mission or every endgame starts, you know, with a vision or a mission statement. before that it starts with a dream and that's what you have presented in front of you right now. It's been articulated a little bit but it is a dream and when I think of that dream when it was presented to Sou Falls South Dakota I am so grateful that they acted on that dream because for not that dream I wouldn't be here right now. There may have been other venues or avenues that my son could have taken. But when I think of Sou Falls, every player in the National Hockey League played junior hockey. When you ask a player, "What was your experience like playing junior hockey? What was it like with your Billet family?" You're going to see a smile on their face and hope you have more than three minutes because they're going to tell story after story after story. My billet parents were at my wedding. My billet brother's just getting married. I'm going to his wife. It's it's it's an it's a beautiful thing. It just warms your heart and that's what you're talking about inviting into this town. It is a win-win. I I I can't get into the semantics of of the economics of it. That's that's what you guys are that's what you guys do. But from a perspective of what kind of people you're going to be inviting in, you're going to create a culture. And just how cool would that be to create a culture of junior hockey in Prescuit Valley where kids want to come from all over the United States all over the world because this is one chapter in their trajectory to their end goal, collegiate hockey, pro hockey. They want to come to Prescat Valley. How cool would it be to create a culture where the team goes on a road trip and when they come back, would it be a playoff road trip or regular road trip, fans are waiting for them at their disembarkcation place, clapping as they get off the bus, I say this because I've seen this with my own eyes in South Dakota, but why not Prescuit Valley, Arizona? How cool would it be when a team wins championships and there's parades going on on these streets right

around here and the kids, young men are in pickup trucks, honken horns led by Trusket Valley's finest police and fire and everybody's lining the streets clapping because it's their team. It's their team and that's the vision you have in front of you. That's the dream you have in front of you. And I hope that just like Sou Falls did years ago, you could see that dream and and create a culture that would go on for decades as a win-win situation. Thank you for your time. Sorry. And we're done. I don't think anybody follows him, right? Well, he you sort of Thank you for those words and and he summed it summed it up and I was thinking here while he was speaking, he's right. It is a dream and it's a dream that all parents have, right? You want your children to grow up happy and healthy and have memories. And everyone out in the audience right now, and for those at home can't see this, but there's probably, I think I counted about 110 people here, which we haven't had standing room only in a long time. And I want to thank you all for coming out. I want to thank you all for, you know, being positive and wanting to see something good for your community. And as mayor and as council, we represent you and we need you to go out there and share your ideas and share your thoughts and talk to your neighbors and encourage them and let them know what happened here tonight. share some videos of what this what these gentlemen have said and get them behind this because the whole goal as as I mentioned is to make the event center and the town fiscally responsible, put on good events and good shows and as a community we can do that together. I'm confident of that. So, if we can just stay positive, uh keep our

eye on the goal and uh keep dreaming. Thanks for coming out everyone.