This is I on the Ball with Steve Rivera and Jay Gonzalez sound Fox Sports
fourteen fifty powered by Nova Insurance Services and Sure Your Most Prized Possessions kat z
R TUCSA at iHeartRadio Station. Okay, here, we are welcome to hind
the Ball on Fox Sports fourteen fifty. I hope we've still got our listeners
here. We're back on just a little confusion as to what we were doing
today, and so we're here. We're gonna get back on our regular schedule.
So we're gonna go on a little bit for about five minutes here before
we hit our first break. I'm jagon Zalez. Your host. Steve Rivera
is out for one more day. He's said he'll get back. He'll be
back here on Monday. We've let you guys know, let our listeners know.
His mom passed away suddenly on Friday and he's been just having to go
through that and deal with that, and so he's going to take the weekend
off and he says he'll join us on Monday. I've got Juan here running
the board. We'll see how this goes the rest of the day. We
think we'll be fine. We're ready to go, got a pretty good show.
We're actually we're actually loaded up. At three fifteen, well a three
twenty, coming out of the first break, Adrian Denny, the communication director
at the Tucson road Runners, will join us. He'll talk about the big
announcement yesterday that the road Runners are here to stay, at least for now.
There was a lot of questions about that and a lot of speculation that
they were headed up to Phoenix. So we've got them coming back and so
we'll talk about that. So we'll get him get his his thoughts on that.
At at four point fifteen, Bruce Pasco will join us at if you
were listening to the show yesterday. At the tail end, an item came
across from the presentation that Desiree Read Francois, Bobby Robbins and the U of
ath leg Department did at the Border Regions yesterday talking about how they planned to
work through the financial crisis that the athletic Department is having. Bruce was there.
He had a story in the Arizona Daily start a day. But we'll
talk to him about you know what he saw, right, I mean,
we can all there's a lot of speculations to what all those things mean the
five point plan and all that and a lot of questions that we're working on
getting getting the athletic director Desiree read francois the show. We're hoping to get
that, get that done next week. But Bruce was at the meetings.
We want to get some of his thoughts on that. What he saw,
What did the faces look like when they were listening to this? Did they
think this is crap? Did they think this is a really good plan?
Are they just kind of taking away and see attitude? So we'll we'll talk
to Bruce about that, and then at three point forty Jake Fisher, our
usual Friday Friday guests will come in and we'll start kicking into some big twelve,
Big twelve of I said Big twelve, not back twf big twelve football.
Get start get some of his thoughts. Jacob played it Arizona from two
thousand and ninety twenty thirteen. I've got some questions about, you know,
being on the road. I think he went into a couple of or at
least maybe one Big twelve road road venue. Just get some of his thoughts
on you know, what he saw atmosphere, those kinds of things, so
we'll start talking about start looking ahead to to the Big twelve football season.
So want thanks for being here, man. Yeah, fun Friday right now,
it's already a fun Friday. You know, we're we're you know,
unexpected, but we're on So as mentioned again, Steve will be back on
Monday. So we're gonna wing it here for the next well about hour and
forty five minutes and try to get you as much information as we can.
I'm really fascinated by this thing that the UFA put out yesterday, not because
I'm wondering what it is. Yeah, I think we all are, right,
I mean, you know, it's like, okay, yes, we
know you've got things to fix and there's ways to fix them. But there
wasn't a lot of me on that, right. It was just some more
conceptual than anything else. And so Brussell, you know, hopefully have some
thoughts on that. But you know, having come from the corporate world where
we did things like that, we wanted people to think we're doing something.
There were times when we knew we weren't, but we wanted people to believe
that, you know, so you just put some stuff out to let people
chew on it. And then you kind of put the meat on the bones
afterwards. So we'll see and so we'll start to see how that flushes out.
You know, there was really no discussion about you know, ticket prices
going up. I mean probably will. I mean you would expect that.
And by that, I mean they didn't specifically say, Okay, in twenty
twenty five, your seats are going up X. I think we can all
expect that. You know, taking in you of athletics, taking in college
sports in general is going to cost more. They're paying the players. The
money's got to come from somewhere, right, and it can all come from
cuts. So you know, so well, well you kind of have conversation.
But before that, Adrian Denny, I almost said, Brian Danny,
that's a dang stadium where Alabama plays. I got to gather myself here one
Uh, Adrian Danny will join us. You know. Uh, you know,
if you're from Tucson, you've seen teams come and go. Uh mostly
you know, they get here and then they're gone. Uh. There's the
laundry list of teams that have done that, including spring training, all those
kinds of things. You know, Minor league baseball, hockey, teams.
