Abandoned North Phoenix project gets new life as $190 million sports complex

Article originally posted on AZ Big Media on April 24, 2026

A 250,000-square-foot, nearly $190 million multi‑sport complex in North Phoenix is back on track, fulfilling the dream of SSS Partners CEO Shubham Pandey — and his neighbors.

Fire ‘N Ice Arena, a nearby hotel and SSS Academy, its operator, will sit on 17.5 acres at 2727 W. Bronco Butte Trail — near the I-17 and Sonoran Desert Drive, adjacent to TSMC.

Pandey said the hotel, which he called a Hilton, will open within two months. A Hilton spokesperson said, however, “Hilton is committed to growing our presence and meeting our guests’ needs in the destinations where they want to travel — with the right hotel in the right place at the right time. We recognize the opportunity for growth in Phoenix, but we have nothing to confirm at this time.” Meanwhile, the arena is tentatively set for Aug. 15, with a hard deadline of Sept. 1.

The project is designed to anchor youth hockey on two NHL-size ice rinks, high-performance training and tournament travel.

NBA-grade flooring will support sports such as basketball and volleyball.

“It’s a passion project,” said Pandey, whose three sons play hockey. “But it’s also a project that needed someone willing to take on the mess.”

The project began as a privately funded arena‑hotel concept about a decade ago. Construction moved swiftly, however, the ownership changed, financing collapsed and the pandemic halted work.

Pandey’s team has done more than $1.5 billion in construction, according to Fire ‘N Ice’s Nicole Dabney.

When Pandey stepped in, the building was a shell. “You don’t know what’s missing until you start opening walls,” he said.

His team spent more than a year and close to $65 million untangling the project’s past. The Phoenix Industrial Development Authority (Phoenix IDA) participated in the following private activity bond transactions for these projects: $185 million in educational facilities revenue bonds for SSS Academy, and $15.2 million in hotel revenue bonds for the Fire ‘N Ice Hotel. The Phoenix IDA “is a public finance authority that issues private activity bonds to support projects serving the public good,” according to its website.

“It took me almost 18 months just to clean it up,” he said. “There were broken pipelines everywhere — contracts, inventory, construction gaps. But the hockey component made it worth it.”

Pandey has built dozens of sports‑education facilities nationwide — but none with ice. That was enough to pull him into a stalled, complicated, expensive project in a state that just lost its NHL team.

“Fire ‘N Ice” refers to the complex’s duality. The “ice” side features two NHL-style rinks; full Jumbotrons; locker rooms, coaches’ rooms and film-review spaces; and seating designed for showcases, tournaments, and junior‑level games. The “fire” will be a restaurant with a “massive” pizza oven, according to Dabney.

The arena will have a capacity of 2,500 guests in full end-stage or in-the-round configurations. The arena sits on the “dry-court side,” ready for basketball, volleyball and pickleball. The space will be available for tournaments and multi-sports events. A full gym with cardio, weights and interval training can accommodate up to 100 athletes.

A green room will boast a live-streaming setup for game film and media training. Simulation rooms provide a room for skill development.

Entertainment partnership

Earlier this year, SSS Academies forged a partnership with Entertainment Events Inc. (EEI) to “deliver a dynamic, year-round calendar of ticketed live events to the venue’s state-of-the-art multi-use arena.”

The partnership launches with the venue’s grand opening in September.

According to the agreement, EEI will book and present ticketed live events, including major concerts by national touring artists, headlining comedians, tribute bands, full-scale Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, immersive theatrical experiences and family entertainment.

According to a statement, the goal is to book more than 100 events in its inaugural year.

“Fire ‘N Ice Arena is Phoenix’s new premier multi-sport and entertainment destination, and this exclusive partnership with EEI will make our grand opening truly spectacular,” Pandey said in a statement.

“This partnership perfectly complements our elite SSS Academy programming and ice sports facilities, creating an exciting new entertainment hub for the entire Valley. EEI’s nearly 30 years of experience in booking and producing live events makes them the ideal partner to bring this vision to life.”

Founded in 1998, EEI is a fully integrated theatrical and entertainment production company with nearly 30 years of experience booking, producing, and managing world-class live events. EEI has delivered over 400 acts to thousands of professional presenting organizations nationwide, spanning Off-Broadway productions in New York City to regional theatrical touring to concert series across the globe.

EEI’s sales, production, casting, creative and technical teams operate under one roof, providing end-to-end entertainment services for venues, presenters and development partners.

“Activating a brand-new, state-of-the-art arena from its very first night is the kind of opportunity 30 years of work prepares you to seize,” said Tim Flaherty, EEI chief executive officer.

“Fire ‘N Ice is unlike anything else in the Phoenix market — the facility, the vision and the SSS team are exceptional. We look forward to building a live entertainment series that becomes a genuine staple for the Valley, programming for audiences of every age and every taste, from the opening night and for years to come.”

The academy model

Pandey’s background is in education and construction, not hospitality. His company operates 62 schools across the country, serving more than 18,000 students, he said. He also founded Alpha One AI, an AI‑driven education platform used by schools and government agencies. His construction company, under usaeducationfund.com, has done more than $1.5 billion in construction.

Sports academies became part of his portfolio in 2013 — basketball, volleyball, aquatics, and other programs were built into K‑12 schools. Fire ‘N Ice is the first to include hockey.

The on‑site SSS Academy will serve grades nine through 12, with in-person, hybrid and online classes. The goal is to create a pipeline for athletes aiming for Division I, II or III college programs.

“We’re strong in education,” Pandey said. “We can give them an accredited pathway and the training they need daily. That combination is what makes this different.”

Pandey said during school hours, the facility will function as a training center. Evenings and weekends will be reserved for community use — house leagues, club teams, adult leagues, and tournaments.