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The bankrupt team, whose official name is Dewey Ranch Hockey LLC, drew only 2,000 fans or so for its 2009-2010 preseason opener on Sept. 15 at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz. OK, it's only preseason. But the current fight in the courtroom of Judge Redfield Baum of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona in Phoenix is over whether the team must be compelled to stay in Glendale or not. Certainly, recent attendance, even if for an exhibition game, doesn't bode well for the National Hockey League's adamant stand that the team not be moved. Baum is the central figure. The second Baum releases his opinion on which party is the winner of the Coyotes -- be it Research In Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ:RIMM) founder Jim Balsillie or the NHL -- the path of the team will take shape. Should Balsillie win, for example, the team is likely to be embroiled in litigation, since the NHL will surely appeal. Should the NHL win, fans will likely feel the franchise is a lame duck, hearkening back to the days when Major League Baseball assumed ownership of the Montreal Expos before moving the team to Washington. Indeed, no matter what, the Coyotes are conceivably not long for Glendale. Both the NHL and Balsillie have offers on the table for the team, but only the NHL's even holds out hope that the team has a future in Glendale. Balsillie's offer is premised on moving the team to Hamilton, Ontario, and the city of Glendale has even rejected his sweetened $242.5 million offer, which includes $50 million in cash to break the lease to the arena. Even the NHL, which has bent over backwards to keep the franchise in Arizona, came off its stance when it submitted its official bid, claiming that if it can't find a buyer willing to keep the Coyotes in Arizona following the upcoming season, it will start turning the wheels toward a move itself. Then there's the head coach (as well as managing partner and hockey legend), Wayne Gretzky, whose contract, claims and compensation are so tangled in the messy bankruptcy case that he has boycotted training camp and left assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson in charge. One report indicated that Gretzky isn't coming to camp until his contract status is taken care of. The NHL is not assuming Gretzky's deal under its $140 million bid. If all this weren't enough, current owner Jerry Moyes was quoted in a report as saying Glendale "would be better off without hockey." "This team is going to be gone in a year," he told the Arizona Republic. The good news? The Coyotes won their preseason opener, 4-2, in a split-squad game over the Los Angeles Kings. Unfortunately, that's just about the only thing going for the Coyotes -- or their fans -- these days. - Ben Fidler
CategoriesComments
From: AzYotes,
the best part is that new coaches are already being hired that aren't part of the good ole boys Edmonton club. Don't be so quick to pass off this team in Phoenix. Why would the fans feel if it's a lame duck if the NHL wins and has already said Reinsdorf, and ice edge are still interested, they just don't want to be part of the BK in court.
Posted on:
September 21, 2009 4:25 PM
From: rangerwilson,
Bettman and company must be deaf and blind to what is going on re; the Coyotes. This hockey team will never succeed in Arizona, and they refuse to let a man of means who cares about hockey, buy the team. and move it to Hamilton, where they can fill the rink all the time. I feel bad for the hockey players, not knowing whats really going on, and also Wayne Gretzky. It's an absolute gong show and I hope Balsillie does everything in his power, to move the team out of Alice in wonderland.
Posted on:
September 21, 2009 4:36 PM
From: valley boy,
You are fooling yourself, AzYotes. Both Reinsdorf and the NHL's intention is to relocate this team in one of the brand-spanking new arenas in KC or Vegas. It will likely be the $500 mil, 20,000 seat empty arena in Vegas. The NHL is dying to beat the NBA into that market. I understand that you hate reading these articles, but if you would have paid attention, you would know that the NHL's bid authorizes the league to relocate the team at the end of this season, thereby breaking the lease with Glendale. The city of Glendale would get nothing. At least with Mr. Balsille's bid, Glendale gets $50 mil, or about 20 percent of the city's annual budget. Also, do you really think the NHL owners are going to keep footing the bill for this team losing over $30 mil per season? You are crazy if you do. I know it hurts you to accept this, but the Coyotes failed in the desert, particularly in Glendale. My opinion is that the franchise's biggest mistake was moving this team way out to like 99th Ave, or wherever it is. I am sure they didn't anticipate the housing bust out there, but how many people from the East Valley are going to buy season tickets when the arena is way out there?
Posted on:
September 22, 2009 12:26 AM
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These days must be tough for fans of pro hockey's Phoenix Coyotes. Or is it the other way around?
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the best part is that new coaches are already being hired that aren't part of the good ole boys Edmonton club.
Attendance from the first preseason game to the second preseason game jumped nearly 300%.
Don't be so quick to pass off this team in Phoenix. Why would the fans feel if it's a lame duck if the NHL wins and has already said Reinsdorf, and ice edge are still interested, they just don't want to be part of the BK in court.
Quite frankly these "articles" are getting old, tireless, and completely lacking any new facts. Give us something new.