Brandon Augienello and Anthony Curatolo elaborate on the current situation surrounding the Phoenix Coyotes, Ice Edge Holdings, the city of Winnipeg and the NHL.
Information spread across the Internet the other day like wildfires in a water drought location regarding the Phoenix Coyotes turmoil and the possible move to Winnipeg in as little as a week.
Twitter, Facebook, TSN, CBC, ESPN, and the entire blog-o-sphere had something posted on this breaking news.
We, who are very into hockey betting, would wager quite a bit on the return of the Jets. Now it might not happen this season, as you will see why shortly, but the future holds many possibilities.
Either way, this Phoenix/Winnipeg scenario looks awfully bad for one Gary Bettman, who ripped this organization away from a city that supported it despite the yearly mediocrity.
The reason for the relocation was all about the American dollar and the dominance it held over Canadian currency. Well, just like a lot of things in life, that has changed drastically, as Canadian businessmen are providing the financial platform for teams to cross north of the border and do so knowing that they will be able to thrive.
Understandably he will never come out and admit that he made a mistake by moving a team away from a hockey city into a city that doesn’t know a blueline from a clothesline. Compound that with fiscal dollar, as well as Bettman’s grand hockey expansion into the west coast were the two most prevalent factors for the move, if Winnipeg gets their Jets back there won’t be a towel big enough to wipe the egg off the ‘Commish’s’ face.
There is only one player that is tied to the Jets lineage, that currently plays for the Coyotes, naturally none other than the captain Shane Doan. As much as he has played the majority of his pro career out in the desert, there has to be a piece of this homegrown Canadian boy that would love to see a return back to where his National Hockey League journey began. Doan’s first games were played at the Ole’ Barn on Maroons Road, also known as Winnipeg Arena.
A far cry from his current home, in Glendale known as the Jobing.com Arena. Regardless though, he is a terrific leader and will continue to do so no matter where he resides.
But, led by Dave Tippett and his coaching staff, as well as Ilya Bryzgalov’s Vezina finalist worthy season, the Coyotes not only were a playoff team, but a team that was able to grab home-ice advantage in the first round. Yes, they were defeated by the Detroit Red Wings, but they fought hard until the end and the ‘Whiteout’ for each home game was a sight to behold. After all of the negativity, Phoenix fans thought they finally could see some light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.
It didn’t take long after the season concluded for the turmoil to surface again though, as Jerry Reisendorf retracted his bid to buy the Phoenix Coyotes and early reports state that Ice Edge Holdings do not have the financial backing to go ahead and purchase the team. So much for that light at the end of the tunnel theory, huh?
However, there seems to be light for Phoenix and the city of Glendale, even if it is simply temporary.
This tweet posted by Rebekah Sanders gives hope to the Coyotes to remain within Phoenix:
“It’s not an Ice Edge MOU, but a financial guarantee to the NHL that the Phoenix Coyotes will stay through 2010-11 season.”
Contrary to the Internet information posted on various social media outlets and websites, TSN.ca has reported that unless provided with exclusivity, Ice Edge Holdings will back out of their plan to purchase the Coyotes.
The article reads:
Ice Edge Holdings has informed the city of Glendale it will not continue discussions or negotiations to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes without an exclusivity agreement.
Ice Edge is backing away from the deal unless exclusivity is granted.
Glendale officials were given Monday as a deadline to produce an exclusivity agreement and failed to do so, even though sources say the city spoke to Ice Edge’s bank on Monday to confirm this group’s financial backing.
On top of this billionaire David Thomson is all but set to deliver a check to attempt to return Phoenix back to where this all started. Winnipeg, who has been without a professional ice hockey team since their Jets departed 14 years ago, would welcome back a National Hockey League organization, with the widest of open arms.
That is clearly stating the obvious but this isn’t just an educated guess. Word is, Winnipeg NHL hockey would be the hardest ticket in town, with sellouts guaranteed for the next two seasons…at least.
Hockey in Phoenix and other current NHL cities for that matter, is like trying to jam a round peg into a square hole. Somethings just don’t fit. And while fans did support this team, as well as any other fanbase in these playoffs, truth is this team played in obscurity throughout most of the regular season.
Yes, I am sure a lot of it had to do with the fact that the future of this team in Glendale is tentative. Coming off a terrible previous season didn’t help the attendance much either. Regardless though, throughout the strong season they were developing, nobody was showing up at the gates. It was only until near season’s end that they registered their first sellout of the season.
If that isn’t a sign that hockey isn’t on the average Arizona sports fan’s radar, nothing is.
Unfortunately for the few that do care, the next time this group of players play on home ice it will be on the other side of the continent.
Hope you have your towels ready, Mr. Bettman!
UPDATE:
Via @TheYotesDiva ‘s twitter account and KPHO:
Seems Glendale is going to back the Coyotes and their financial troubles:
May 12, 2010 6:02 a.m.
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Glendale City Council unanimously agreed to cover up to $25 million in operating expenses for the Phoenix Coyotes during the 2010-11 season during its meeting Tuesday night.
Council members agreed to create user fees in their sports and entertainment district to cover the hockey team’s costs.
The city will only instate the fees if the National Hockey League fails to find a new owner for the franchise by September.
The city said it is still negotiating with two potential owners for the hockey team.
Glendale and NHL officials said they were optimistic they would secure a new owner this summer.
If Glendale did not agree to cover the team’s operating costs, NHL officials were considering moving the team back to Winnipeg, Canada.
Dozens of fans showed up to Tuesday’s city council meeting to support the team.
“I think the worst thing that could happen would be to lose the team. It’s a very strong financial base,” said Jean Galan, a Phoenix Coyotes Fan. “Believe me, I have enough Jerseys to open my own team shop.”
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