[News] UPD: City of Glendale to vote on new arena agreement with Coyotes

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

Sounds like Atlanta, part II.

In the words of Don Cherry: "Quebec City......GET READY!"

I would love that, but that would really wreck and semblance of symmetry in the league. It's bad enough that we have an imbalance of 14 teams to 16 teams, but a conference split of 13 to 17 would be horrible.

For geographic purposes, the NHL is still going to pull out all the stops to keep the Coyotes there.

[oldschoolcalgary]

this thread is kinda like groundhog day...

anyone that read even a little on that deal knew it was horrible for the citizens of Glendale...simply throwing good money after the bad.

the stadium project was a bad decision. Trying to use the a sport nobody is interested in to try to make it financially "viable" (quotes since the metrics for viability usually doesn't included vast amounts corporate welfare) was a terrible, terrible decision

laughable... people on council should be losing their heads on this decision...and i hope the NHL BOG is on the hook for the 100s of millions of dollars to boot.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Isn't that exactly how Crosby landed in Pittsburg? To bring excitement to a broke and failing franchise. For all the money and time wasted in keeping a team in Arizona, bringing the next phenom there could be the catalyst required.

Crosby landed in Pittsburgh as the result of a random draw.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by getbak

There was no chance the Coyotes were ever going to play anywhere in the Phoenix area other than Glendale.

They didn't renew their deal, they renegotiated it. The old deal had them locked into Glendale for 30 years to pay off the arena, with severe penalties for leaving early. Now, they're at a point where Glendale wants to get rid of them.

I've never understood why that keeps getting overlooked. If Balsillie's ploy had worked years ago and the League had allowed the Coyotes to move, they'd probably still be fighting lawsuits from the City of Glendale for breaking what was a pretty ironclad lease.

The way I remember it the bankruptcy ended the long term deal. Bettman (or Balsillie if he had gained control of the team) could have moved the team any time he wanted after the bankruptcy. Bettman chose to keep the team in Glendale as part of the agreement with the new owners.

[pylon]

I think this is really the perfect time to just move the team to Vegas. It keeps the team in the same basic region, doesn't upset divisional alignment and there is going to be zero issues with tax payers footing the bill there. Any players living in Phoenix that don't want to leave that area, could just get themselves a nice condo in Vegas, and commute back home a couple times a month, or their families could drive up no problem.

Does the league really want the black eye, that they are depriving a community of essential service because o their borderline racketeering deal there? Bettman just needs to swallow his pride on this one and ship the team out immediately.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by pylon

I think this is really the perfect time to just move the team to Vegas. It keeps the team in the same basic region, doesn't upset divisional alignment and there is going to be zero issues with tax payers footing the bill there. Any players living in Phoenix that don't want to leave that area, could just get themselves a nice condo in Vegas, and commute back home a couple times a month, or their families could drive up no problem.

Does the league really want the black eye, that they are depriving a community of essential service because o their borderline racketeering deal there? Bettman just needs to swallow his pride on this one and ship the team out immediately.

If they move to Vegas the league won't get its big expansion fee.

[Poster]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

If they move to Vegas the league won't get its big expansion fee.

They would get a relocation fee. WPG paid it too.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

The way I remember it the bankruptcy ended the long term deal. Bettman (or Balsillie if he had gained control of the team) could have moved the team any time he wanted after the bankruptcy. Bettman chose to keep the team in Glendale as part of the agreement with the new owners.

Getbak's not wrong though. Given Balsillie and Moyes' bankruptcy proceeding was pretty obviously a sham, the city would have sued all parties for breach of contract.

Getting the city to agree to a new arena lease deal staved off those suits. Conveniently, new contract also basically makes the city pay the team, and still gives the team an out after five years rather than be locked in for decades. The new deal basically created a situation where, if the team should seek to relocate, the city would pretty much smile as they left rather than call in expensive lawyers.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by pylon

Does the league really want the black eye, that they are depriving a community of essential service because o their borderline racketeering deal there? Bettman just needs to swallow his pride on this one and ship the team out immediately.

The black eye is on the city, not the league. Also, Bettman does not own the Coyotes, so he cannot simply "ship the team out immediately". That request would come from the owners and would require two-thirds support from the board of governors. Nevermind the fact that the lease currently still exists and still forbids such a move.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

Incidentally, the Florida Panthers have the same problem.

Location, location, location.

Just doing a quick Google search, it shows the population of Glendale in 2013 was around 235,000, whereas Phoenix was 1.5 million. And as mentioned before, putting them downtown would no doubt attract more people from the East because it's closer.

