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Post by dbp1990 on Jan 30, 2009 13:57:36 GMT -5
^ article is a week old and was already posted... what article......
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Post by WildJetsFan on Jan 30, 2009 15:25:30 GMT -5
Phoenix Coyotes All You Can Eat Pack Hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and more... JOBING.COM ARENA, Glendale, AZ Sat, Jan 31, 2009 All You Can Eat Package Ticket Price US $21.30
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Post by jaylon1970 on Jan 31, 2009 23:16:53 GMT -5
did anyone see the second intermission of the leaf/pen game?
well ol' strachan said the coyotes are not going anywhere....
he has some "sources" that the parking problem may be solved with the city.....and also some "buyers" are interested in keeping the team in phoenix...
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Post by jhendrix70 on Jan 31, 2009 23:40:28 GMT -5
Strachan is not very smart is he......
I kinda had the feeling that what he was trying to get across is that the Coyotes are "doing just fine". ( This ofcourse is the "Bettman approach" ) If you looked at the other 3 guys on the panel, they all had that confused look on their faces. DO NOT Take anything that old man says for truth. Don't forget; he also said during the same segment that Bouwmeester publicly came out and said he "doesn't want to go back to Florida after this season" HOWEVER: That was corrected, as he has NOT come out publicly and said anything to that nature.
Just a little proof, you can't take everything he says as fact!
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Post by jhendrix70 on Feb 4, 2009 23:07:14 GMT -5
Bettman: NHL trying to help cash-strapped Phoenix CoyotesPHOENIX - NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league is trying to help the financially struggling Phoenix Coyotes and called reports of the franchise's demise "ridiculous" on Wednesday night.Bettman did a telephone interview with Coyotes television announcers Dave Strader and Darren Pang after the first period of Phoenix's game at Detroit. Team owner Jerry Moyes has been seeking buyers for the Coyotes, who reportedly are losing more than US$30 million per year.With the NHL's help, the team is attempting to renegotiate its Jobing.com Arena lease with the city of Glendale in an apparent effort to make the deal more attractive to potential buyers. "There's been a tremendous amount of speculation and commentary about the state of the Coyotes and most of it has been terribly unfair to the Coyotes, to the players and to the fans," Bettman said. " Obviously, there are issues we're working on - getting some capital infusion for the club ... possibly some new partners for Jerry Moyes or even a possible sale."Bettman would not disclose the names of any potential financial partners for the Coyotes but said "we're working on bringing this to a conclusion by season's end." Bettman also said the NHL "has a good track record" of helping other struggling teams get financially healthy again and dismissed speculation that the Coyotes would be relocated. "The reports of the franchise's demise are just ridiculous," he said. "Jerry Moyes has been committed to Glendale and committed to the Coyotes. All of this blanket characterization of 'hockey doesn't work in the Sun Belt' is just hogwash. I think the Coyotes have a bright future on the ice."www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/breakingnews/null39119392.html
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Post by WPGISNHL on Feb 4, 2009 23:07:31 GMT -5
We have all been wrong...it is now "hogwash" that hockey does not work in Phoenix!?!?
I feel so stupid!
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Post by frankcostanza on Feb 5, 2009 14:02:53 GMT -5
they did a small piece on Phoenix on Hockey Central last night and they panned the crowd at a game and it was ridiculous at how many empty seats there were. and this was during the game, not before, not after the game. I've been to two games in Phoenix and if it wasn't for the Canadian fans there to cheer Montreal and Ottawa, the place at best would have been half full. Look, if they have to ask for an advance on their revenue sharing money, which as far as I am concerned is a proven fact because Bettman said it himself, and if they are looking for an "injection of capital" then let's call it what it is.....a team in desperate financial trouble. They are getting an advance on revenue sharing....what are they going to do next year when there will possibly be less corporate and fan support due to the economy? are they going to get another advance? what is it going to take for the teams handing over money to prop up this franchise to say enough is enough? Wouldn't they rather have this team in a market that can support itself or at the very least not have to buy their own tickets Remember when Gretzky called the New Jersey Devils a Mickey Mouse organization? Well who is calling the shots in Phoenix.....Goofy or Donald Duck?
