Phoenix Coyotes

IT’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN GLENDALE…
TONIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 8 YEARS…FANS IN THAT CITY WILL SEE A PLAYOFF GAME…
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A YEAR...THOSE SAME FANS…HAVE AT LEAST “SOME HOPE”…THIS FRANCHISE ACTUALLY HAS A FUTURE…
LET’S START WITH THE TEAM…
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY…THE COYOTES MANAGED TO WIN 50 GAMES IN A SEASON…
AND FINISHED JUST 4 POINTS BACK OF SAN JOSE FOR THE BEST RECORD IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
SO…NO MATTER WHO WINS THE PHOENIX DETROIT SERIES…
ON THE ICE…THE COYOTES SEASON HAS ALREADY BEEN A MAJOR SUCCESS…
OFF THE ICE???…WELL…THAT’S A DIFFERENT STORY…
LASTNIGHT THE CITY COUNCIL IN GLENDALE APPROVED A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH JERRY REINSDORF…
THE DEAL IS EXPECTED TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE SALE OF THE TEAM…
BUT IT DOES LITTLE…TO GUARENTEE ANY LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO THAT CITY…
REINSDORF HAS AN OUT CLAUSE THAT ALLOWS HIM TO LEAVE IN 5 YEARS…
SHOULD THAT HAPPEN…HE IS GUARENTEED TO WALK AWAY WITH 100 PERCENT OF THE $103 MILLION HE PLANS TO INVEST TO BUY THE TEAM…
NO WAIT…IT GETS WORSE…MUCH WORSE…
THE CITY OF GLENDALE IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ANOTHER $65 MILLION TO BE PAID TO THE NHL OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS…
THAT ALONG WITH THE $103 FROM RIENSDORF GETS NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN OFF THE HOOK…
AND THERE’S MORE…
TO HELP REINSDORF COVER ANY LOSES…
THE CITY WILL HAVE TO COVER UP TO $25 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR…TO A MAXIMUM OF $100 MILLION…
TO PAY FOR IT ALL…THE CITY OF GLENDALE PLANS TO CREATE…WHAT IT CALLS…A “COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT”…AROUND THE ARENA…
IN OTHER WORDS A TAX ZONE...
IN THE END THE TAX PAYERS OF THE CITY OF GLENDALE…COULD WIND UP WITH A BILL FOR…GET THIS…$268 MILLION DOLLARS…
LET’S HOPE THE HOCKEY FANS IN ARIZONA ENJOY THESE PLAYOFFS…
BECAUSE THEY ARE CERTAINLY…ABOUT TO PAY FOR THEM…