Key Arizona lawmakers disagree on the proposal for state invilvement in a new $400 million Arizona Coyotes hockey arena.

As reported by Pinal Central, state Sen. Bob Worsley (R-Mesa) is in favor of creating a “community engagement district” that would allow for revenue to build the arena. He has crafted SB 1474, which would allow for funds to be put in place to help pay for the arena's advancement. As noted by Pinal Central, the Coyotes would pick up about half the cost of the arena.

State Rep. Anthony Kern (R-Glendale) opposes the new venue, arguing the Gila River Arena is current.  

To that, Coyotes President Anthony LeBlanc said, “The team is focused on staying in the metro Pheonix and ‘Glendale simply is no longer an option.’”

The Arizona Coyotes “currently play in the taxpayer-funded arena but the team and the city of Glendale have been at odds over their contract for several years, with the city cancelling the contract in 2015 then agreeing to an interim deal,” Pinal Central reported 

In November, the NHL team and Arizona State University proposed a 19,000-seat arena to be shared by the university and the Coyotes, setting a June deadline for finalizing a deal.