Westgate Entertainment District
Westgate Entertainment District, formerly known as "Westgate City Center" is a mixed-use development in Glendale, Arizona. Westgate is described as a super-regional[1] destination for shopping, dining, entertainment, and commercial offices. Funded by millionaire New York architect Ron Elsensohn and anchored by the Desert Diamond Arena, the former home of the NHL team Arizona Coyotes, the complex has 8,000,000 sq ft (740,000 m2) of retail space[2] and is one of the premier entertainment destinations in the region, attracting over 22 million visitors annually.[3] In 2011, the property went into foreclosure and reverted to lenders. The shopping center was reopened under the name Westgate Entertainment District, operated by Vestar Capital Partners, which also manages other properties in the Phoenix area.
Location
November 15, 2006
Development Design Group (DDG), The Davis Experience
508,000 sq ft (47,200 m2) (current)
8,000,000 sq ft (740,000 m2) (projected)
Foreclosure[edit]
In June 2011, the Westgate Entertainment District development received notices of foreclosure. Part of the reason given for the foreclosure was the uncertainty around the Phoenix Coyotes since the team filed bankruptcy in 2009. The Center remained open. The Steve Ellman companies attempted to reschedule debt on the Center to prevent part or all of the Center from being be sold to settle debt to lenders. Ellman acquired Westgate in 2006 by swapping his ownership in the Coyotes for Jerry Moyes' ownership share of Westgate. Ellman had moved the Coyotes to Glendale in 2003 from the Footprint Center after failing to get an arena built at the former Los Arcos Mall in Scottsdale.[8] Two auctions were scheduled for foreclosed Entertainment District properties. The first auction, held on September 19, 2011, is for properties securing a $97.5 million loan from iStar Financial. The auction failed to sell at a reserve price of $40 million, and the 33 acres (13 ha) property has become the property of iStar Financial.[9] A second auction was held on November 3, 2011, for properties securing a $202 million loan from Credit Suisse.[10] This is for 95 acres (38 ha), which is currently mostly parking lots.[9] No bidder came forward to purchase the properties for the minimum $25 million price, and the properties were retained by Credit Suisse.[11]
In November 2011, iStar Financial named Vestar Development Company as the new property managers of the complex. At the time, Westgate retail space was 75% leased and office space 50% leased. Vestar is charged with improving the occupancy rate and improving "foot traffic on non-peak days when the arenas are dark". iStar intends to hold onto Westgate for the long-term, and is not looking for a new owner of the property.[12]
2020 shooting[edit]
On May 20, 2020, a shooting took place at the Westgate Entertainment District. The gunman, armed with a rifle, shot and injured two people in front of a restaurant, fired additional shots, and then shot a third person in a parking lot. He then surrendered to responding police officers.[21][22] The victims were a 19-year-old man who was critically wounded, a 16-year-old girl who was taken to the hospital with a non-life-threatening condition and a 30-year-old woman who did not require hospitalization.[23]
The gunman was identified as Armando Hernandez Jr., a 20-year-old man from Peoria. He filmed the attack with a cellphone in his left hand while shooting with his right.[23] After his arrest, he was taken to a Maricopa County, Arizona, jail and charged with 16 felonies.[24] Some news reports claimed that he identified as an incel and was deliberately targeting romantic couples.[25] In July 2022, he was sentenced to 44 years in prison.