General Ongoing Coyotes saga thread

[Vulcan]

As for a Seattle expansion franchise.

Stern has maintained on numerous occasions this year that expanding the NBA to 31 teams to accommodate both cities is not an option.
“That discussion will have to wait for [future] commissioner [Adam] Silver to oversee,” he said in late-April. “Right now, expansion is not on the agenda. I would never say never. It doesn’t make a lot of sense unless we know what the new TV deal is.”

I guess the owners would rather divide the TV pie 30 ways instead of 31 unless the franchise fee compensates them for that.

http://nba.si.com/2013/05/15/reports...on-to-seattle/

[valo403]

Originally Posted by troutman

The NBA Board of Governors has voted down the relocation bid to move the Kings to Seattle, @USATODAYsports has learned

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...-stay/2162709/

I don't expect this to be the last we hear. The Maloofs apparently won't sell to the local group, so they'll probably just run the franchise bare bones until they can take another shot at Seattle, or elsewhere. Ugly situation all around.

[The Voice of Reason]

Originally Posted by valo403

I think a big part of buying this team is going to be changing the perceptions that surround it, starting with the fact that the arena is in a "fantastic" location. If the perception is that it's in a terrible location people aren't going to go, change that perception and maybe people realize it's not as bad as they previously thought.

Jobing.com arena is truly the strangest thing. It's an absolutely fantastic rink with very nice amenities. They have a great little entertainment district around the arena too.

But it's on the far west side of the city. It would be like putting an arena in Bowness in Calgary. Bowness is a nice part of town, they have bars and entertainment places, it's not super far away from everything in the city and it would be on a major driving route (16th Ave). But a lot of people would go crazy trying to get there in rush hour traffic before a game and it's not close to the existing C-Train line.

Would anyone be able to change the majority of Calgary residents perception that Bowness is a great location for an arena?

[troutman]

Pastor still committed to buying Coyotes


http://www.glendalestar.com/sports/a...a4bcf887a.html

“I have not heard directly from the NHL,” Pastor said. “I heard about the rejection on Canadian television, and have put in calls to several NHL executives, including Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.”

“We are still very interested. We are bankers and have the money, and do not have to finance any of our offer,” Pastor said. “If you finance and miss a payment, the bank will foreclose. We don’t have to worry about that.”

It also included an out clause of three to five years that would allow him to investigate relocation.

“The out clause is based on a standard operating procedure, but I also have a clause in there where I can purchase the arena,” Pastor said. “The fact that we are not looking to just manage, but acquire the arena, that shows that the out clause is just a standard business practice. You can’t move an arena once you own it.”

Renaissance Sports Group, a competing group trying to buy the Coyotes, is scheduled to meet with city officials next week. Pastor said his group is working on a new proposal to submit to the NHL, and is still hopeful that he will get to purchase the Coyotes.

“We want to hear their deal, and before their ink is dry, we will be sitting here waiting to submit a new offer,” he said.

While he waits and works on a second offer to submit to the league, Pastor wonders why the league said no.

Sources have said they expect the Coyotes ownership situation to be resolved by June 1. Payments from the City of Glendale to the NHL will cease June 1 and sources say they want a resolution by then.

Pastor said he isn’t sure when there might be a resolution.

“We offered $277.5 million and I can’t even get a call back,” he said.

[valo403]

The fact he's not getting called back makes me think his bid may have had just a few holes in it.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by The Voice of Reason

Jobing.com arena is truly the strangest thing. It's an absolutely fantastic rink with very nice amenities. They have a great little entertainment district around the arena too.

But it's on the far west side of the city. It would be like putting an arena in Bowness in Calgary. Bowness is a nice part of town, they have bars and entertainment places, it's not super far away from everything in the city and it would be on a major driving route (16th Ave).

It's an amazing facility/complex. I have heard rumours that you can't catch a taxi from Sky Harbour Airport to the rink.

If they could pick up that complex and put in Mesa/Scottsdale, there wouldn't be an issue at all.

The team did pretty well while they were sharing America West/US Airways downtown arena.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

It's an amazing facility/complex. I have heard rumours that you can't catch a taxi from Sky Harbour Airport to the rink.

I've taken a taxi from Sky Harbour to the Renaissance Hotel right beside the arena so I'm not sure where that's coming from.

[troutman]

Bids from Venue Managers extended to May 31st:

http://www.glendaleaz.com/purchasing...ortunities.cfm

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by troutman

Pastor still committed to buying Coyotes


http://www.glendalestar.com/sports/a...a4bcf887a.html

“I have not heard directly from the NHL,” Pastor said. “I heard about the rejection on Canadian television, and have put in calls to several NHL executives, including Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.”