We've had professional volleyball here, we've had professional basketball here, we've got professional
soccer right now, we've got we've got indoor football. You know, tusun
kept one this time. So we'll talk to Adrian Danny about how how all
that works and what we can expect to see and kind of why right there's
a lot of a lot of a lot of stuff like that. They had
a press conference yesterday and I couldn't go to it, but we'll make sure
Adrian that brings us in on that. So let's go and take our break.
We're gonna come back in about five minutes, say, Adrian Danny from
the Tucson Roadrunners will be on and we'll start and we'll talk about some tuson
road Runners and how twoson is able to keep them some stick around. The
window Depot has everything you need to create the kitchen or bathroom of your dreams.
Browseyisles of instock cabinets available in a variety of sizes and configurations and instantly
elevate your space. Today, visit a showroom and let our experts guide you
whether you're choosing for money to go designs or creating a custom masterpiece. We
can help you select the perfect wood type, color and style and top it
off with unique hardware to complete your look. Find a location near you at
the window deepot dot com. The window Depot more than a windows store.
Steve Rivera here to talk about Dorato Rock Materials. I needed a lot of
gravel for my driveway, so I called Eric at Dorato Rock. He found
out the amount and color I needed and boom, it was taken care of
and at a great price. How do I know radio commercials work. I
heard one of his on the radio. Dorato Rock and Materials provides a wide
range of landscaping materials, including decorative rock, boulders, gravel, soil,
and sand for residents and commercial use in the Tucson area. They are locally
owned and have been around for more than fifteen years. Give them a call
at five two zero four zero zero for two three three. Where do you
buy exercise equipment? Arizona Health Arizona Health Arizona Health. Of course, to
feel better and look better, it makes sense to buy your fitness equipment from
the people who know it better than anyone else. At Arizona Health, our
goal is to help you choose the equipment you need to reach your goals.
Your health and fitness deserve the best you deserve. Arizona Health the leading edge
and exercise equipment on twenty second just west of Wilmot. It's awards season for
summer sports leagues and time to look at trophies for baseball, softball, volleyball,
and swimming seasons for youth and adult leagues. Summer has arrived and it's
time to replenish your promotional products for your company's giveaways. Keep your employees looking
great in fresh new apparel, polos and caps with your sharp looking logo.
Creative Awards is here to serve your professional and promotional products needs. Visit their
Creative Awards idea center at two twenty eight West Drackman Street or visit them online
at Creative Awards az dot com. At Nova home Loans, we believe everyone
deserves the opportunity to enjoy the independence that comes with home ownership. Paul Volpi
is ready to help you find an option that best fits your needs. Whether
you're a first time or veteran home buyer, or want to get cash out
with the refinance. Nova has a variety of home loan programs to meet your
unique situation. Visit volteteam dot com that's volpe team dot com or call five
to two oh sixe eight five six two six Today in MLS three oh eight
seven arizon A b KO Ninez two nine four two equal housing opportunity, How
to commitment to lindrixyn credit rates and available loan programs or subject to change with
unumbice. Did you know sportscards that memorabilia are setting record sales last month of
nineteen fifty two tops Mickey Mantle SO for twelve point six million, Lebron James
Rookie SO for five point six Also, collecting cards is a family fun hobby
that can be very profitable. If you want to start a collection or expand
your collect check out Showtime Cards. They are one of the leading card shops
in the country and have served our local community for twenty five years. They
are located on e Speedway. That's Showtime Cards. Ready to save but not
sure where to begin? Take the Pyramid Federal Credit Union ten thousand dollars saving
challenge and we'll guide you along the way. Save five hundred dollars over six
months as a member and you could win big. Watch your savings grow to
help you reach goals like buying a car, owning a home and more.
Visit Pyramid FCU dot com Slash ten k challenge to get started today. Been
really insured and ceu A. It's that time of year, Summer in Tucson.
Time to take control with temperature control for all your air conditioning needs.
We'll keep you cool during all the hot streaks. All you have to do
is stay in control with Temperature Control where we handle everything you need with prompt
response, affordable pricing, and sound solutions. We also excel and a plumbing
and electrical work. We handle everything you need. Give us a call at
five two oh eight one five five six six' five or visit our website
at tempdash con dot com and remember, stay in control with temperature control.
Need concrete, hard Works Concrete has it. We have more than twenty five
years of experience with all things concrete. Installing sidewalks and patio floors are our
specialty, and handle masonry work and retaining walls. We're locally and family owned.
