Coyotes CEO 'confident' team is staying in Glendale
http://ktar.com/6/1524462/Coyotes-CE...ng-in-Glendale
But Coyotes President/CEO Mike Nealy said he's confident that the team will stay in Glendale. Behind the scenes, there's been activity to that end.
"We are not in a scenario that the team is leaving, and we're just trying to keep this quiet until we get through the season," he said.
"Contrary to that, there is a lot of activity. It is well known that the National Hockey League wants us to stay here. (At least) two ownership groups are out there and they are trying to get this thing done in the near term."
Nealy would not identify who the potential owners are. Former San Jose Sharks CEO Greg Jamison and Chicago Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf have both been reported as heading groups believed to be interested in the team.
Nealy said it's possible that the sale could happen within the next few weeks.
"It won't be long before we know," said Nealy. "From a positive standpoint, we'll find out hopefully soon that we're here ... and who we're here with ... and that we can move on."
"This regular season, we sold 60,000 more tickets than we did two years ago," he said. "One of our goals was to sell tickets. I think there was a history of giving a lot of tickets away. We gave away 50,000 fewer tickets this season."
We should distinguish the last comment - there is giving away tickets for nothing, and giving away tickets at really low prices. The last comment does not account for how very cheap tickets are also given away in Phoenix.