General Ongoing Coyotes saga thread

[troutman]

NHL, Glendale looking to kick Coyotes can forward another 30 days

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/n...s.html?ana=twt

Players behind Fehr

http://translate.google.com/translat...08-165855.html

Saturday, the president of the Players' Association (NHLPA), Donald Fehr, said a team like the Phoenix Coyotes was one of the main causes of the current labor dispute in the NHL.

Guillaume Latendresse, Ottawa Senators, and Mathieu Darche, who is still without a contract, abounded in the same direction Monday when faced by TVA Sports.

"As a player, it is certain that it is more fun to play in front of 15 000 - 20 000 people in Quebec, for example, before 4000 in Phoenix, said Latendresse.

"No matter how income is distributed, and even if the income is the same, I think it's better for the league, for the fans and for the players."

For its part, Darche wonder why the NHL wants to keep some teams in the Southern United States.

"If every year we support teams who have difficulty when there are more interesting markets in Canada and the northern United States, why continue to lose money?"

The main cause of the lockout?

http://translate.googleusercontent.c..._tC0khV_fwrmbg

The President of the Players' Association (NHLPA), Donald Fehr, has led to this idea in an interview with the newspaper of Toronto, "The Globe and Mail," Saturday.

"If a team in a city" A "can do much better in town" B ", why we do not move it?, He said, making an obvious reference to the Coyotes.

"The fact is that this team is one of the causes of the dispute. The Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg (Jets) and the organization has no problems. This is a good example. "

According to Fehr, NHL just will not admit his wrongs keeping the Coyotes in Glendale.

"My understanding of things is that the NHL is set in the southern United States to develop the U.S. market at a national level and have a bigger TV contract, he analyzed.

"There are many people who believe that this strategy has failed. From the perspective of the players, we want a healthy league with many teams we have now. "

[T2GREEN]

I wonder how fellow union member Shane Doan feels? He specifically held off signing with the Coyotes before they could assure him that they weren't moving to Quebec.

Originally Posted by troutman

NHL, Glendale looking to kick Coyotes can forward another 30 days

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/n...s.html?ana=twt

Players behind Fehr

http://translate.google.com/translat...08-165855.html

Saturday, the president of the Players' Association (NHLPA), Donald Fehr, said a team like the Phoenix Coyotes was one of the main causes of the current labor dispute in the NHL.

Guillaume Latendresse, Ottawa Senators, and Mathieu Darche, who is still without a contract, abounded in the same direction Monday when faced by TVA Sports.

"As a player, it is certain that it is more fun to play in front of 15 000 - 20 000 people in Quebec, for example, before 4000 in Phoenix, said Latendresse.

"No matter how income is distributed, and even if the income is the same, I think it's better for the league, for the fans and for the players."

For its part, Darche wonder why the NHL wants to keep some teams in the Southern United States.

"If every year we support teams who have difficulty when there are more interesting markets in Canada and the northern United States, why continue to lose money?"

The main cause of the lockout?

http://translate.googleusercontent.c..._tC0khV_fwrmbg

The President of the Players' Association (NHLPA), Donald Fehr, has led to this idea in an interview with the newspaper of Toronto, "The Globe and Mail," Saturday.

"If a team in a city" A "can do much better in town" B ", why we do not move it?, He said, making an obvious reference to the Coyotes.

"The fact is that this team is one of the causes of the dispute. The Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg (Jets) and the organization has no problems. This is a good example. "

According to Fehr, NHL just will not admit his wrongs keeping the Coyotes in Glendale.

"My understanding of things is that the NHL is set in the southern United States to develop the U.S. market at a national level and have a bigger TV contract, he analyzed.

"There are many people who believe that this strategy has failed. From the perspective of the players, we want a healthy league with many teams we have now. "

[Jordan!]

Two articles from tvasports? translated from french? Yeah, not a slanted view at all.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

Two articles from tvasports? translated from french? Yeah, not a slanted view at all.

Does it make the quotes in the article any less relevant, though? T2GREEN alludes to a damn good point.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

Two articles from tvasports? translated from french? Yeah, not a slanted view at all.

The second article was only quoting this Saturday Globe and Mail interview (no Quebecois media conspiracy):

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...593338/?page=2

Q: Canadian teams are doing well now, and one of the things you hear up here is, ‘Why don’t they just fold teams like Phoenix?’ Why is it important to the players that those teams survive? What if rosters of the remaining teams were expanded to prevent job loss?