Just let us know what you need, how you want it, and
we'll take care of it. Leave the hard work up to us. We're
Hardworks Concrete. Call us at five one two nine six' two five six
six zero, or visit our website Hardworksconcrete dot com. We'll put the work
in for you. Got bugs, termites, vs. Or rodents, Arizona
Pests Control will hunt them down. Arizona Pest Control is your complete desert pest
management specialist tests can't run or hide from Arizona Pest Control. They use only
the latest and most technologically advanced methods of pest elimination available, which minimizes the
effects on the environment. Let Arizona Past Control get rid of your bad bugs,
termites, bees, or rodents. Serving Tucson and Southern Arizona since nineteen
forty seven. Go to azypast dot com to schedule your free evaluation today.
This is I on the Ball with Steve Rivera and Jay Gonzalez on Fox Sports
fourteen fifteen. Subscribe now to the podcast on the iHeartRadio app Just Surgery I
on the Ball. Welcome back on the Ball here on Fox Sports fourteen fifty.
I'm Jagonzales. My partner Steve Rivera will be back here on Monday.
I've got Je running the board here and on the phone. I've got Adrian
Denny from the Tucson Roadrunners, the still Tucson Roadrunners. Adrian, you guys
had a big press conference in the now yesterday that I know a lot of
fans in Tucson we're happy to see. And let me just say, as
a native Tucsonan who sometimes feels like the boyfriend who's broken up with about twenty
girlfriends with teams that have come and gone at Tucson, it was refreshing to
see that, you know, the road Runners had every every opportunity and reason
to you know, to make a move to Phoenix with the Coyotes moving out
of there, but you guys have decided to stay here. So first,
thank you and welcome to the show. Thanks to day. I appreciate it
and want to express our our condolences to to Steve and his family and the
loss of their their mother and and our prayers are with them. So thank
you so much for that. All the best, all the best to the
to the Rivera family. But yeah, it was it was a happy,
happy day. It was a happy gathering yesterday. You know, we we
heard from you know, all of our partners, our fans, the City
of Tucson, Rio Nuevo, the TCC just the excitement for the ninth season
of Roadrunners Hockey. Uh that that's going to start Saturday, October nineteenth,
and and and we're delighted to be in the Old Pueblo. It's it's our
home, it's my home. It's it's it's where we are. Steve Potmans
lives in Phoenix with his family during the off season, but he's he's here
in Tucson during the season and and part of it with us, and and
he loves it here, and our players love it here. And and and
I'll tell you what, Jay, you know, this this city, this
this community, they've they've supported this team. They they've they've they've been at
the arena chere and a moan they put together the petition and this this spring
during the course of the playoffs that that was you know, mentioned yesterday as
being a really really big deal of showing the support of how much that that
the fans you know, appreciate and enjoy the Roadrunners. And and and again
all the support we've gotten from from Rinuevo and the city and the and the
t c C. It's uh, it's it's a happy time. And then
we're thrilled to be here and and and you know this is it's it's all
of our homes and and and you know it's it's it's where we want to
be. And and you know, the the last two months obviously it was
you know, you don't like to be on the news, shot off the
news for for you know, when when you're not telling a story like like
we are right now. But Lester McCusker made it made a great point yesterday.
You know what, at no point was the city, the Reunuevo,
the TCC, at no point where we saying, hey, WHOA. At
no point were we going after them and at no point where they coming after
us and saying this is what we need. It was it was it was
conversation. It was it was dialogue. It was it was friends and partners
speaking and and and coming to coming to a h you know, an agreement
to extend our our our lease and tuson one more year after the two that
are that are currently on it as well. You know, it's funny because
it look over the years, as we've gone through our lives, we've signed
petitions, we've you know, whether it's uh, you know, well for
whatever cause, right, they almost never seem to work. I mean,
they just don't you know, if something is headed down the road, it's
it's often too late to you know, to stop that train. But somehow
this did work. How did it work? And why do you think?
You know what? I I just think, don't ever don't ever count out
Tucson. Like I'm I've lived here six years and and seeing you know,
just it's it's a special play and and it goes, you know, beyond
the roadrunners, beyond sports, beyond beyond our u of a teams like this
is a community where everybody cares about each other and they're always looking out for
each other. And and you know, don't don't count out Tucson and and
and these these fans, these they they want they want their team and and
boy do you ever see it when you go inside the the TCC. We
have which over five thousand a game for our our two playoff games. A
regular season attendance up fourteen percent, which is the fifth highest increase in in
the AHL. So just just all the credit to the to the fans who
have been there, and when you're in this building. I've said it before
on on your show, Jay, like they're behind the team, like we
may be losing. The team may have just had a two minute power play
where we didn't have the puck on our offensive then once. But they're they're
behind us, they're they're they're cheering on the Roadrunners and the team can team
can feel it and and our players just love it here like it's we.