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Post by WPGISNHL on Feb 5, 2009 14:11:12 GMT -5
Wilson coy about interest in Phoenix Coyotes PATRICIA BEST February 5, 2009 Calgary investment banker W. Brett Wilson has come right out and said he's interested in owning a piece of the ailing Nashville Predators hockey team. In fact, the publicity-embracing Mr. Wilson has made no secret over the years of his desire to own a couple of NHL teams. Well, how about the Phoenix Coyotes? Word circulating among business people in Calgary is that Mr. Wilson is trying to snag ownership of that benighted team (although NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said only this week in Toronto that while the Coyotes "will be fine," there was no new owner in sight). So after chatting first about the Predators we asked Mr. Wilson about Phoenix yesterday, catching him, it seemed, by surprise. "I've been there. I've golfed there," he said. Yes, but what about his interest in the Phoenix team? "I've been there, I've golfed there," he repeated. Mr. Wilson is not usually so reticent. Last October when The Globe and Mail asked him about the Nashville team, he said: "Would I be interested in buying into the Predators? In a heartbeat, yeah. The NHL knows I'm interested. I've supplied all the paperwork." And that interest continues. "My enthusiasm for hockey is high," says Mr. Wilson, who told us he "met with the Predators last week." And he indicated confidence in winning an NHL ownership stake. "All it takes is money and be nice," he said. "[Research In Motion Ltd. co-chief executive officer] Jim [Balsillie] screwed up there on the 'be nice.' "The Calgary financier has an appetite for sports teams in general; he attracted media attention last October when it became known that he was the lead investor in the $97-million purchase of Derby County of the English Championship, a level just below the Premier League. (One of Mr. Wilson's partners [in the Derby team] is Predators' majority owner, David Freeman.) He couches it in market terms: "We're at a cyclical low in terms of world interest in sports and now might be ..." He didn't finish his sentence, but added, "The world is on sale and I've been actively converting stock certificates into fun certificates." www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090205.RNOBODY05/TPStory/Business
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Post by WpgJets2008 on Feb 5, 2009 14:21:27 GMT -5
Gary Bettman can't seem to realize how desperate his comments are making the situation appear.
Where is this infusion of cash coming from other than through the other 29 teams?
What investor in their right mind sees this opportunity to make back their own money let alone a return on investment?
What owner would buy the team even if they turn a few million shortfall on parking into say a $10 million revenue stream. The team is getting non-hockey related revenue from the rink now excet for the parking. So based on this it would now be a $20 to $25 million loss once they get the parking fix done on the lease.
The only way to entice another new owner is if they first break the lease via bankruptcy protection or through the generousity of the city of Glendale to rewrite the lease. Then sell the team with a renegotiated lease that has no "hold back" provisions in tying the team to that city.
Portability is the only asset this franchise has left now that everything else including most future revenue streams have been mortgaged away to Micheal Dell's hedge fund. Other tangibles not yet sold off or put down as colleteral include draft picks, a few player contracts and Gretzky and Maloney. The scouts, if they have been there for more than 4 years, aren't worth keeping after seeing the team they have collected.
Bear this in mind, because a new owner isn't getting the team free and clear as many revenues streams now belong to the hedge fund, not the team. So $80 million plus to buy out the Dell hedge fund only gets you the team free of debt. Just how much more would an owner be wiling to spend over and above that to buy a portable NHL team? Maybe another $50 to $100 million tops, but only if the next flight out of town has the franchise on it.
Chris
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Post by kj79 on Feb 5, 2009 15:06:46 GMT -5
You'd have to be a fool to buy the Coyotes and keep them in Phoenix. If the owners of the coyotes called me up right now and said you can have the team for free as long as you keep them in Phoenix I'd say no. Its not because I don't have any money (that alone would make me an instant owner in the NHL), its because there's no way of making any money.
They lowered prices so much that even if they do sell out there's still no revenue. If they start selling out and raise the prices so they can make a buck, people won't go because their $10 ticket now costs $35
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Post by WPGISNHL on Feb 5, 2009 15:31:04 GMT -5
What investor in their right mind sees this opportunity to make back their own money let alone a return on investment? The only way to entice another new owner is if they first break the lease via bankruptcy protection or through the generousity of the city of Glendale to rewrite the lease. Then sell the team with a renegotiated lease that has no "hold back" provisions in tying the team to that city. The renegotiation of the lease is paramount to getting a new investor AND "temporarily" keeping this team in Phoenix. Hypothetically...if I am Brett Wilson and have to put $80 million dollars into the team (in effect to pay off the debts) to retain 90% ownership AND this only happens with a renegotiated/modified lease giving me "escape clauses" without penalties at the end of next season (ie: if certain targets are not met, etc) AND I have the NHL's guarantee that I can move to where-ever...then "TEMPORARILY" (one season) Phoenix is saved.Bettman and the NHL BOG want to call the shots on these types of matters. Balsillie wanted to call his own shots and bully the NHL into doing things his way. He has been squashed out and you won't see him again unless he starts "being nice" to quote Brett Wilson (NOTE: True North has always and continues to "be nice"! ) Bettman always chooses his words very carefully...as can be seen with his comment about the Coyote franchise having a "bright future on the ice". You will note that he did not say bright future "in Phoenix, Arizona"...and that is the word game that he has always played...and he is very very good at it! Sometimes if one looks beyond the words spoken and looks beyond the immediate...you find some answers to the future.
