Rio Salado Residents Voice Frustration; Rumors of Brewing Feud with Arroyos Owner?

[Apollos]

November 12th, 2036

Tenants of the gleaming new Winthrop Towers highrise apartment building in the rejuvenated Rio Salado business district filed a formal complaint against the Tempe Knights organization with the regional court system this week, alleging a noise complaint against the club for ongoing construction at Gisolo Duppa Field.

Following the conclusion of the 2036 season, the Tempe ownership group received approval from the Tempe Board of Supervisors to begin their fourth expansion of the stadium since its opening in 2033, in order to add another 2,000 seats to the park. But as the construction crews and equipment moved in, residents - particularly those who have paid a premium to occupy luxury condominium units at the new Winthrop Towers complex located at 10 East Rio Salado Parkway - have begun to voice frustrations over the associated traffic and noise this project has brought to the neighborhood.

When reached by phone, Knights public relations officials refused to comment on the complaint but did indicate that the ongoing construction project had been fully permitted and approved by local officials and was another step in the club’s efforts to further rejuvenate the downtown Tempe area immediately surrounding the stadium.

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In separate but related news, rumors of outside influence have surfaced in recent days with unfounded suggestions and online conspiracy theories suggesting that personnel from the neighboring Yuma Arroyos organization may be attempting to subvert the rising popularity of the Tempe ballclub. Unlikely as it may be, these rumors received additional attention over the weekend when a group of local residents took to the streets around the stadium to protest. Among the small group of protesters was an older gentleman whom online sleuths have alleged was none other than Arroyos owner and mystery man, Taffy Slummings. Adding additional fuel to the fire, Arroyos front office personnel have offered no comment on the alleged involvement of Slummings in these protests and his whereabouts remain unknown following his rumored admittance to a mental hospital in Texas more than two years ago.

Amateur photographers snapped photos of the man claimed to be Slummings setting fire to a pile of junk outside GD Field alongside the protesters last weekend, and pictures of the man are now trending on social media sites with those investigating Slummings’ appearance forming a loose-knit group planning a counter-protest.

This small but vocal group of Knights fans are organizing in full LARP (live action role playing) regalia and intend to assemble, swords and shields in hand, in front of Salt Lick Stadium in Yuma in the coming days.

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As part of the expansion, the club will be opening a full service sports book outside the left field gate of GD Field. Recently passed legislation in Arizona will now allow the on-site, real-time betting of professional, college, and high school sporting events, and the Knights appear to be capitalizing on this growing hobby by offering betting kiosks on a 24/7 basis at the ballpark. Above the left field grandstand the club is erecting another section of seating to expand capacity to 48,000 fans. This new section will include further food and drink offerings to Tempe faithful and will include the aptly named Van Haute-Dogs to coincide with the owner’s seven other area locations which have opened in rapid succession around the Tempe metropolitan area.

[Sandgnats]

Last time someone had an "issue" with Slummings they ended up at the bottom of a river in Mogadishu.

[Apollos]

Van Hauter has been advised to watch his back