We had a we had an article on our website, I think in our
third year two sun Roadrunners dot com, Alex ten Cop writing an article that's
also appeared on the HL dot com. But the title of it was Tucson,
Arizona a Player's Paradise, and it was it was just going on and
on about what a great spot it is for this to be an NHL waiting
room, you know, and and knowing tuson the way I know Tucson.
You know, when you fight for something like this and then you get to
keep it, you know, you don't lose the fight, that builds even
more support, more you know, more people will pay. I'll just say
right now, I predict that after after winning this fight and knowing that you
know the road Runners are in this for the long haul, you might even
do better attendance wise, attention wise, sponsorship wise, because now it's kind
of like, Okay, this is really ours. I mean, that's how
that that's kind of how I feel the community will see this. Steve Potvin,
our head coach, and I were talking about that in fact this morning,
Jay, like that we feel that that this builds a tremendous amount of
momentum right in the middle of June, going into a hockey season that that
starts in in October. And you know, we were on the news last
night, we were in the newspaper this morning talking to you guys right now
as a hockey story in June with you know, not a happy ending,
but a happy future, right And you know, it's it's it's been a
tough it's been a tough couple of months for hockey fans and in the Desert,
and they've they've they've stuck with it and they've hung in there. And
we've got our roadrunners in Tucson and and we're we're ready to keep rolling and
and and we had a team that finished in second place last year, and
with the prospects and the pipeline that the Potman's gonna have to work with,
that's just the that's just the beginning of it. This is going to be
a really really good team for years to come to So, uh, was
there any announcement of you know, is there like a term for this,
like a three year contract to two you know, or anything like that,
or how is this going to work going forward? So when we came to
Tucson in twenty sixteen at ten year lease, so it's finished our eighth season,
it's got two years okay left on the original lease, and with that
we're adding an additional an additional year to do it. So that's three years
right now and then onwards from there. Sure, And I mean that's all
we can ask again. You know, Adrian, you know you haven't been
here long enough to have had you know, your teams leave like like they
have in Tucson. You know, hockey teams, you know, minor league
baseball teams, spring training teams, we even had professional volleyball and professional basketball
you know have come and gone and it's kind of like they're here, you
know, we get attached to them, and then they're gone at a moment's
notice. And again, the fact that you guys decided to stay, that's
I think that just says a lot one for your commitment. But then also
you know the fan support that you've gotten. Now people feel like, Okay,
my support got us something, right, it got us, you know,
got the hockey team to stay. You guys are getting you know,
had nearly five how was in attendance last year. I mean it's I think
this really says a lot about you know, how you got, how much
you're committed to this, and I think you'll get a response from from the
fans, uh with that. And then just to see that the convention Center,
the arena is still going to be used. Uh, you know,
it's just where you just love to have, you know, something going on
there all the time, and you guys are bringing that. So just you
know, I just want to take congratulations to you guys for really sticking with
this because I think it again, it'll mean a lot to you know,
to people here in Tucson who love their sports. Yeah, I I appreciate
it day. And it's a two way street, right Like the fans supports
been tremendous, But the other end of that is for us to be engaged
and involved exactly everywhere in the community that we can, supporting Tucson and being
at events and partnering with nonprofit groups and schools. Our mascot Dusty. I
think the total is about one hundred and thirty community appearances that Dusty has been
at the Life First and so you know, it's it's our job to go
reach out and introduce ourselves. And it's not just about hockey fans. It's
about the community. And we think, you know, anybody's capable of becoming
a hockey fan, anyone in Tucson. But it's it's it's more. It's
more about, you know, just being a community organization and being supportive right
any way we can, and being visible and showing that Dusty is going to
be at Keino on July fourth, like like last year when when we had
our big fireworks spectacular, but just just being there, being involved, not
being a team that shows up for training camp, plays thirty six games a
year at the TCC and then you don't hear anything from from October. There's
got to be more to it than that, and and that's our job.
And we're really proud of how we've we've been able to get connected to since
since we arrived in twenty sixteen. We're talking to Adrien and Danny from the
Tucsun Roadrunners who are are here to stay for a while. So, agent,
what's the summer look like? Now? Then this is all settled.
