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Post by Darren Ford on Feb 10, 2009 14:40:17 GMT -5
Tick Tock.
Maybe Arizona helped Winnipeg out by taking our team for the worst era of NHL hockey. Take 'em for 15 years, lose a half billion, return them home once bleeding is too much.
Meanwhile we finally get our ducks in a row in terms of a building and established owners.
Shane Doan's first and last season could be as a Winnipeg Jet?
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Post by Jari on Feb 11, 2009 0:06:34 GMT -5
Could Balsillie bring Gretzky home? February 10, 2009 11:39 AM | Posted by Cassie Campbell Balsillie could bring Gretzky home. Now wouldn’t that be an ideal title on the front page of every single Canadian newspaper! I think so. The NHL has admitted its involvement in helping a Phoenix Coyotes franchise deal with some financial difficulties as well as look for potential new backers/owners of the team. On a recent Phoenix telecast, league commissioner Gary Bettman mentioned that they are looking for new partners for Phoenix owner Jerry Moyes or even at a possible sale of the franchise. The NHL hopes to resolve the situation in Phoenix by season’s end in order to be fair to the players, staff and fans. So the question has to be asked: why-oh-why has a deal not been had with Research in Motion co-chief executive officer Jim Balsillie? Nashville unlikely, potential in the desert The arena lease in Phoenix pretty much dictates that the Coyotes will remain in Phoenix for quite some time unless a substantial amount of money is paid to the region. The NHL is currently attempting to renegotiate the lease for Jobing.com Arena with the city of Glendale, Ariz., to make it more attractive for potential buyers. However, the time needed to renegotiate such a deal may be attractive to Balsillie. It would give him time to build an arena (Western Ontario) or upgrade a current facility (Hamilton) for his new team. With the Nashville Predators’ majority owner, David Freeman, speaking to a potential new partner in Calgary - investment banker Brett Wilson - the rumoured deal with Balsillie seems to be on the back burner, if non-existent. The 27 per cent share belonging to William (Boots) Del Biaggio is still available and the courts, along with Freeman, are dealing with the asset. However, if Freeman wanted this deal with Balsillie, it would have been done long ago. This is no doubt a result of Freeman wanting to ensure the Predators stay in Nashville and that’s his right as the majority owner. So, the big question: could Balsillie be the new owner of the Phoenix Coyotes? He has the money and he definitely has the passion for the game of hockey. With that combination shouldn’t the NHL want him on board? I believe so. Option to move to another city, or, country It all will depend on the NHL’s flexibility to allow a new owner to help the franchise as it is in Phoenix, BUT if the team continues to struggle financially, there should be a clause in the contract that after a certain number of years, the team can move to a more suitable market. I completely understand why the NHL doesn’t want to give up on a franchise in Phoenix - they don’t want to disappoint fans or make it seem that when a franchise struggles the quick solution is movement. But when all is said and done, and the city of Glendale continues to be unable to support a hockey franchise, new options are inevitable. NHLPA boss, Paul Kelly, supports moving a franchise from a struggling U.S. market back to Canada, which therefore means the players do, too. If the Phoenix Coyotes move back to Canada it would mean full circle for the franchise that started as the Winnipeg Jets. It would also mean full circle for Wayne Gretzky. www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/2009/02/could_balsillie_bring_gretzky.html |
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Post by misterman on Feb 11, 2009 13:22:53 GMT -5
Just announced, another 40% off of ticket prices... You can get tickets for as little as $8.50.... sounds like the good old McDonalds/7 Eleven prices. Phoenix Coyotes cut ticket prices
The Phoenix Coyotes are cutting ticket prices for a number of upcoming games by as much as 40 percent.
The hockey team started the ticket sale Wednesday with lower prices for six home games in Glendale beginning with the Feb. 16 game against Edmonton and running through the April 2 game against Los Angeles.
The discounted tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com, the team’s Web site phoenixcoyotes.com and at the Jobing.com Arena box office. Coyotes ticket prices usually range between $15 and $300 each.
The team has faced financial strains and laid off front-office workers. Team CEO Jeff Shumway recently resigned and National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman recently said the league is looking to help team owner Jerry Moyes find additional investors to help solidify the Coyotes’ financial standing.
Bettman downplayed media reports, especially in the Canadian press, that the Coyotes are in dire financial straits and could be moved out of Glendale.
Bettman told FSN Arizona the team needs a capital infusion and there could be a “possible sale of the franchise,” but that the team is not going to be disbanded.
