Phoenix Coyotes

THE FATE OF THE PHOENIX COYOTES MAYBE DECIDED BY AS EARLY AS THIS THURSDAY…
ACCORDING TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL…
THURSDAY IS THE UNOFFICIAL DEADLINE SET DOWN BY THE CITY OF GLENDALE TO GET A DEAL DONE WITH EITHER…
THE ICE EDGE HOLDING GROUP…OR JERRY REINSDORF…
THE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED IS…AS ALWAYS…“THE LEASE” ON THE ARENA…
WHICH HAS ANOTHER 26 YEARS LEFT ON IT…
AT THIS POINT…THE FRONT RUNNER APPEARS TO BE REINSDORF…
WHO IS DEMANDING A SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT TO BE CREATED AROUND THE ARENA TO GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE TEAM…
HE ALSO WANTS AN ESCAPE CLAUSE…IF THE TEAM CAN NOT GENERATE ENOUGH REVENUE…
WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME OFFER HE MADE LAST SEPTEMBER…
THAT DEAL WOULD HAVE HAD THE CITY…PAY REINSDORF $23 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN SUBSIDIES…
NO WONDER THEY TURNED IT DOWN…
INK THE MEANTIME…THE ICE EDGE GROUP INSISTS IT “IS” STILL IN THE GAME…
ON MONDAY THE HEAD OF THE COMPANY ANTHONY LEBLANC…QUOTED MARK TWAIN…BY SENDING THIS E-MAIL…
“REPORTS OF MY DEATH ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED”…
BUT ONCE AGAIN…UNLESS THERE IS A NEW LEASE…THERE IS NO FINANCING…AND THERE IS NO DEAL…
IT ALL LEAVES THE NHL IN A SERIOUS JAM…
THE LEAGUE OWNS A TEAM…WHICH IT CAN NOT SELL…AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP…
WHICH MAY EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED ON MONDAY…
THE PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL REPORTED THAT THE NHL HAS AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE TO MOVE THE FRANCHISE BACK TO WINNIPEG IF AN OWNER CAN NOT BE FOUND…
ALTHOUGH THE REPORT DOES NOT HAVE A SOURCE…CLEARLY THIS IS A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE NHL…
NHL DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BILL DALY WAS QUICK TO DENY THAT ANY SUCH DEAL EXISTS…
BUT DALY WAS ALSO JUST AS QUICK TO CONFIRM…
THE NHL IS INTERESTED IN MOVING A TEAM TO THAT CITY…
CALLING IT…”AN INTRIGUING POSSIBILITY”…
IT APPEARS AS IF THE NHL IS NOW TRYING TO USE THIS THREAT…TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE CITY OF GLENDALE…
IN THE END…THIS IS A HIGH STAKES POKER GAME…
AND LIKE THEY SAY IN VEGAS…
”IF YOU LOSE YOUR HEAD…YOU’LL LOSE YOUR CHIPS”…