You guys are here to stay. What do you guys do as you as
you start heading towards you know, the next season. Yeah, so watch
for Dusty anywhere something's going on. If Dusty is not there, you let
us know because we, uh, we need we need to we need to
be there. So two sid roadrunners dot com or season tickets are on sale
if your business would like to get involved. We're going to have you know,
some hockey announcements coming up till i first free agency start. And we've
got a deep, deep talent pool and we want to add some talent around
that. Matt Malalta our goalie from last year that the AHL leader and wins.
He was signed to a two year, two way contract to be the
road Runners goalie. Earlier this week we had a Patrick Cootch, a defenseman
who played in the NHL last year. So so those those signings are going
to start to come in, okay, and you'll see Dusty out and uh
and we'll be in our office, uh, you know, spelling season ticket
getting ready for a big a big promo schedule. Our regular season schedule should
be out in the next couple of weeks. Start watching for it around the
week of July eighth. The HL Board of Governors meetings are that week,
and so that is typically when the schedule is approved and is able to be
h finalized and released. Now you're you're saying October nineteenth is opening night?
Is that already scheduled as a home game that night? Yep, that's good
to go. Saturday, October nineteenth will be opening Night at the TCC and
then h and then we'll have the rest the rest of the schedule coming up.
Now, how long does it take? You know, when does the
actual you know, opening day roster, Uh, for the most part gets
settled. How long does that take or when do you when does that happen?
Yeah, So all of our guys, nine of our team will be
in the in the NHL training camp. Our our affiliate is the NHL team
in Utah, right, So the guys will start there in training camp and
then gradually start to be assigned to the Roadrunners. Our camp will start in
early October with players coming to Tucson for the season and then and then second
week in October. Well, we'll have our our full group, uh okay,
and our final cuts ready to go. But when when you see a
guy like Matt Vilalta signed to a two year two way contract, the two
way contract means one salary in the NHL, one salary in the AHL.
So if a guy has done a two way contract is it's pretty much implied
he's he's going to be in the the American Hockey League for at least at
least to start or a good portion of the season. I just got it
talking out of turn right, they're all gonna be an NHL training camps.
But as you look at the roster spots for the parent club, you can
start to piece aside. Okay, there's a two way contract, two way
contract as it stands right now, without injuries, trades likely to end up
in Tuson in the age. Okay, Well, Adrian again, thanks so
much and very happy that you guys still be around. You can continue to
be a guest on our show. But whether that helps or not, I
don't know, but I love coming on your show. I appreciate it very
much. Well, we love having you so Adrian, thanks a whole bunch.
Have a great weekend and we'll talk to you down the road. You
do the best, Jay, thanks a lot for having me and again all
the best of the Rivera family and look forward to having steak. We'll pass
that along. Thanks a bunch alrank you. That was Adrian Danny from the
Tucson Roadrunners talking about the big announcement yesterday. They're still going to play a
hand. I think they said five or six games up in Phoenix, you
know, because I mean it's a it's a weird thing because the Coyotes are
moving to Utah. The team was sold, but the ownership group of the
what was the Coyotes still retains rights to the Phoenix franchise. So you know,
there may be you know, and there's some news on that that came
out today, but you know, they may be an NHL team back in
Phoenix sometime relatively soon. Then you see, Okay, what are the relationships.
We'll figure that out. But anyways, road Owners here to stay.
Thanks again for Bran Denny, so I did it again. Thanks again for
Adrian Denny for being here. And we will take a break right now.
We're going to come right back and we'll take your cass five two zero four,
one, six, seventy four, forty. If you're an Arizona men's
basketball fan, you know it's been successful for nearly forty years. Now take
a look back at the Ludolsen era in my new book, Lessons from Loot.
It was a labor of love through the eyes of twenty five former players,
coaches and friends to give insight to the coach and the man who led
them, competed against them, and inspired them. Five chapters for his twenty
five years as Arizona's beloved coach. Lessons from Newton is an insight to how
he built the program into a national powerhouse. What one email me at Steve
dot RIVERA ninety five at gmail dot com. Hi, this is formal while
get leman huntly with Arizona Health, Imagine how home GM can change your health,
your comfort, and your time. Arizona Health is everything you need to
transform your personal space and your life. We off a complete line of cardio
machines, multi gms and freeway equipment. I'll certify fitness experts and technicians will
set you up with the right equipment and training to get you started to keep
you going. Visit our share room today at twenty second in Wilmot Arizona Health
the lead edge and exercise equipment. What's your goal a new career or career
advancement? How about transferring to a four year college. Pema Community College can
help you make Someday today and reach your goals affordably on your schedule, with
over one hundred programs to choose from in financial laid available. It's time to
earn the degree or certificate you need to prepare for the career you want.
PIMA offers free career exploration classes so you can choose the field that's right for
you. Learn how at Pima dot edu slash Someday right heat their work in
a state of dire. Is it hot in here or is it just me?
Honey? I always think you're hot, but it's June and we all
know it's going to get hot in Tucson. It doesn't have to be hot
in our house, Honey. You should call Picture Rocks Cooling, eating and
Plumbing. They have the solutions for us for all your air condition needs,
all today by few zero four ninety two zero seven four eight or visit us
at Picture Rockscooling dot com, Picture Rocks Pulling, Cheating, and plumbing,
Streamy Live, Honey, iHeartRadio WAF. This is I on the Ball with
Steve Rivera and Jay Goozalez not Fox Sports fourteen fifteen. Welcome back to Bolling
on Fox Sports fourteen fifty m. Jacobzalez your host for the day. Steve
is out and he'll be back on Tuesday. Monday. I got one here
running the board and which had a great conversation with Adrian Denny and uh,
you know, just just mentioned, you know how many times teams have left
Tucson and not come back. And uh, you know, Tucson wins one
by keeping the road Runners here. You know, they have great attendance right
four to five thousand, you know, fans at their games. He said
they averaged over five thousand for their their two playoff games. You know,
those are good crowds, uh, you know for minor league hockey. You
know in Tucson, Arizona. I mean the arena holds seven So you go
and there's four to five thousand people at the arena. That's pretty full.
And that's that's a good good environment. Yeah, I mean two sons always
looking for something to do, right, So you get a team like road
Runners come in having success. Yeah, they get a crowd exactly, and
so and you know, again we're all about the winners, right, that's
when that's when our fans show up for whatever sport it is. But but
so be it. You know, they they've put a they've put a good
quality uh uh franchise together. Clearly now you by this action of staying here,
they're committed to Tucson, which that's all two sons want, right that.
You know, that's why you know some of these you know, some
Arizona football coaches for instance, you like them. You like the ones that
you feel want to be here as opposed to the ones who get here on
the way to some other place. Right, Rich Rod Jed Fish. You
know, I'm not going to mention those two guys who just we don't like.
You know, even even Mike Stoops he was here for quite a while,
but you kind of always felt, you know, when's the next move?
Right? One foot was out the door. And that's all two sons
want. They you know, we love our city and you want other people
to love it as much as we do. And when it seems like people
do now they say, okay, you're one of us. We love you
here we come, and I really do believe that by you know, with
this, you know, I think they'll get more people coming out to their
games because they'll feel like, Okay, this is our team. It's not
just a team that's here because the Coyotes were up the road. It's our
team. And so I you know, that's kind of how I feel,
how I think I know this community. So we'll see what happens. Yeah.
I think it's a good thing too that there have some games up in
Phoenix. Yeah, sure, just to bring some a little bit more support
down well, because it's not that bad of a drive from Phoenix too.
So well, and then you know, they want to keep the hockey vibe
going over there, right. They ultimately want another NHL team. They already
they lost this one because they couldn't get you know, a new arena and
they're gone. You're gonna give it some time. They're trying to, you
know, put things together to get an arena. Unfortunately, got some bad
news on it today because there's a piece of land up on the north side
of Phoenix that there we're talking about building an arena at is a COMPLI is
a complicated thing. But I know a thing or two about it, because
I've done some stories about this on BIZ two so on. It's state owned
land, so the state has it and they have to put it out for
auction and uh, and they were going to do that with theoretically the Coyotes,
the Coyotes organization and again the Corige organization still exists, just doesn't have
a team, but they still have the rights to an NHL team in Phoenix.
So they were going to bid on it directly. They were going to
get it. Nobody was going to outbid them. But apparently the state has
said they first want the Coyotes to get the permit that would be required to
build the arena. And they're like, okay, you know this is a
chicken and egg thing, right, Well, how we get a permit if
we don't have the land. But they want them to get the permit first
before they put the land up fractions and basically saying you got to make this
investment before we were going to give you a shot at the land. I
haven't seen how the Coyotes organization is responding to that, but I'm guessing they're
not happy. Hopefully they have a five point plan. I mean, you
hope they get the land in some shape or form. Here's the thing.
And then and this is what bothers me about that, I get it.
