[troutman]

Coyotes suitor’s pitch fails to excite

Glendale council members measured in response to Renaissance briefing


http://www.azcentral.com/community/g...ls-excite.html

A long-awaited proposal by the prospective owners of the Phoenix Coyotes intended to keep the team in Arizona generated a mostly lackluster response by the Glendale City Council on Tuesday evening.

One council member left the closed-door briefing early, saying prospective Coyotes owner Renaissance Sports & Entertainment was getting preferential treatment by her colleagues.

“I couldn’t take it anymore,” Councilwoman Norma Alvarez said as she made an early departure from the executive session.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not for the Coyotes,” said Alvarez, who is a longtime opponent of public spending for professional sports.

After the meeting ended, some council members said additional negotiations will be needed before the council will be ready to vote on the matter.

Before the meeting, Councilman Gary Sherwood said he anticipated Renaissance would ask for far more than $6 million a year, but that Renaissance would be willing to share some revenue with the city.

Afterward, Sherwood declined to discuss specific points, but said he’s optimistic that a deal can be reached. There’s one major sticking component to the proposal, but it probably can be addressed, he said.

Martinez said the council will likely not vote on the matter during its next scheduled voting meeting on Tuesday. All the council members have questions about the proposal, he said.

Mayor Jerry Weiers said, “There’s been no decision made by the council, so right now, that’s all I can tell you.”

Acting City Attorney Nicholas DiPiazza said city staff members will continue to negotiate with Renaissance. “This is still a very fluid situation,” he said. “I think an agreement can be reached very shortly or perhaps not.”