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Post by WpgJets2008 on Feb 5, 2009 16:28:11 GMT -5
I think the story you present is the only way this drama concludes. The only questions are: by when, who buys the team and where do they move it too.
I openly wonder whether Calgarian Brett Wilson has been talking to True North about Winnipeg, or Copps Colesium in Hamilton or even Quebec City or Southern Ontario? I did read a few months ago that he harboured interest in owning an NHL team. A personal history about Wilson and where he does business past and present might give us some inkling as to where his team may end up should he be a buyer of a troubled US team.
Imagine the whirlwind it would create if he brings a team back to Canada. And before Balsillie does it! It also seems like his quote about playing nice was as direct a shot at Balsillie as possible. And that means "Game On!" between the two of them for maybe years to come.
Chris
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Post by WPGISNHL on Feb 5, 2009 16:58:20 GMT -5
www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=265929W. Brett Wilson has been approached by several professional sports teams about possible investment. Calgary investment banker told the Calgary Herald he is considering some of the offers including taking a stake in the Nashville Predators. Wilson, formerly the chairman of FirstEnergy Corp., is already part owner of two professional teams, Derby County in the Football League Championship in England and the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx of the Southern League in baseball. Wilson's company Prairie Merchant Corp. deals with his sports interests. "There's people interested in partners in a number of leagues at this moment. We don't have time to evaluate the things that are showing up on my desk," explained Wilson to the Calgary Herald. Wilson told the newspaper he is interested buying William "Boots" Del Biaggio's former stake in the Predators from the trustee. "His stake's been with the trustee for quite some time," explained Wilson to the Calgary Herald. "So Boots' bankruptcy proceeding or the fraud charges has no bearing on what the trustee is doing. The trustee works for the people he owed money to." While he is interested, the investment banker admitted he is not the only person or group looking into things in Nashville. His talks with the team are ongoing. "The Preds are returning my calls and I'm returning theirs. Which means there's ongoing discussions," he told the Calgary Herald. "Because my enterprise is private, the Preds are private, there's no obligation of disclosure." Wilson has also been linked to the Phoenix Coyotes and while he explained he did not start the reports, he also did not deny he might have interest. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: David Freeman (re: Nashville Predators) is a partner with Brett Wilson in the soccer team ownership situation!
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Post by jhendrix70 on Feb 5, 2009 17:38:53 GMT -5
Listen; This Brett Wilson is a very smart man. He's not on CBC's "Dragons Den" for nothing! He knows that IF he puts money into either Nashville OR Phoenix, it's so he gains full control of the team, and relocates them to a better market! ( IE: Winnipeg, Hamilton )
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Post by WPGISNHL on Feb 5, 2009 20:06:59 GMT -5
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Post by wagner3 on Feb 5, 2009 23:55:03 GMT -5
Phoenix's books scare potential buyers awayGary Bettman struck out at least three times in attempts to peddle the Phoenix Coyotes, according to multiple sources. The sources say the NHL commissioner was turned down by Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, by Phoenix Suns majority owner Robert Sarver and by Ken Kendrick, the managing general partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, on separate occasions. All three were said to have backed out after looking at the books of the Coyotes, who are expected to lose as much as $45-million (all currency U.S.) this season. "It's not happening," a source close to Reinsdorf said yesterday. "They're begging him to do it, but there's no way. He has no interest. Who would?"Reinsdorf, Sarver and Kendrick could not be reached for comment. Bill Daly, the deputy commissioner of the NHL, declined to comment. "There is nothing I can tell you about that, for obvious reasons," Daly wrote in an e-mail message. Jerry Moyes, the majority owner of the Coyotes, wants to sell the team because the total losses are in the neighbourhood of $200-million since he bought the club in 2001. Moyes is also having financial difficulties with his trucking firm, Swift Transportation Co., and is no longer willing or able to cover the Coyotes' losses. The NHL is advancing money to the club to keep it alive and Bettman is looking for investors on Moyes's behalf. One source said Bettman cannot get any takers even though he is offering the team for nothing as long as the buyer covers the Coyotes' liabilities — the annual losses plus a large debt to a New York hedge fund, thought to be about $80-million. "A lot of people have kicked the tires, but once they see the numbers, they walk away," said a former NHL governor who is familiar with the Coyotes' situation. "When you see they have 25 years left on their lease at $30-million a year [in losses], they tend to walk away." The former governor said there have been inquiries from a couple of groups about the Coyotes, but only if they can move the team from its home in Glendale. The only way the Coyotes can break their lease is by seeking bankruptcy protection in the U.S. courts. The Coyotes are trying to persuade Glendale's city government to change their lease at the Jobing.com Arena in order to squeeze more revenue out of it. However, the Coyotes already get most of the revenue from the arena. Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs recently told The Arizona Republic newspaper she is opposed to new taxes or fees to help the hockey team, although she is not opposed to some kind of assistance. Reinsdorf, who also owns the Chicago Bulls of the NBA, has a connection to Glendale through his baseball team. The White Sox will hold their spring training this year at a new complex built by the city. Bettman said in Toronto this week that the Coyotes "will be fine." He said they will not be moved, although no new owner is yet in sight. sports.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090205.wsptcoyotes5/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/home
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Post by WPGISNHL on Feb 6, 2009 17:09:32 GMT -5
/\ ][
Unless the City of Glendale caves in on the lease (ie: penalties for leaving)...Phoenix is dead at the end of this season.
