You’re forgiven if you haven’t been following the saga of the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes. It’s hockey, it’s the offseason, and it’s Arizona. Even the people in Arizona don’t care about hockey in Arizona, which is how we got into this mess in the first place. But things are approaching a fever pitch, if you will, and it seems appropriate to provide an update on the chicanery-laden proceedings:
- The NHL is pretty hardcore about keeping the team in Arizona, perhaps more for the regional presence in the league than the human turnout for actual games. The Coyotes rank 28th out of 30 teams in home attendance, according to ESPN.
- The Coyotes lost $54 million last season, and the NHL confirmed that they are involved with the day-to-day operation of the team, assuming control of certain team assets after loaning the club an undisclosed amount of cash. And this happened about a month after commissioner Gary Bettman quipped about the team “not [being] on life support.”
- Majority owner Jerry Moyes first bought into the team in 2001. The team has not turned a profit since his arrival, and is currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Protection is important, yo.
- Moyes’ attempt to sell the team to Research in Motion co-CEO Jim Balsillie–who wanted to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario–was unanimously blocked by NHL ownership. That ruling has gone to court.
- Jerry Reinsdorf, who owns both the Chicago Bulls and Chcago White Sox, made a bid for the team valued around $148 million, which has since been retracted. Reinsdorf wanted assurances that he could move the team if he couldn’t make money
- In what seems like a last-ditch effort to keep the team in Arizona, the NHL announced that it would make its own bid to buy the team. The value of that proposed bid has not been disclosed.
- Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky is totally gay.
Okay, I made that last one up. But the chaos in keeping the coolest game on earth in one of the hottest, most expensive, most passive hockey audiences in America is building to a fine crescendo. If Gary Bettman launched the team into space and announced that they’d play the 2009-2010 season on Mars, I wouldn’t be surprised. The Martian market is just begging for a pro team, but there’s no way they’d put up a subsidy for a new arena. Aliens aren’t that stupid.
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Just sell them back to Winnipeg and be done with it.
It’s time for Bettman, the human bobblehead, to step down.
Also, Gretzky shames Canada by coaching and supporting a team in a worthless hockey market, when he should be helping Basille get the team back in Canada where it belongs!
This franchise doesn’t belong in Canada, specifically in Winnipeg. They had their chance and they fucked it up. Besides the “new” arena in Winnerpeg, the MTS Centre is still too small to hold an NHL team. It only holds 15,015 when the rink is set up. Even if they sold out every single game they would still only have 140 more spectators than the Coyotes average. Factor in the Canadian dollar and tell me how that makes sense. That’s not a shot at you Upstate, just at idiots in Winnipeg that actually think they deserve an NHL team again.
Biggie, no problem it’s just that I feel sorry for the people of Winnipeg. After all, they live in Winnipeg.
:coughKansasCitySprintCenterneedsNHLcough:
On a side note, why not Milwaukee? Hockey is huge in Wisconsin. They’ve already proven they can support major teams (Brewers and Bucks), so why not a hockey team? Green Bay and Madison are close enough that weekend games would draw in the weekend tourists. On top of all that it would create an instant rivalry with the Blackhawks and Wild…think about it.
P.S. I’m waaaaaaay smarter than Bettman.
@ Upstate – Don’t feel sorry for them, they chose to live in “hell on earth”.
Mrs. Parker has a good point too. Instant rivalry with St. Louis and with both senerios (Milwaukee or K.C.) Bettman wouldn’t even have to adjust the conference very much. Move Colorado to the Pacific and the new team to the Northwest.
Sorry for staying on this one but as a Canadian I hear about this shit ever single fucking day and I’m tired of it. It was only time before I snapped and Punte finds the articles to bring it out of me (see previous Mike Vick rants). Ok, I’m done.
Arizona…the only state worse for hockey than Florida.
Actually Biggie, the mayor tells KC we will get a team before ’11 I had heard it would be NYI but this is the only thing I have found on it…
[bleacherreport.com]
Milwaukee has proven that they can support the Brewers and Bucks???
News from Bleacher Report isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.
@ Enrico – Brewers are 8th in attendance this year and were 9th last year. Granted, the Bucks were 23rd last year and 22nd in 2007…but I mean come it’s the Bucks. it’s not the fans fault they suck. Just saying…still better than Winnipeg or Phoenix.
Biggie,
The bucks were still in the bottom 12 in attendance when they had their successful big 3. Milwaukee should not be given anymore sports teams.
If you’re looking for “instant rivalry” then Balls-silly has the right idea. Hamilton is where it should be placed.
Mrs. Parker, what punte said, it doesn’t suprize me in the least that you read the bleacher report. I’d wager to say you actually write for that sack of cream pies
I won’t even pretend to argue that Jimbo should’ve been able to buy the team and move it to Hamiltion. That sale should’ve been done months ago. Just throwing out other options, besides letting the team tank in Arizona. There’s no way that Bettman allows Ballsdeep to buy and move the team.
Not to split hairs but you need to check your facts about attendance. In 2000-01 when the Bucks finished 52-30 and made it to the conference finals, they were 13th in attendance, the following season they were 12th, but finished 41-41. Winning brings out the fans. They’ve been at or below .500 for 5 years in a row and 13 of the last 18 years. Doesn’t help when you suck.