FAQ

How far away will the Gaylord Resort be from the airport?

In addition to being less than 2 miles away from the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, the resort will be closer to Sky Harbor than several of Scottsdale's resorts:

JW Marriott, Desert Ridge - 21.4 miles
Fairmont Princess Scottsdale - 22.7 miles
Wigwam Resort - 24.6 miles
Mesa Proving Grounds - 29.0 miles
Four Seasons Hotel - 31.1 miles
The Boulders - 34.6 miles

Who is paying the costs to hold the election?

While managed and run by the City of Mesa, the full cost of the election has been paid for by DMB and Gaylord Entertainment.

What are we voting on?

As part of the development agreement between the City of Mesa and its development partners, a portion of the bed tax revenue generated from the Resort Core would be reinvested to promote the hotels and convention center helping to boost tourism for the entire Gateway Area.  Bed tax revenues are currently used to promote tourism in Mesa – the dedication of the portion of the funds to promote a specific part of Mesa requires voter approval. 

How will this project benefit Mesa?

Mesa Proving Grounds is located within the Gateway area, an area positioned to become the next economic engine for the City of Mesa and the East Valley region.  The City of Mesa has set the stage for this area to become the jewel in the crown of the region.  Mesa Proving Grounds, along with the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, ASU Polytechnic, Mesa Community College and Gilbert-Chandler Community College, are all  significant assets in this important area.  Mesa Proving Grounds has the potential for producing a significant number of jobs and tax revenue. It will also enable Mesa to further leverage existing assets such as ASU Polytechnic and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

Where is Mesa Proving Grounds?

The property is located south of Elliot Road and east of Ellsworth Road and northeast of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

What is Mesa Proving Grounds?

Mesa Proving Grounds is a 3,200-acre/5-square-mile parcel that was purchased from General Motors in 2006.  Mesa Proving Grounds is part of the 5,000-acre General Motors (GM) Proving Grounds, which has operated since 1953 to test vehicles in a hot weather environment. The property is within the Gateway area, which includes Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, ASU Polytechnic Campus and nearby commercial and residential properties.

What is DMB proposing to do with the entire property?

DMB’s vision for Mesa Proving Grounds is to develop a place that is a center of regional importance.  This involves the creation of a carefully conceived land plan that reflects the City of Mesa’s goals for the site, while also taking into consideration the priorities of its citizens and the demands of the marketplace.  Given the size of the property and its location near the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, the development of a high-quality mixed use community, offering multiple urban and traditional activity areas is appropriate.  DMB has developed a planning framework for the property which includes notions of multiple urban/activity centers, a resort/hospitality component, an urban open space system, urban villages, and a connected transportation system.  

Where are other Gaylord Hotel and Convention Centers?

Gaylord’s other properties, all designed to enhance and complement the community in which they operate, include Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee; Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Florida, near Orlando; Gaylord  Texan in Grapevine, Texas, outside of Dallas/Ft. Worth; and Gaylord National on the Potomac in Prince George’s County, Maryland, near Washington, D.C.

"The project will spur economic growth in the area by 5-10 years and will create demand for 3-5 additional hotels and other amenities...In all, this project brings a lot of benefits to Mesa without placing any risk on the General Fund."

Speaker Kirk Adams