As I see it and read it...everything is in the hands of Glendale as to whether the Coyotes play there next year or not...OR...the NHL runs the franchise for one more year and absorbs the 20-40 million dollar loss. Nobody is going to step up with cash without having a quick and profitable out.
Bold prediction....I think a 30th team will be in KC or Winnipeg next year!
The next two months are going to be very interesting!
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Post by davebabych on Feb 6, 2009 17:58:08 GMT -5
ALERT: As author of this post, I realize the following is extremely far-fetched and a potential for worst post of the year. However, I'm bored, and I thought the following would make for an entertaining post. Also, the following may sound far-fetched but there is a slim chance it could occur since it's financially plausible. Read on at your own risk... . . . . If Moyes can't find a buyer and doesn't want to incur another season of losses he may have to do something outside the box if he doesn't want to go into bankruptcy.
Since the team is losing ~$40 million per season, Moyes may just shut down operations of the Coyotes administration staff to save costs, and then he could simply not ice a team and forfeit the NHL games in the upcoming season. However, because the unionized NHL players are all under contract to the Coyotes and the CBA requires each team pay $40 million minimum for players, Moyes would need to continue paying his players. In order to get revenue to pay for the players, Moyes could create secondment agreements with other teams (or other leagues). Essentially, he would be renting his players out in exchange for cash (when you think of it it's kind of like Moyes would be the players pimp.)
This practice is done in many organizations throughout Canada and the US. Companies will lend out employees to other companies for a pre-determined period of time and get compensated for the employee.
Ex: An MTS employee is sent to Cargill for 6 months. MTS still sends the employee the pay cheques; however, Cargill will send MTS money to pay for the employee during the secondment period. MTS is still paying the employee, but they're not out of pocket any cash.
In my place of work I sent an employee to work for the Federal Government for a year using this method, and I've also borrowed an employee from MB Hydro under this method. Typically, it's a method for expanding an employees skills or filling a difficult to recruit position for a short period of time. However, in this instance it could be a way for Moyes to stop losing money until the city of Phoenix decides to let Moyes move or sell the team to another city.
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Post by wagner3 on Feb 7, 2009 2:14:15 GMT -5
not much new here, but i decided to post it... White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf not interested in buying Phoenix Coyotes Tribune news services 9:12 PM CST, February 6, 2009 The Toronto Globe and Mail is reporting that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman struck out at least three times in attempts to peddle the Phoenix Coyotes, including to White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf. Citing multiple sources, the newspaper reports Bettman was turned down on separate occasions by Reinsdorf, Phoenix Suns majority owner Robert Sarver and Ken Kendrick, the managing general partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The paper reported that all three were said to have backed out after looking at the books of the Coyotes, who are expected to lose as much as $45 million this season. "It's not happening," a source close to Reinsdorf told the newspaper. "They're begging him to do it. He has no interest. Who would?" 2009 White Sox spring training schedule The paper could not reach Reinsdorf. Sarver and Kendrick could not be reached for comment. Bill Daly, the deputy commissioner of the NHL, declined to comment. Jerry Moyes, majority owner of the Coyotes, wants to sell because the total losses are close to $200 million since he bought the team in 2001. www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/chi-07-reinsdorf-coyotes-buyfeb07,0,6747083.story
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Post by WPGISNHL on Feb 10, 2009 12:41:20 GMT -5
Here is part of a short but interesting comment from a Coyote season ticket holder that I found today:
Bob W says: "Yep the Coyotes are in big trouble. The poor treatment of the season ticket holders this year is deplorable. ALL of the special offers were given to anyone off of the street. It is sad to sit in a glass seat and have to listen to how the row behind you got in for $40.00. Now they want you to commit to next years season tickets by Feb 27th. Taken for granted and bullied, this is not the way to treat (or keep) up to this point loyal fans."
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