A Q&A with Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Tom Galvin on his efforts to bring the NHL back to Arizona

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Tom Galvin. (Photo courtesy of Maricopa County Board of Supervisors)

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One month ago, Tom Galvin hung a carrot of hope in front of downtrodden Coyotes fans. On the day he was sworn in as Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair, Galvin announced his intent to form an advisory committee of political and business leaders dedicated to bringing the NHL back to the Phoenix metro area.

Late last week, I caught up with the busy attorney and politician to pick his brain on the genesis of the idea, and the steps ahead. 

What led you down this path?

Galvin: "I'll start off by saying that I was an extremely frustrated sports and hockey fan, but it's multifaceted, and there's several points. I saw a lack of what I thought was vision and building and accumulating political capital by the previous Coyotes leadership and ownership. But I was also very frustrated by a lack of political leadership and political support, not just for the Coyotes as a company or as a brand, but for the notion that we live in the Valley of the Sun. We're a region of 4.5 million people. We're a growing region. We're an economic powerhouse known around the world. Sports are important, and when you lose a team, it's actually a stain on your image and your reputation.

"It's not just a sports issue; not purely a hockey issue. When people scoff and say, 'Well, I'm not a hockey fan, so what do I care?' You should care because you have to acknowledge that it's a billion-dollar business, and pro sports have a unique hold on the United States and North America.

"I just thought there was a vacuum of leadership. I looked around and I didn't see anyone doing anything about it so I said to myself, 'Well, if anyone can or should do it, why not me?' So I took the initiative and I just started running."

Were you disappointed in the political opposition to the Coyotes?

Galvin: "I think it's really important to make a distinction. There was political opposition, yes, but there was also a lack of political vision. I'll be very specific, [Former Tempe council member and current State Senator) Lauren Kuby took on an anti-Coyotes stance with the Tempe situation. But there was also a lack of political vision where once the Tempe thing failed, I didn't see state leaders like Governor Hobbs step in to say, 'What can we do for the Coyotes?' So I watched the Coyotes cast about the Valley futilely trying to find something."

Knowing what you know as a member of the Land Use, Government Affairs, and Renewable Energy practice groups at Rose Law Group, what did you make of the last ditch attempt to win the land auction?

Galvin: "When they came upon this idea of winning the state land auction, that's really when my eyebrows were raised because I saw the Coyotes say, 'The state land auction is the be-all and end-all. We're putting all our chips in for this auction' and I was like, 'Wow, I don't see the Mayor or the Governor speaking up and supporters saying, "Hey, let's get this done."' 

I grew more and more pessimistic and then, as we know, two days before the state land auction, it blew up. It got withdrawn, or it got canceled, and that was so embarrassing for the Coyotes, but also embarrassing, I thought, for the NHL, for hockey fans, and for the Valley. What a shambolic process. It just was so amateur hour. And I said, "I'm sure there's a way to do it, to get hockey back here, and the way to do it is that a local leader should bring together hockey experts, sports experts, business leaders, political leaders, and people who care about the community.' And let's just go back to the NHL and say, 'Hey, if we do it the right way, would you be willing to listen?'"

You had mentioned before that you weren't ready to announce any of the committee members. Is there a timeline for that announcement?

Galvin: "I'm still not yet willing to announce names yet, but the committee is almost fully formed. There's just a couple people out there that I've yet to confirm with. There's just been such an amazing groundswell from people who want to be involved or want to help, and I feel like they should be involved in some way, somehow, so I'm figuring that out. I'm working on that process."

Aside from leadership, which you noted has been sorely needed, how can you help this process practically?

Galvin: "There's two mandates that I think we all need to have here in the Valley. One is to find the owner who would be willing to buy a team and pay for an expansion team and two, a location that would be suitable for an arena of the future; a world-class facility that we deserve. 

"I have experience in the private sector. I'm a land-use attorney. I've been involved in site selection consulting. I've worked in state government. I'm now a county official, but I still practice law, so I understand the intersection of all of these issues, and I think that's why I've been well situated to be the person to start this because I understand business. I understand economic development. I'm a lifelong sports fan. I'm a big hockey fan, but I also know that there are really smart people out there who have not been utilized — who, when brought together, can do things in a methodical way that can help us get to where we want to go."

You and I had discussed the possibility of county islands as potential arena sites in the past. Are you still focused on that possibility, or is this just about finding the best location/option?

Galvin: "Whatever the best option is, whether you're in a city, or if you're in a county Island, or if you're on an Indian reservation. I have an all-of-the-above approach for location."

How would you characterize your conversations with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman?

Galvin: "I'm grateful to Gary Bettman because he didn't have to take a phone call on this, especially after not only what he's been through last year or with the last owner, but everything he's been through here in the Valley. I think there's one thing that we can say. Gary Bettman has shown, in a good-faith way, that he believes in the Valley and hockey being a good partnership here. 

"I remember watching him on the news when he came down to testify at the Tempe City Council. I thought that was very impressive and I appreciated that he gave me the time to talk to him and lay out my vision. Frankly, I also went to him for guidance and insight and feedback, and he provided it. I've been listening to it, and I've been following it ever since, so I think he appreciates what we've done on our end as well. 

"I think I'm an optimistic person by nature, but I think ultimately, one day, we're going to be celebrating, with Gary Bettman, a hockey team here in the Valley. There's no guarantee, but I believe my vision and my process is the way to do it if we're going to get a team."

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