The Coyotes now stand in 13th place in the NHL’s Western Conference. The top eight teams in each conference make the playoffs. The Coyotes are four points out of the last playoff spot.
link: www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/02/09/daily44.htmllink: coyotes.nhl.com/ |
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Post by Ric O. on Feb 11, 2009 18:12:33 GMT -5
Could Balsillie bring Gretzky home? February 10, 2009 11:39 AM | Posted by Cassie Campbell Balsillie could bring Gretzky home. Now wouldn’t that be an ideal title on the front page of every single Canadian newspaper! I think so. The NHL has admitted its involvement in helping a Phoenix Coyotes franchise deal with some financial difficulties as well as look for potential new backers/owners of the team. On a recent Phoenix telecast, league commissioner Gary Bettman mentioned that they are looking for new partners for Phoenix owner Jerry Moyes or even at a possible sale of the franchise. The NHL hopes to resolve the situation in Phoenix by season’s end in order to be fair to the players, staff and fans. So the question has to be asked: why-oh-why has a deal not been had with Research in Motion co-chief executive officer Jim Balsillie? Nashville unlikely, potential in the desert The arena lease in Phoenix pretty much dictates that the Coyotes will remain in Phoenix for quite some time unless a substantial amount of money is paid to the region. The NHL is currently attempting to renegotiate the lease for Jobing.com Arena with the city of Glendale, Ariz., to make it more attractive for potential buyers. However, the time needed to renegotiate such a deal may be attractive to Balsillie. It would give him time to build an arena (Western Ontario) or upgrade a current facility (Hamilton) for his new team. With the Nashville Predators’ majority owner, David Freeman, speaking to a potential new partner in Calgary - investment banker Brett Wilson - the rumoured deal with Balsillie seems to be on the back burner, if non-existent. The 27 per cent share belonging to William (Boots) Del Biaggio is still available and the courts, along with Freeman, are dealing with the asset. However, if Freeman wanted this deal with Balsillie, it would have been done long ago. This is no doubt a result of Freeman wanting to ensure the Predators stay in Nashville and that’s his right as the majority owner. So, the big question: could Balsillie be the new owner of the Phoenix Coyotes? He has the money and he definitely has the passion for the game of hockey. With that combination shouldn’t the NHL want him on board? I believe so. Option to move to another city, or, country It all will depend on the NHL’s flexibility to allow a new owner to help the franchise as it is in Phoenix, BUT if the team continues to struggle financially, there should be a clause in the contract that after a certain number of years, the team can move to a more suitable market. I completely understand why the NHL doesn’t want to give up on a franchise in Phoenix - they don’t want to disappoint fans or make it seem that when a franchise struggles the quick solution is movement. But when all is said and done, and the city of Glendale continues to be unable to support a hockey franchise, new options are inevitable. NHLPA boss, Paul Kelly, supports moving a franchise from a struggling U.S. market back to Canada, which therefore means the players do, too. If the Phoenix Coyotes move back to Canada it would mean full circle for the franchise that started as the Winnipeg Jets. It would also mean full circle for Wayne Gretzky. www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/2009/02/could_balsillie_bring_gretzky.htmlCassie Campbell...Not sure how she thinks Winnipeg's team ending up in Kitchener-Waterloo is going full circle? What an insult to us. |
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Post by wagner3 on Feb 11, 2009 18:50:12 GMT -5
i cringed at several points reading that article....Cassie Campbell doesn't know what she is talking about...especially with regard to the business issues involving the two franchises she discussed above...what an embarrassing excuse for professional journalism...the shares of the predators are in the hands of the trustee in bankruptcy...he will decide according to the relevant law how the shares are disposed of, not freedman or the predators...they are entitled to try and buy the shares or have a third party they like bid on the shares, but ultimately the trustee will be looking for a market price for the assets to pay off the creditors...
the phoenix coyotes will stay in phoenix "unless a substantial amount of money is paid to the region"...due to the lease...talk about being vague and not considering that the lease could be renegotiated at some point...
and she gets paid for writing about/covering hockey...
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Post by Ric O. on Feb 11, 2009 19:35:01 GMT -5
Yeah, I agree...I was shaking my head through the whole read thinking this would be like a news report a junior high student would write...and get a C. Then she topped it off with that full circle wise-crack. Brutal, Brutal stuff.
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Post by NewJets on Feb 12, 2009 15:59:08 GMT -5
F*uck Gretzky.
I hope he stays in the desert -- with or without the Yotes.
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Post by TheDeuce on Feb 12, 2009 17:35:21 GMT -5
Yeah, I agree...I was shaking my head through the whole read thinking this would be like a news report a junior high student would write...and get a C. Then she topped it off with that full circle wise-crack. Brutal, Brutal stuff. Guys, get on there and offer up some positive commentary. There's some 'indigoBuffalo' guy talking trash who needs to be put in his place. Sign up and let 'em have it! m. |
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Post by WPGISNHL on Feb 14, 2009 23:01:03 GMT -5
Great One getting great big paychequesMATTHEW SEKERES AND DAVID SHOALTS February 14, 2009 The Phoenix Coyotes are among the poorest teams in the NHL, but head coach Wayne Gretzky makes far more than any other coach in the league. