Bettman Tried Three Times to Sell Coyotes

[VM1138 1,921]

Didn't see this anywhere, and just heard it on ESPN radio:

Gary Bettman has tried to sell the Coyotes three separate times, but each time the interested parties backed off when they got a look at the profit losses for this year (I think they said it was something like $45 million).

Gonna be a tough team to unload. Does this make it more likely the Coyotes will simply fold at the end of the year, or are there other options?

[uk_redwing 495]

Well there shouldnt be a team there in the first place.

Karma is tasty.

[Zeta Power 40 1]

that team needs to get into the playoffs

[AtomicPunk 296]

Didn't he just tell Ron McLean that this was not the case? Sounds like a rat....

[R.Rabbit 0]

that team needs to get into the playoffs

agreed & make it at least to the 2nd round

or

move to Vegas

[puckloo39 5,686]

I've got 78 cents in loose change and some stale chewing gum in my purse. Shall I make an offer?

[Hank 0]

This is sort of related, but here's a 30 minute, uncut interview G.B. had with a CBC TV personality:

http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/videos.html?id=1024154659

He touches on Phoenix and how they're here to stay.

It's so obvious when he's speaking the truth and when he's trying to put lipstick on a pig.

I think this team is in serious danger of being bankrupted in the offseason.

I agree that you have to help franchises that can be successful. But Phoenix seems to be a bad hockey market no matter how you slice it.

[b.shanafan14 733]

Give Winnipeg their team back, can't be any worse.

[Hank 0]

Give Winnipeg their team back, can't be any worse.

I don't know. I'm a very proud Canadian, but I lived in Winnipeg for half a year and went to many Jets games.

In every instance, the place was half-empty and the fans sat on their hands.

There were times where you could hear what the players were yelling on the ice like they were right beside you.

I'd rather see the team move to a hockey market that hasn't had an opportunity yet.

Places like Wisconsin, Maine or even North Dakota.

In North Dakota, you would get the Winnipeg faithful as well as the abundance of fans that exist across both the Dakota's.

[Coolio Mendez 7]

Well there shouldnt be a team there in the first place.

Karma is tasty.

Karma? When's John Ziegler getting that "Karma"?

[Holmstrom96 347]

that team needs to get into the playoffs

I'm sure the refs will make sure of it then!

[Coolio Mendez 7]

Give Winnipeg their team back, can't be any worse.

In order for Winnipeg to break even at the minimum payroll, they would have to price tickets at twice the NHL average, and that price tag is not going to fly in Winnipeg. The average family income in Winnipeg is 23% lower than Edmonton (which ranks 6th out of the 6 Canadian cities currently in the NHL).

Unless the Canadian dollar can rise more against the US dollar and sustain its worth.. an owner cannot survive in Winnipeg! End of story! Its not just about tickets sold (its such a small percentage of a teams revenue nowadays). There are many factors that go into financial success in a PRO SPORTS TEAM!

Where does Winnipeg get its corporate support?

How many seat arena does it have?

Corporate boxes?

Can they give the team a lucrative Arena lease? (and I am talking about the city giving the owner in excess of 30mil a season outside of all other revenues)

What kind of TV contract do they get and how much does it pay?

Is the city of Winnipeg going to give the team huge tax benefits to insre success? ( I am have told that in Canada, not tax breaks would be given)

A study was done from a group in Winnipeg to see what or how it could be done to get a NHL team back. The average ticket price of a game would have to average $93 (considerably higher than almost every team, and in a small market its not sustainable over time)! AND, that was just to make the team survive with the team only spending the very minimum of Cap Space based on 2 years ago Cap Numbers. I would hate to see what the average TIX price would have to be with the Cap increasing as much as it has in the 2 years since the study. Its just not going to happen!

Dont get me wrong... I know the people of Winnipeg would support it, but its not just about that anymore! Its a shame, but at this time its not feasible for an owner to put a team in Winnipeg and have any financial success! Without the finances, there is no team.

[Hank 0]

In order for Winnipeg to break even at the minimum payroll, they would have to price tickets at twice the NHL average, and that price tag is not going to fly in Winnipeg. The average family income in Winnipeg is 23% lower than Edmonton (which ranks 6th out of the 6 Canadian cities currently in the NHL).

Unless the Canadian dollar can rise more against the US dollar and sustain its worth.. an owner cannot survive in Winnipeg! End of story! Its not just about tickets sold (its such a small percentage of a teams revenue nowadays). There are many factors that go into financial success in a PRO SPORTS TEAM!

Where does Winnipeg get its corporate support?

How many seat arena does it have?

Corporate boxes?

Can they give the team a lucrative Arena lease? (and I am talking about the city giving the owner in excess of 30mil a season outside of all other revenues)

What kind of TV contract do they get and how much does it pay?

Is the city of Winnipeg going to give the team huge tax benefits to insre success? ( I am have told that in Canada, not tax breaks would be given)

A study was done from a group in Winnipeg to see what or how it could be done to get a NHL team back. The average ticket price of a game would have to average $93 (considerably higher than almost every team, and in a small market its not sustainable over time)! AND, that was just to make the team survive with the team only spending the very minimum of Cap Space based on 2 years ago Cap Numbers. I would hate to see what the average TIX price would have to be with the Cap increasing as much as it has in the 2 years since the study. Its just not going to happen!

Dont get me wrong... I know the people of Winnipeg would support it, but its not just about that anymore! Its a shame, but at this time its not feasible for an owner to put a team in Winnipeg and have any financial success! Without the finances, there is no team.

Good points Coolio.

The arena they have is what is stopping the NHL from ever returning. They only have 40 luxery boxes when 100 is needed to sustain proper corporate support.

Winnipeg is actually growing leaps and bounds because of the low cost of living. There are a lot big businesses moving their headquarters there to reduce the costs that are absorbed in bigger markets like Vancouver or Toronto. However, I still don't think it's a big enough town economically to support an NHL team.

The people there are awesome. But when I was living there, I really did get the sense that hockey wasn't even their true #1 passion in regards to sports.

While attending college, most of the guys on the hockey team were from Ontario, BC and Saskatchewan. I think we had one, maybe two guys from Manitoba.

Basketball and Vollyball are huge in high school and University. And even football is really taking off in that area.

Hockey seems to be lagging behind. Is that because they lost the Jets? Maybe. But I don't find that a suitable excuse since Saskatchewan is hockey crazy and they don't have a pro team.

If anything, Saskatoon or Regina would be better suited for an NHL club. They have lots of oil money and those towns are really starting to grow.

I'll always love Winnipeg, but from my experiences out there, people really didn't seem to care all that much for the Jets. Most games, I could walk up and buy tickets along the glass minutes before the game. I did that at least twice while I lived out there. And the tickets were a whopping $32CDN each.

[MacK_Attack 108]

The NHLPA has said that if a team is to move, it will push for another team in southern Ontario. Jim Balsillie is obviously the guy they'll look to.

Phoenix is the just the first of a handful of teams down there that aren't going to make it.

[soultrain 43]

Give Winnipeg their team back, can't be any worse.

more hockey in canada!!!???? your crazy!...just kidding...the nhl needs more team up north.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I don't know. I'm a very proud Canadian, but I lived in Winnipeg for half a year and went to many Jets games.

In every instance, the place was half-empty and the fans sat on their hands.

There were times where you could hear what the players were yelling on the ice like they were right beside you.

I'd rather see the team move to a hockey market that hasn't had an opportunity yet.

Places like Wisconsin, Maine or even North Dakota.

In North Dakota, you would get the Winnipeg faithful as well as the abundance of fans that exist across both the Dakota's.

North Dakota would never get a team. Luring FAs there would be even worse than Edmonton, and the team would likely have to overpay to land free agents with money that they undoubtedly don't have.

I dont like the idea of Vegas getting a team, but its financially feasible. Considering it would be the only real pro sport in the city, it'd be a huge gambling sell. Plus, with Vegas attracting a lot of professional fighting/boxing fans, you could probably stack a Vegas team with a couple of enforcers and have that sell the game alone.

If you're going to put a hockey team in a warm weather place, it might as well be a locale where people go with the sole purpose of spending money.

[Guest Shoreline]

They should just let the team go defunct and let the team hold a dispersal draft. However, Gary Bitchman wouldn't let that happen, even if it were necessary, so just blowing hot air.

[miller76 463]

Hockey is not returning to Canada! Unless it's in the Toronto area or southern Ontario, thats it!

The TV revenue is where the majority of all this stems from. All of the cities in Canada that have a fairly decent TV market are already taken. Winnipeg, Halifax, Regina, Quebec City cannot support an NHL franchise without dumping countless millions into a sinking hole.

The only reasons Phoenix, Nashville, Atlanta, and south Florida have teams is because of they are strong TV markets in general. Not hockey markets, but TV markets. Where there is lots of advertising and the ability for a marginal team to use it as a crutch. I am not saying these franchises are not losing millions, mostly in part due to poor attendance, management, and the inability to make the playoffs.

A main issue in Phoenix is because the owners of that team sold their soul to the devil to get out of Winnipeg. The TV market in Phx, is so much more then in Winnipeg. The owners got so excited and signed a 50 something year lease, agreed to let the city of Phoenix build them an arena that is city owned. And now the city has a stranglehold with ridiculous percentages of almost all revenue that the team makes. Parking is free, because it's city owned. The Coyotes cannot charge for parking, because it's legally not their property. So basically they signed a very bad deal, and now they are screwed!

[Lidstromrules16 7]

if Phoenix folds, who is Gretz gonna coach, and more importantly, who is Datsyuk going to dominate. The only team that leaves is Marty Turco.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Hockey is not returning to Canada! Unless it's in the Toronto area or southern Ontario, thats it!

The next Harold Ballard?

Ooops.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I don't know. I'm a very proud Canadian, but I lived in Winnipeg for half a year and went to many Jets games.

In every instance, the place was half-empty and the fans sat on their hands.

There were times where you could hear what the players were yelling on the ice like they were right beside you.

I'd rather see the team move to a hockey market that hasn't had an opportunity yet.

Places like Wisconsin, Maine or even North Dakota.

In North Dakota, you would get the Winnipeg faithful as well as the abundance of fans that exist across both the Dakota's.

Unfortunately it's true. Winnipeg had plenty of opportunities to keep the Jets. I really don't see the current financial situation as being favourable to changing that.

I'd put the team in Vegas. At least in Vegas the team would sell out every damn game.

And for the record- anyone who yaps about hockey not belonging in the south needs to just shut up at this point. There are plenty of teams struggling in traditional markets and plenty of teams thriving in non-traditional markets. It's 2009, not 1809... the concept of Hockey belonging only to persons who live in an area with sub-zero winters is quaint at best.

[SweWings 45]

Why not find a rich Russian or oil-sheik? Seems to work for English football clubs. And you may decide for yourself whether I'm being serious or not.

[BuckeyeWingsfan80 209]

I would think Milwaukee would be a pretty decent spot if Phoenix has to move.

that sets up instant rivalries with Chicago and Minnesota and would allow Columbus to move to the East so they MIGHT make the playoffs by 2015

[BlakChamber 8]

I'd rather see the team move to a hockey market that hasn't had an opportunity yet.

Places like Wisconsin, Maine or even North Dakota.

In North Dakota, you would get the Winnipeg faithful as well as the abundance of fans that exist across both the Dakota's.

Maine? North Dakota?

The entire population of North Dakota is 100,000 people less than the city of Austin. Even adding in South Dakota, you still have a population that is less than Metro Detroit area. No way you'd have the corporate support either that's so important. Maine isn't much better either.

If a NHL team is interested in moving, they would be more than welcome in Houston. NHL ready arena, good corporate support, youth hockey is booming in Texas, large population, built in rival with Dallas, and Texas is one of the few states where the economy isn't completely going to s***.

[55fan 5,133]

North Dakota is out for a pro team. The Greater Fargo-Moorhead Metro area (such as it is) has only 100,000 residents. We have a new USHL team this year, and the people voted very strongly against taxpayer financing for the arena, which ended up happening anyway because the private parties who were building it ran out of money and "gifted" it to the city.

There is still a bad taste in people's mouths about that. The UPC is the only arena in the area, and even that couldn't come close to hosting an NHL team. The Ralph in Grand Forks is better, but UND uses that.

Moving south, Sioux Falls might be your best bet. They've had a USHL team for a while and I understand they're doing well.

As far as fans go, Grand Forks is huge on hockey, and I understand Bismarck is too, although I don't know that personally. In Fargo, people wearing hockey apparel are as scarce as hens' teeth. That's why I'm here all the time. I need people to talk hockey with.

You'd be better off in Regina. Seriously.