1454 replies to this topic

[F.Michael]

Winnipeg Free Press.

Wow - what a mess in Glendale although I for one am not surprised...Just move the franchise to Winnipeg already.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros]

Wow - what a mess in Glendale although I for one am not surprised...Just move the franchise to Winnipeg already.

That's what I'm saying. This is getting ridiculous. Nobody wants the team to stay, the attendance statistics shout "RELOCATION".

[VM1138]

That's what I'm saying. This is getting ridiculous. Nobody wants the team to stay, the attendance statistics shout "RELOCATION".

Attendance doesn't matter. The NHL will ride Phoenix until the league falls apart. The team isn't relocating unless there are huge changes in the Board of Governors and Commissioner. Thanks to the CBA as long as some teams make a lot of money, they can afford to hold onto failing teams like Phoenix for years. They're going to be operating Phoenix for a looooong time.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros]

Attendance doesn't matter. The NHL will ride Phoenix until the league falls apart. The team isn't relocating unless there are huge changes in the Board of Governors and Commissioner. Thanks to the CBA as long as some teams make a lot of money, they can afford to hold onto failing teams like Phoenix for years. They're going to be operating Phoenix for a looooong time.

I know. I know Hopefully they'll get their heads outta their asses sooner than later..

[cusimano_brothers]

From Phoenix Business Journal:

Matthew Hulsizer’s purchase of the Phoenix Coyotes is close to becoming official, though the Chicago investment executive is waiting for bond financing to be finalized to secure the deal.

Team spokesman Rich Nairn said should happen by the middle of this month.
...

So much for deadlines. Maybe the League wants to drag this out until they can make a big announcement at the ASG.

[Opie]

So the city of Glendale is paying 100 of the $170 Million dollar price tag, so that some one else can own it, yet that money will most likely come from the 140 the league gave the city, so technically isn't either the NHL or Glendale the majority owner, and how can a guy who can not get the funds to buy a team be approved to buy a team?

While people who can finance on their own, are not approved due to the desire to relocate?

Didn't this already happen once, and the guy turned out to be a fraud?

The team is losing $30 million a year, do they really think having the owner who can only supply 70 million of his own money is going to make payroll while losing 30 million a year?

This will end badly!

[selkie]

At least the unfortunate saga has resulted in some very entertaining thread names at HF.

[zombi]

I think that it is pretty clear that the 'Yotes aren't going anywhere for a long time. I think all of the pro-relocation efforts need to be now focused on Atlanta, Columbus, or Florida.

[F.Michael]

Surprise - surprise Atlanta's losing $$$ too.

[zombi]

Looks like the bond issue with Glendale fell through.

http://sports.yahoo....maining-content

Maybe there is still hope for moving the team.

[cusimano_brothers]

Deadlines that have flown right by: 31/12/2010; 15/01/2011.
Hulsizer isn't as rich as the League had hoped, but possibly a little smarter than they figured on. I'm still counting on the good people of Glendale to wake up to what is going on.
Maybe my speculation of a big, flashy announcement at the ASG won't come.

[cusimano_brothers]

Winnipeg Free Press.

[cusimano_brothers]

From TSN:

...
"We'll hang in there as long as it makes sense and as long as we can," Bettman said Saturday before the NHL's skills competition. "But time is getting short. Make no mistake about that. This is not something that is of infinite duration. I have tried to be as careful as I could be not to raise expectations in Winnipeg.

"Everybody knows my view on that -- if we have to move a club, it would be good to go back to a place that we were once in that has a different situation, vis-a-vis building and ownership and the like, but it's one of the reasons we get concerned.
...

From TSN:

...
"When there's all this speculation -- most of which isn't based on anything -- I get concerned because I don't want our fans to be let on," Bettman said. "As I said, we're not planning to expand, we're not planning to relocate.
...

At this very moment, that great quote from Cliff Fletcher comes to mind.

[cusimano_brothers]

Surprise - surprise Atlanta's losing $$$ too.

Well, it has been just over one and a half months since the supposed deadline and no word on the Coyotes so, without further ado...
Atlanta Thrashers, c'mon down; you're our next contestant.

From Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Atlanta Spirit co-owner Michael Gearon said there is now a “sense of urgency” to find additional investors or a buyer willing to keep the Thrashers in Atlanta. If the ownership group does not get additional financial help in the near future the franchise could be sold and moved to another city.

“If we are faced with that as the only alternative, that’s what’s going to happen,” Gearon told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an exclusive interview Tuesday. “I don’t think there is an ability to stomach another $20 million in losses. We just can’t do it.

“The reality is we need fans showing up and we need investors, or a primary investor.”

There is no buyer currently lined up to purchase the Thrashers, according to a person familiar with the situation.
...

[cusimano_brothers]

From Arizona Republic:

Glendale plans to deposit $10 million into an account for Phoenix Coyotes buyer Matthew Hulsizer to tap if the city fails to make payments in its deal to keep the team.

The City Council voted 4-3 Tuesday for changes to its arena lease with the Chicago businessman. Council members Norma Alvarez, Joyce Clark and Phil Lieberman were opposed.

Glendale plans to fund the account with $25 million that city officials expect to get back from the National Hockey League once the deal closes, possibly next week.

The city pledged the money to the league last spring to cover team losses and buy time to negotiate with potential buyers. Hulsizer is expected to pay back the league for team losses through his purchase price.
...

But, where are the fans?

[cusimano_brothers]

Since "possibly next week" is such a vague term... from TSN:

The mayor of Glendale is urging an independent government watchdog to stop stalling the deal to sell the Phoenix Coyotes.

Mayor Elaine Scruggs called a news conference at Jobing.com Arena on Thursday, saying that the Goldwater Institute is "significantly hindering" the sale of the Coyotes to Matthew Hulsizer.
...

[F.Michael]

In Probert's book he referred to Bettman as an "******* who's ruining the league".

Spot on assessment Bob.

[F.Michael]

Looks as though the Yotes' days are numbered...TSN.

[StevieY9802]

Been a while since I've been here but I just have to say the best quote I read from an article this week was "I understand they are fighting to save a franchise from failure but who exactly are they fighting for?" The announced attendance last night in ATL was just over 10k, but I don't think that's how many bodies were actually in the building. I understand the want/need to have teams in the south but it's not gonna work in every market. Just cause Dallas and TB has shown it can work ATL and PHX never really have. And for ATL the longer the team is bad the harder it'll be to bring fans in.

[Z Winged Dangler]

i want the thrashers to move to Winnipeg so if Lids plays 1 more season i can see him play in person for the first time since 1996! and Atlanta's getting better. i actually like their team and would love to have them in the Peg. more than Phoenix anyways. i hate their team. then Selanne can come back to Winnipeg for 1 last season before he retires.