The Suns Are Staying In Phoenix Because Their Asshole Owner Got His Money #PrayForGreta

(Arizona Republic) - The Phoenix City Council approved a controversial deal with the Phoenix Suns that will keep the NBA franchise in downtown Phoenix through at least 2037. 

The council voted 6-2, with Vice Mayor Jim Waring and Councilman Sal DiCiccio opposing it, to approve the $230 million deal. The city will pay $150 million from its Sports Facilities Fund, which is composed of a 1 percent tax on hotels and a 2 percent tax on car rentals.

After news broke in December that resident dickhead Suns owner Robert Sarver threatened to take the Suns out of Phoenix unless the city gave him a shit ton of money for arena renovations, people weren’t happy. You all remember Greta right?

I’m sorry Greta, I thought you made great points.

You see Suns fans HATE Robert Sarver. It’s the closest thing we have to how Knicks fans feel about James Dolan. He’s notoriously cheap, doesn’t invest in his team to make it competitive, and honestly he may be one of the worst owners in the entire league. People came out and protested which forced the city council to delay their vote, but the results are in and Sarver is getting his money. The details of the deal break down as such:

– Phoenix pays $150 million for arena renovations.
– Suns pay $80 million for renovations and any cost overruns.
– After the renovation, Phoenix will pay $2 million annually for 12 ½ years into a new renewal and replacement fund, which will be used for future renovation needs.
– Suns will pay $1 million into the new fund for 12 ½ years.
– Suns will continue to operate and maintain the building, including booking concerts and other events.
– Suns will continue to pay rent to the city (calculated as a percentage of annual proceeds).
– Suns will build a new practice facility (estimated to cost $25 million to $50 million) somewhere in Phoenix.
– Suns commit to staying in downtown through 2037 with an option to extend the lease to 2042. If the team leaves before 2037, it will face up to a $200 million fine
– Requiring the Suns to spend $10 million on community benefits (either through nonprofits or city programs), including at least $2.6 million to the city’s preschool program this year.
– The city will hire someone to oversee Phoenix’s expenditures on the renovations.
– The city will commit the $1.5 million rent increase from the Suns to homeless issues.
– 80 percent of any additional revenues generated by the city from the arena will go toward city public-safety costs

I can understand the hesitation from the community to spend a shit ton of taxpayer money just because Sarver is a cheap asshole. It’s clearly a favorable deal for him which probably doesn’t sit well with residents since they hate him, and this is money that will be going towards subsidizing a multi-billion-dollar business instead of helping develop schools or other community needs.

Having been to to this arena a bunch during my time at ASU and a few seasons ago to watch BOS/PHX, honestly it’s not even that bad of a facility. It was last updated in 2003 and I get wanting to keep pace with other franchises and their arenas only there’s one problem. Those teams will actually spend to make themselves a destination. You know Sarver is going to get his new arena, and then not spend dick on his roster. Seems pretty self serving if you ask me. Again, he’s extremely cheap and that’s why actual Suns fans out there hate him.

Personally the only problem I have with Sarver with this whole thing is he cock teased us about a move to Seattle. I have no rooting interest in the Suns but I have been very open on this here blog about my desire to see a team back in Seattle. This was as close as we’ve ever gotten, and it’s pretty clear he was bluffing in order to get his money so now I hate this asshole too. I don’t care if you take all the taxpayer money for your new arena, how dare you dangle a Seattle NBA team in front of us as a leverage play. That’s fucked up not just to me, but to the fine people of Seattle. They’ve suffered enough.

If you’re a Suns fan I guess you’re happy about being able to keep your team, but like 90% of people in that city don’t give two shits about the Suns since the Steve Nash Era ended and I imagine after getting boned like this they aren’t about to start.