The state's got to take do what it's got to do to make sure that
this is handled the right way. This reeks of the government trying to make
this as hard as possible, right for whatever reason. You know, I
don't know if they think, well, we want them to get a permit
and we want them to take some steps towards this before we even commit the
land to them. And I don't know if they're afraid that they would buy
the land not do anything with it for a while for whatever reason. And
then now this land that could have been sold to whoever is locked up.
I don't know, but that's what happened. That's the situation, and so
we'll see how that develops. They're probably several years away from having another NHL
team there anyways. But you know, the I mean, the state land
auction process takes years anyways, you know, because what you got to do
is you got to get the go to get the land. Then you got
to build the infrastructure towards the land. You know, if it's an area
that doesn't have a lot of you know, you know, electricity, water,
you know, sewer, the whole bit. It takes a long time.
And if you're gonna build an arena out there, that there's more to
it than say, building a housing development. So we'll see. But you
know, good luck to them up there. But again, as far as
we're concerned, we're all good here. We got the road Runners to stay.
We have the you don't good Yeah, I'm sorry. I don't mean
to be that way, but yeah, it did, it did, you
know, it really really did, and so that was nice. So the
Roadrunners will be sticking around if you want to give us a call. Five
two zero four one, six seventy four forty Now is the time. We're
gonna breaking news in the next segment with Wan and a lot of stuff to
talk about. Then we're gonna have guests for the last two segments. We've
got Bruce Pasco coming in at about four twenty. You'll talk about this meeting
up in Phoenix with the Border Regents and the presentation that was done there.
I don't know how much more Bruce can glean in terms of what they're talking
about then we can, but he was there. I'm more interested in Okay,
how did that sit right, you know, with with the border regents
to what was a reaction? Any thoughts on that, and so we'll see
what what he has to say about that. He's up in Phoenix covering that
Section seven basketball event that's out at the Cardinals Stadium. I think twelve basketball
courts over there. Yeah. I've seen those type of events where they're pretty
impressive. Yeah, they just keep going all day. Yeah. So and
this was the today through the weekend. Is the big boy uh part of
it? The high school teams that are coming in. You got a gazillion
major college basketball coaches there. There was a photo from I think it was
from brew you know, it was from All Sports Tucson where Steve Robinson,
the u of A assistant is in the background watching the game. Uh.
You got Tucson teams playing there, all the all the best uh, you
know, all the best teams from all over the country coming in to be
seen, right, to be seen by by all these college coaches. Anyways,
Bruce is up there. I'm sure during the interview there's gonna be a
lot of noise in the background, but we'll work our way through it and
then just get some of his thoughts on what he's seen over there. With
that, Jake Fisher is going to join us at four forty. We'll talk
some Big twelve football. Right, we've turned the page. We're moving on
talking about it. I was just on a Big twelve Facebook page and those
people are nuts. Yeah, yeah, about the about the Washington fans.
Fans, We're tough. These people. These people are nuts. And almost
every every every post has the comments turned off because they they've had enough of
it. So but you know, there's some Arizona people going on there saying
here we come. Other people saying, get the hell out of here,
you're not any good. You know, it's funny. The fans are said,
I don't know if I'm gonna want to become a regular follower of this
group. They seem a little what's the right word, passionate, unhinged.
It's kind of like you get on there and you say, hi, I'm
from Arizona, and they just the first theory. The first thing they want
to do is kick you in the ass, Like can we just like welcome
the new guys and let you know, let the conversation happen. So,
oh, here's what I can see oh Texas Big twelve fans very excited to
have the Arizona's as members. The Territorial Cup is a great American rift there,
there's a nice one. Somebody said something nice about Arizona coming in,
so we'll see. I you know, that's one things I want to talk
to Jake about is that, you know, what's your experience in terms of
difference between the Big Ten, Big twelve fan and the Pac twelve fan.
Jake is a you know, he grew up as a Nebraska fan, probably
mostly when they were in the Big twelve as opposed to the Big Ten where
they pretty much sucked since they went over there. But you know, he
comes from Big twelve country. We'll find out from Jake how different is it
really. I think it's a lot different. You know, Arizona football team
is not going to be going to a stadiums where there's twenty twenty five thousand
people. Their stadium is going to be full every game, and it'll be
interesting to see what Jake says about them going to places like that where you
know, you know, there were some Stanford games so there was nobody there.
I mean I went to one. This was a long time ago.
