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City of Glendale meeting to determine fate of NHL's Coyotes


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The City of Glendale sent the Arizona Coyotes scrambling when it announced late Tuesday that it will meet Wednesday in a special session to explore the possibility of canceling the professional management services and arena lease agreement between the city and IceArizona, which owns the NHL team.

Glendale alleges the team breached its 15-year, $225 million arena lease by using the $15 million a year it receives from the city to pay down debt incurred when the group purchased the team.
“This is a blatant attempt to renege on a valid contract that was negotiated fairly and in good faith and in compliance with all laws and procedures,” Nick Wood, of the Law Firm Snell and Wilmer, outside counsel for the Arizona Coyotes, said in the statement released Tuesday. “In the event the City Council initiates any action to revoke, repeal or otherwise rescind the agreement, the Coyotes will immediately take all actions available to them under the law against the City of Glendale.”
The Coyotes have had financial difficulties numerous times, including spending four years being run by the NHL after declaring for bankruptcy in 2009.

Coyotes co-owner — who along with George Gosbee heads IceArizona — president and CEO Anthony LeBlanc, who bought the team in 2013, said, “This action by the City of Glendale is completely ludicrous, especially in light of the fact that myself and (investor) Andrew Barroway visited with the City yesterday and the particulars of this were never raised.
“In fact, we to this moment have not been advised of this other than the notification on the City website. The City of Glendale is displaying a complete lack of good faith, business acumen or an understanding of a business partnership. We want to reassure our great fans that the Arizona Coyotes are committed to Glendale and playing at Gila River Arena.”

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/06/10/city-of-glendale-meeting-to-determine-fate-of-nhls-coyotes

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The dreadful saga of the Coyotes continues... really the franchise is only destroying itself more by going through all this political BS every couple years. Its hard for them to build a solid following when they Yotes are always one city council vote away from leaving town. The NHL needs to just admit defeat on this one and move the team somewhere for a fresh start.

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The dreadful saga of the Coyotes continues... really the franchise is only destroying itself more by going through all this political BS every couple years. Its hard for them to build a solid following when they Yotes are always one city council vote away from leaving town. The NHL needs to just admit defeat on this one and move the team somewhere for a fresh start.

So what would happen if they got voted out? NHL scrambles to place them in an arena for 2016 and does 29 teams for the upcoming season?

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According to Bob McKenzie, a person from the City of Glendale that worked on the deal, has left the City of Glendale and is now working for IceArizona. This is a conflict of interest, and is enough to breach the contract in the City's mind.

Just move the damn team already.

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So what would happen if they got voted out? NHL scrambles to place them in an arena for 2016 and does 29 teams for the upcoming season?

The plan before was to move them to Seattle right away and play in key arena till a new venue is constructed. Don't know what the plan would be now but in sure they would stay in Arizona for another year if it was to late to move them for the start of next year. They had a fast action plan last time but this news is a little unsuspecting and late.

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The way the council in '13, well most of them, voted for this agreement was criminal in itself. They were in over their heads, and having the two NHL heavyweights, Bettman and Daly in the gallery added to the intimidation. If this is the way things work, is it in wonder why that franchise is in the trouble it is today. Every investor that has come forward, doesn't have the funds, ie their own money to make things work.

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How old is that building Ghost? Fairly new???

Sprint Center was opened in 2007.

17,544 capacity for hockey.

If Paul Allen changes his mind, they could move to Moda Center in Portland. 18,280 capacity.

Interestingly enough Anschutz Entertainment Group own's both arenas.

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