General Ongoing Coyotes saga thread

[Vulcan]

As expected the motion passes 4 to 2.

“@LisaHalverstadt: Motion passes 4-2.

On to the next episode.

[calumniate]

I'm feeling short

[Northendzone]

So now jamison needs to come up with the money

[TorqueDog]

I somehow don't see this ending well for the NHL in AZ.

[troutman]

Glendale destroyed trust with rushed vote


http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...shed-vote.html

When the City Council gathered Friday, members still had not received an economic study. Documents mentioned in the agreement were missing. Everything cried for taking a few more days to get everything in order and demonstrate this is the best deal the city could get.

Instead, the council approved the deal, 4-2. Never mind state law that requires documents be available for inspection 24 hours before a meeting. Never mind a public body's duty to be up-front with constituents.

This was pure arrogance. Goldwater will be back in court Monday, before a judge who handed it an engraved invitation. The city will likely lose. Why? Because leaders unnecessarily rushed a vote, instead of allowing the full public participation necessary in a democratic society.

Former Coyotes owner says hockey won't work in Arizona
http://www.arizonasports.com/?nid=43&sid=1552012

Lisa Halverstadt ‏@LisaHalverstadt
Goldwater Institute spokeswoman says the conservative watchdog group will likely move forward with challenge to #Glendale vote on #Coyotes.

Goldwater Institute ‏@GoldwaterInstEven #Glendale City Atty. said that the court has the power to intervene after the vote. We intend to pursue this avenue. #Coyotes

[Notorious Honey Badger]

the glendale city council might be the most corrupt and inept in north america

[Northendzone]

and the laughs just keep coming - seems the CoG is is more desperate to hang onto the NHL than I was with an ex girl-friend.....

[troutman]

GWI vs. Glendale, on the docket this morning (10:15):

http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.go...s/caseInfo.asp

Case Number: CV2009-020757

Dave Zorn ‏@dave_zorn
Update: Motions for a hearing have been filed, no hearing has been set. #Coyotes

[Jordan!]

They can challenge the vote but they'll just revote. the 4 yes votes aren't going to change

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

They can challenge the vote but they'll just revote. the 4 yes votes aren't going to change

I agree. But the NHL won't be able to tolerate many more delays. This may also chill potential investors.

Lisa Halverstadt ‏@LisaHalverstadt
Still no time set for #Glendale - Goldwater Institute hearing on #Coyotes documents and city council vote.

NHLwiki ‏@NHLwiki
#NHL *News*--Sources tell Andy Strickland that Greg Jamison still needs close to $100M to buy the #Coyotes and may borrow from the NHL.

NHLwiki ‏@NHLwiki #NHL
*Rumor*-- Former NHL player Anson Carter one of Greg Jamison's investors to buy the #Coyotes? http://bit.ly/L2zoYY

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by troutman

I agree. But the NHL won't be able to tolerate many more delays. This may also chill potential investors.

That is my worry but Jamison has purposely held his investors close and private. These aren't anonymous bond investors. They should know what they're getting into.

But i'm still worried

[Stay Golden]

So why does the NHL head office insistant on protecting PHX from moving?

They act like the Coyotes are enriched deep with a long standing tradition as if they were an origional 6 team with a overwhelming rabid hockey loyal fans or multi Cup champions. It is the most bizarre thing i have seen in pro sports.
What is the real reason Bettman's NHL office are relentless to let go of PHX in PHX?
As for the PHX story it is a nauseating to hear full of deception and every shifting deadlines that are meaningless.
If PHX had a large collection of diehard fans like B&A it would be a much different situation.
My main problem with Coyotes is that the NHL has their hand in the cookie jar.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

So why does the NHL head office insistant on protecting PHX from moving?

Why don't they insist on a drive to a season ticket target?

Mike Phelan ‏@mcmikexKnow what would save the #Coyotes? A ticket drive where you sell out 15,000 avg $100 tix for 5 years in 17min. #NotGonnaHappen #GoJetsGo

Lisa Halverstadt ‏@LisaHalverstadt
At 7 p.m., #Glendale will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget and tax hikes. Council will vote after hearing from residents.

[Muta]

I still think its a pride issue, where the NHL doesn't want to see another southern US team fail given their strategy to expand into that market over the last 20 years.

I'm sure a spiffy new TV deal wouldn't hurt either (ala the Kings), but even then, it's hard to say how much more the sport could grow. You shouldn't have to depend on visitng or retired Canadians helping to fill up the arena as revenue.

I think the Yotes playoff run will have a positive effect next season - but quite frankly, there's more money to be made in other cities (Quebec City, for example). Hence why I believe it's, on some level, a pride issue for the NHL. They want to save face by entering that market.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

So why does the NHL head office insistant on protecting PHX from moving?

Money. In the long term, they can make more money getting expansion fees in markets like Quebec, Toronto(Markham), Seattle, Hamilton etc, than moving existing franchises into those markets. They'll fight to the end to keep struggling teams in their markets just long enough, for when Quebec, Markham, and Seattle have their new arenas. They then collect 750-900 million in expansion fees and then fold 3 teams. 900 million is a lot more than three 70 million relocation fees.

In the case of Phoenix, Glendale is making it easy on the NHL to continue to bide time.

[Resolute 14]

Uhh, no. They aren't going to just expand by three then fold three. They do seem to be angling to expand by two, however.

Holding onto Phoenix is done for several reasons, imo. First, there has generally always been someone interested in buying the team. Even though these groups have failed in all cases, that has been enough to keep the team around. This is a difference between Phoenix and Atlanta. Second, I think it provides a legal shield for the league against the city. The NHL can show it went beyond reasonable expectations to keep the team viable in Phoenix. As you might recall, a lot of people expected lawsuits to fly if Balsillie's bankruptcy scam worked. Third, None of the three suggested markets are ready. Keeping the team in Phoenix for now gives other cities a chance to get their acts in order.

[topfiverecords]

Well, sure they're not looking to add 3 and fold 3. 32 would be an ideal number of teams, however at some point considering how many teams are losing money 32 teams seems unsustainable.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

So why does the NHL head office insistant on protecting PHX from moving?

Pretty simple answers really.

1) There are people interested in owning in Phoenix

2) There's no market immediately available

[valo403]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Money. In the long term, they can make more money getting expansion fees in markets like Quebec, Toronto(Markham), Seattle, Hamilton etc, than moving existing franchises into those markets. They'll fight to the end to keep struggling teams in their markets just long enough, for when Quebec, Markham, and Seattle have their new arenas. They then collect 750-900 million in expansion fees and then fold 3 teams. 900 million is a lot more than three 70 million relocation fees.

In the case of Phoenix, Glendale is making it easy on the NHL to continue to bide time.

If the NHL prevented a sale and relocation on one hand while taking expansion fees on the other with an eye to folding three teams they'd find themselves up to their eyeballs in lawsuits.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by valo403

Pretty simple answers really.

1) There are people interested in owning in Phoenix

2) There's no market immediately available

i think that there are folks who are interested in owning the team in Phoenix, the stumbling block seems to be that they don't quite have teh financial wherewithal to pull it off and they need lots of help from a group of folks (the CoG) who are almost desperate to try and save this.

I'd be stunned if the Yotes season ticket sales are up by more than 15% after thier run this spring.