A: My understanding is that the NHL went to the so-called southern strategy in an attempt to develop a national footprint in the U.S. for the purposes of a much larger national TV contract. There are a lot of people who think that strategy failed. From the players’ standpoint, we want a healthy league with as many teams as we can have and that raises two questions: If a team in city A could be doing much better in city B, and the fact that it’s still in city A is causing us labour problems, why don’t we move it? Atlanta moving to Winnipeg and getting rid of those problems is an example of that. The second question in bargaining is: If a team is kept in a city in which it is not doing very well, and there is another place it could be relocated and do better and make labour relations and everything else easier, and the decision is to leave it in the first city, whose responsibility is that and who ought to bear the cost for it? Those questions from our standpoint have self-evident answers.

[FlamesAddiction]

It sounds like a fair statement when you consider that the NHL is offering a partnership to the players where they get a percent of revenues. When the last CBA was signed, there was a statement made publicly that they also agreed to both take actions to ensure that revenues increase. The players have an interest in seeing struggling teams moved since it is an easy way to increase overall revenues, but the NHL protects them.

It's like how wealthy German industrialists like having Greece in the EU to drag down the value of the Euro. If many more struggling teams were moved, the cap would likely rise higherthan the owners would like. It's nice for them to keep the Coyotes where they are.

[Resolute 14]

Q: Canadian teams are doing well now, and one of the things you hear up here is, ‘Why don’t they just fold teams like Phoenix?’ Why is it important to the players that those teams survive?

Jesus... Whoever asked that question should take a time machine back to 2003. There was a time when most Canadian markets were worse off than Phoenix. And there could well be a time in the future when it happens again. Pretty arrogant of a Canadian to be so flippant about relocating/folding teams.

That isn't to say Phoenix should be saved at all costs... but lets face it, under the NHLPA's proposal, we're merely a big reversal in the value of the loonie away from being the subject of this exact same question. "Why don't they just fold Calgary and Edmonton and Ottawa and Winnipeg?"

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Jesus... Whoever asked that question should take a time machine back to 2003. There was a time when most Canadian markets were worse off than Phoenix. And there could well be a time in the future when it happens again. Pretty arrogant of a Canadian to be so flippant about relocating/folding teams.

That isn't to say Phoenix should be saved at all costs... but lets face it, under the NHLPA's proposal, we're merely a big reversal in the value of the loonie away from being the subject of this exact same question. "Why don't they just fold Calgary and Edmonton and Ottawa and Winnipeg?"

It's also rather hilarious that someone would ask the head of the NHLPA why it's important to the players that 25+ positions in the league not be eliminated. That's like asking the head of UAW why it's important to them that a plant not close down.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Jesus... Whoever asked that question should take a time machine back to 2003. There was a time when most Canadian markets were worse off than Phoenix. And there could well be a time in the future when it happens again. Pretty arrogant of a Canadian to be so flippant about relocating/folding teams.

That isn't to say Phoenix should be saved at all costs... but lets face it, under the NHLPA's proposal, we're merely a big reversal in the value of the loonie away from being the subject of this exact same question. "Why don't they just fold Calgary and Edmonton and Ottawa and Winnipeg?"

It's different now that the whole system is linked to revenue.

I also recall just before the Jets were moved to Phoenix, the attitude was still pretty much the same. Keith Tkachuk was pretty vocal and flat out said that if the Jets couldn't afford to keep him, that they should move the team to a better market. I also recall many American fans bitter about the dollar equalization plan that the small market Canadian teams received (despite Canadian small markets being intrisically valuable).

[Resolute 14]

Oh, I agree that it is different under a linked system. That's why I specified the risk is associated with the union's proposals.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It's different now that the whole system is linked to revenue.

I also recall just before the Jets were moved to Phoenix, the attitude was still pretty much the same. Keith Tkachuk was pretty vocal and flat out said that if the Jets couldn't afford to keep him, that they should move the team to a better market. I also recall many American fans bitter about the dollar equalization plan that the small market Canadian teams received (despite Canadian small markets being intrisically valuable).

Well Tkachuk was far from an impartial source. He's American and therefore there is a high likelihood that he'd rather be playing in the US. Also he was one of the team's most important players so he'd rather play in a market that could afford to pay him a premium salary. Basically he was one of the most biased sources you could consult about Winnipeg moving for those reasons stated IMO.

[troutman]

sonu munshi ‏@smunshi
E-mail from NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly this afternoon on a #Coyotes status update: "Agreements have been extended for another month."

This has to be the last extension? This can't go past the election on November 6th?

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by troutman

This has to be the last extension? This can't go past the election on November 6th?

The Coyotes are tougher to kill than the Terminator, troutman...

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by troutman

sonu munshi ‏@smunshi
E-mail from NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly this afternoon on a #Coyotes status update: "Agreements have been extended for another month."