"Location, location, location" may be an excuse in your book, but I know that if they got out of Glendale, they would have much better attended games and people that would frequently come. Hockey was slowly becoming known down here, but unfortunately not fast enough.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I would love that, but that would really wreck and semblance of symmetry in the league. It's bad enough that we have an imbalance of 14 teams to 16 teams, but a conference split of 13 to 17 would be horrible.

For geographic purposes, the NHL is still going to pull out all the stops to keep the Coyotes there.

Geographic purposes won't be enough of a reason IMO. The only reason the will forcibly keep the team in Phoenix is because they for some reason still believe in the potential of the market. If the team is put up for sale again, I don't think the NHL will stand in the way or own the team themselves again, just for divisional reasons. If anything, they just rejig the divisional setup slightly until Las Vegas and possibly Seattle come in.

Colorado to Pacific
Columbus to Central
Quebec to Atlantic
Detroit to Metro

Then when LV and Seattle come in

LV and Seattle to Pacific
Colorado to Central

Keep Columbus in West, who cares if they don't like it. They've been in the league for a relatively short time (unlike Detroit) and were in the West for most of their history, so it makes sense to keep them in the West out of the other choices to maintain 16/16 split. If Florida relocates, swap with Columbus if it's to a western market. Then swap Det with CBJ so they are back in their original divisions.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by pylon

I think this is really the perfect time to just move the team to Vegas. It keeps the team in the same basic region, doesn't upset divisional alignment and there is going to be zero issues with tax payers footing the bill there. Any players living in Phoenix that don't want to leave that area, could just get themselves a nice condo in Vegas, and commute back home a couple times a month, or their families could drive up no problem.

Does the league really want the black eye, that they are depriving a community of essential service because o their borderline racketeering deal there? Bettman just needs to swallow his pride on this one and ship the team out immediately.

Not to mention avoiding an expansion draft. If any one of Gio, Mony, Johnny, Bennett, Hudler or a few others got picked away for nothing, I'd be so pissed.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Not to mention avoiding an expansion draft. If any one of Gio, Mony, Johnny, Bennett, Hudler or a few others got picked away for nothing, I'd be so pissed.

They'd be protected as teams in the past could protect 2/3 of their roster or something like that, and all prospects are protected. We'd probably lose someone like Engelland, Raymond or Stajan.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The black eye is on the city, not the league. Also, Bettman does not own the Coyotes, so he cannot simply "ship the team out immediately". That request would come from the owners and would require two-thirds support from the board of governors. Nevermind the fact that the lease currently still exists and still forbids such a move.

Not to mention, there's nowhere they can move immediately. Which is why, IMO, it wasn't done the first time. The only other option with a viable arena is KC, and I think Bettman and the BOG know that it would be the same problem there as in Phoenix.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

They'd be protected as teams in the past could protect 2/3 of their roster or something like that, and all prospects are protected. We'd probably lose someone like Engelland, Raymond or Stajan.

You'd be limited in goalie protection too - a reason to have both Hiller and Ramo signed I guess.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Just doing a quick Google search, it shows the population of Glendale in 2013 was around 235,000, whereas Phoenix was 1.5 million. And as mentioned before, putting them downtown would no doubt attract more people from the East because it's closer.

"Location, location, location" may be an excuse in your book, but I know that if they got out of Glendale, they would have much better attended games and people that would frequently come. Hockey was slowly becoming known down here, but unfortunately not fast enough.

Or at least in Scottsdale (though the central location would be better).

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Hockey was slowly becoming known down here, but unfortunately not fast enough.

They've had 19 years to do this. If the fanbase isn't there by now, it never will be.

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Just doing a quick Google search, it shows the population of Glendale in 2013 was around 235,000, whereas Phoenix was 1.5 million. And as mentioned before, putting them downtown would no doubt attract more people from the East because it's closer.

"Location, location, location" may be an excuse in your book, but I know that if they got out of Glendale, they would have much better attended games and people that would frequently come. Hockey was slowly becoming known down here, but unfortunately not fast enough.

If this ownership group doesn't turn it around fast and it's been a colossal failure thus far in terms of marketing (What marketing???) and team performance this team is gone.

Not sure what to believe at this point, but i'm not burning any of my energy on the situation anymore. Results need to happen on the ice, end of story.

[Burke Salad]

The Saskatchewan potash prairie dogs!

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Poster

They would get a relocation fee. WPG paid it too.

I'm assuming the Coyotes owners want to keep the team. You've got a different owner in Vegas willing to pay the fee and the Coyotes can move somewhere else and pay as well.