“We are still very interested. We are bankers and have the money, and do not have to finance any of our offer,” Pastor said. “If you finance and miss a payment, the bank will foreclose. We don’t have to worry about that.”

It also included an out clause of three to five years that would allow him to investigate relocation.

“The out clause is based on a standard operating procedure, but I also have a clause in there where I can purchase the arena,” Pastor said. “The fact that we are not looking to just manage, but acquire the arena, that shows that the out clause is just a standard business practice. You can’t move an arena once you own it.”

Renaissance Sports Group, a competing group trying to buy the Coyotes, is scheduled to meet with city officials next week. Pastor said his group is working on a new proposal to submit to the NHL, and is still hopeful that he will get to purchase the Coyotes.

“We want to hear their deal, and before their ink is dry, we will be sitting here waiting to submit a new offer,” he said.

While he waits and works on a second offer to submit to the league, Pastor wonders why the league said no.

Sources have said they expect the Coyotes ownership situation to be resolved by June 1. Payments from the City of Glendale to the NHL will cease June 1 and sources say they want a resolution by then.

Pastor said he isn’t sure when there might be a resolution.

“We offered $277.5 million and I can’t even get a call back,” he said.

The fact that they are communicating through the media is hilarious and bewildering.

[Northendzone]

Communication thru a third party is always a promising sign......

[troutman]

Renaud Lavoie ‏@RenLavoieRDS
Bill Daly denied that Quebecor and the NHL are in talks for the Coyotes. #RDS


http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2...g-for-coyotes/

The ongoing saga to find an owner for the Phoenix Coyotes took another turn when columnist Réjean Tremblay told 98.5 Sports that Quebecor Inc. has begun negotiations to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes.

(Of note, Tremblay’s paper — Le Journal de Montreal — is owned by the Sun Media division of Quebecor Media.) [remember Brunt broke the story that the Thrashers were going to MB, and Brunt worked for Thomson's newspaper]

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly was quick to deny that they’re negotiating with Quebecor, according to RDS’ Renaud Lavoie.

Update: Quebecor has also shot down the rumors, saying any talk of them purchasing the Coyotes is “completely false.”

[troutman]

http://translate.google.com/translat...ot-240871.html

"A team is in place to clear the ground, lawyers, accountants to audit the affairs of the Coyotes," said columnist Réjean Tremblay on 98.5 fm with Paul Arcand on Wednesday.

This team is mandated to investigate the financial records of the franchise in Arizona and set the value of the assets of concesssion.

According Réjean Tremblay, the transaction is far from being finalized, but everything indicates that pave the way for the eventual relocation of the franchise to Phoenix Quebec.

"There is no commitment to sell, it is unclear. Negotiations are under way. It is necessary that the two clans already have confidence, it is a step that is done, these are negotiations that are serious. "


Quebecor, communications director Martin Tremblay refused to comment on the report, but the organization has issued a denial on his twitter account.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

I've taken a taxi from Sky Harbour to the Renaissance Hotel right beside the arena so I'm not sure where that's coming from.

How much did that set you back? It feels like it would be about the same as a taxi from the airport out to say High River?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Slava

How much did that set you back? It feels like it would be about the same as a taxi from the airport out to say High River?

not even close. 23 miles, all freeway - 20 to 25 minutes.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

not even close. 23 miles, all freeway - 20 to 25 minutes.

It just feels like it takes forever? I went to the last (maybe ever?!) home game this season and we were coming from Mesa. It was brutal.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Slava

It just feels like it takes forever? I went to the last (maybe ever?!) home game this season and we were coming from Mesa. It was brutal.

Mesa is a lot further away than the airport (depending on where in Mesa you're starting of course)

[Shin Pad]

You could take an airport shuttle from Skyharbour to Jobing.com arena. I flew in to Phoenix last Sunday and took a shuttle to my place in Goodyear, which is just west of Glendale - it cost me $35.00.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by troutman

According Réjean Tremblay, the transaction is far from being finalized, but everything indicates that pave the way for the eventual relocation of the franchise to Phoenix Quebec.

So, they aren't just going to move the franchise, but rather the entire city? WOW!

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by Slava

It just feels like it takes forever? I went to the last (maybe ever?!) home game this season and we were coming from Mesa. It was brutal.

It's far in distance but the drive home to east mesa for me doesn't take longer than 35 minutes.

[Brannigans Law]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

It's far in distance but the drive home to east mesa for me doesn't take longer than 35 minutes.

When I drive from downtown Calgary to Airdrie it takes me 15 tops.