This has to be the last extension? This can't go past the election on November 6th?

As a matter of simple practicality, some form of lease will have to exist until the end of the season - be it when we resume play and actually finish a season, or the current one gets cancelled. There is no possible way to relocate the team now, though folding/suspending the team for the year is a remote possibility.

Though yeah, if Jamison doesn't get this done within these 30 days, that is very likely all she wrote.

[troutman]

IStar plans to keep Westgate, works on rebranding


http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/n...on.html?page=2

David Sotolov, senior vice president of iStar, said the REIT does not plan to sell Westgate and expects a major boost for the center when the newly built Tanger outlet mall opens Nov. 15.

Sotolov said iStar and property manager Vestar Development are talking with six new restaurants and retail tenants about locating at Westgate. He expects at least two of those to finalize leases before the end of the year.

Sotolov projects 5 million visitors a year to the outlet mall, which would boost foot traffic substantially at Westgate.

The Phoenix Coyotes drew 509,000 fans to Jobing.com Arena for 41 regular-season home games last season, according to ESPN. The Arizona Cardinals drew 489,000 fans to eight regular-season National Football League games last season.

Sotolov said iStar executives have met with prospective Coyotes buyer Greg Jamison. The company wants the Coyotes to stay at Jobing.com Arena, but is not formulating its Westgate business model on the financially challenged hockey team’s ownership saga or the National Hockey League lockout.

“I think we really have to focus on what we can control,” Sotolov said.

[troutman]

Our View: Clark seems to be losing her cool


http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blo...torials/172782

Particularly concerning is her campaign literature’s allegations against a fellow council member.

“Councilwoman Norma Alvarez has endorsed and is solely supporting Latino candidates for mayor and council,” it states. “Is there a hidden agenda to get a Latino majority on Glendale City Council?”

The literature posted on Clark’s campaign website alleges a Latino majority on the council would benefit just one group within Glendale and would reject the arena deal with potential Phoenix Coyotes owner Greg Jamison. The current council is mostly White. Does this mean the City Council benefits “just one group within Glendale”?

[troutman]

Glendale's Sahuaro District candidates


http://www.azcentral.com/community/g...ide-audit.html

On an average $15 million annual arena-management fee being worked out with a Coyotes suitor, Sherwood said it's needed because all prospective team buyers have insisted on it. He said it may be steep, but if the buyers insist, "then we're kind of stuck."

He said keeping the Coyotes is important for Westgate City Center to prosper and the area around it to grow.

Still, he blamed the City Council for not getting a professional negotiator when the Coyotes went bankrupt three years ago.

"Our city manager had no business handling those negotiations," he said, referring to Beasley, who retired in June.

Douglas said she wants the Coyotes to stay but not at taxpayer expense.

She compared the present situation to owning a piece of rental property where the tenant is allowed to dictate "how much you will pay them to live there."

She called for an outside management group to manage the arena and for the city to work out an "equitable, fair agreement" to keep the Coyotes playing at the city-owned arena.

"There's no reason why they shouldn't want to stay in Glendale," she said.

[troutman]

Glendale City Council's Cactus District candidates Hugh, Hirsch

http://www.azcentral.com/community/g...-tax-hike.html

Hugh criticized the hike and the $50 million the city took from its water-and-sewer fund to keep the Coyotes at the city-owned arena the past two years.

"Money has been pouring out of City Hall in record amounts. That's why we have the deficit," Hugh said.

He criticized city leaders for "building a baseball field not even in our own city" and for betting on sports and entertainment ventures that haven't financially panned out.

Both disliked the city's deal with potential Coyotes buyer Greg Jamison that would have Glendale pay him $320 million over 20 years. The city should look for an arena manager who could find other events for the venue, they said.

"We've just got to get off this merry-go-round and obsession with Coyotes," Hirsch said. "They should be paying us, not the other way around."

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

So is it even possible to elect a council favourable to the Coyotes? The way I read it, every mayoral candidate is against the deal, every Cactus district candidate, every Sahuaro district candidate and I don't think Ocotillo is up for election with Norma Alvarez the incumbent strongly against the arena. There's your four votes against right there.

[troutman]

Mayor debate:

sonu munshi ‏@smunshi
Weiers on http://Jobing.com Arena: why are we willing to pay money to millionaires.

sonu munshi ‏@smunshi
Cruz: even if Jamison walks, we will survive. Get another alternative.

sonu munshi ‏@smunshi
Qs on whether the city should keep Coyotes and yet cut services if sales tax hike is repealed. Cruz say no

sonu munshi ‏@smunshi
Weiers agrees. Says he would push to negotiate something that works for residents.