But I went to Arizona Stanford game where and the students, granted the students
were not there yet before school started. He was early in the season,
and so there was a section of students just all gathered in the middle,
and whichever end of the field the ball was on, they all moved to
that end of the field. So like a whole section of students would move
following the ball up the field, back and forth because they could. Because
the rest of this the rest of that side of the stadium, there was
nobody in it. That's not going to happen at a Big twelve stadium,
and not of Texas Tech, not not to Houston, out of Kansas,
not at Kansas State nowhere. If you think that a team's not good in
the Big twelve, they say, so what we're coming. They go to
their games. I mean in basketball, Arizona always got the best shot because
they were right the top team of the league. It doesn't matter where you
stand, you're gonna get a tough crowd every year, every time, every
time. I mean, you know, we we you know we we've seen
we've seen situations where Arizona goes to like Washington State and there's five, six,
seven thousand people at the game, there's no atmosphere, and then they
play that crap because there's no atmosphere. I'm like, Okay, wait a
minute. It's hard for you to play when there's a big crowd there,
but it's also hard for you to play when that big crowd's not there.
I mean, you know, how's that gonna work? And yeah, I
think that's it. I think that's actually an issue, you know, for
Arizona schools going well, just the four pack twelve schools going into the Big
twelve, that the road is going to be a lot different there than it's
been in the Pac twelve. I think a team like Utah, I think
they'll be fine. They've been through tough, yeah, tough atmospheres. They've
ma one of the best shots the recent years, so I think they'll be
the most prepared for those type of crowds. But I think Arizona will be
able to handle it. You know, I tried not to do this,
but I couldn't help myself. Jed Fish did an interview with with Reese Davis,
the ESPN game Day guy, on on on the College Football Podcast that
that Reeese Davis does on on the ESPN app. One of the things he
talked about, uh, you know, was was the West Coast teams having
getting having to get used to going and playing on the East Coast. He
said that when they go to the East coast, so the eastern time zone,
which would mean Penn State, probably Rutgers, those teams where it's a
three hour time difference for them, they're going to go two days ahead of
time. They're not going to go in on Friday. They're going to go
in on Thursday, you know. I mean there's going to be times when
Washington is gonna have to play at noon, you know East Coast time,
Well that's nine am, you know their time. He said, we're going
to go there and trying to you know, get ourselves out acclimated so that
being out there is not you know, it doesn't work against them, right,
It's not that they can that won't be a factor. They're trying to
eliminate the factor. You know. Reech Davis was asking him about, you
know, when he was coaching in the NFL, and he will just talk
about, you know, when he was with the Rams, how they really
had to pay attention to, you know, to all that but the problem
was that when you're in the NFL, you know, at the beginning of
the year, do you play at one o'clock or do you play at four
o'clock Eastern time? In college football, you don't know till a week and
a half or two weeks ahead of time. So he said, you know,
we may want to go in there the day before, but all of
a sudden, you know, we find out, no, you're playing at
noon. Now you got to change everything. So he said, they're just
going to make it a practice to go in two days ahead of time when
they're playing on the East coast, being sa if Arizona does that because they've
got two teams on these coast. Now, when we're in football season,
we're basically on Pacific time zone because of daylight saving, so they're in the
same situation as Washington, usc U, C l A, and Oregon are.
When they're going ahead and Arizona plays at Central Florida this year, you
know, when's that game going to be. Is it a middle of the
day game? So okay, let's say it is a four o'clock game.
You know in Florida's still at one o'clock game body clockwise, for Arizona.
What's that going to be like for them? And are they going to go
in two days ahead of time or not? Or if they don't, how
do you manage that? You know, you say you got to manage everything.
When you do that, you got to manage when you're going to eat,
right, cause by a three hour time difference is huge on a body
clock, in terms of meal times, rest times, study times, all
those things have to be taken into account when you're figuring out your schedule when
you're headed to the East Coast. So I know it's been all this talk
about how U C L a USC oh your travel is going to be screwing
well, Uh, Arizona's gonna be spending a lot more money on travel as
well, because they're not going to l A and and uh and uh,
you know, the Bay Area and whatnot there. They're going out to West
Virginia, they're going out to Central Florida, they're going out to Iowa State,
they're going to Kansas. Those aren't easy trips, They're not. I
mean that that That UCF game has been something I've been looking at, Yeah,
since since we got the schedule release. Right, I'm just I'm very
intrigued on how we'll handle it. We will handle it, and it's gonna
be an issue. There's gonna be a game like that every year. Yep,
every single year. All right, let's go and take a break.
We're gonna come back. One's gonna be loaded up with breaking news. There
is a plenty of it. So we'll come back and if you want to
give us a call during that segment, you can, but we're gonna be
limited on that and then our last two segments we've got guests. We won't
be able to take any more calls after the next segment, so we'll be right back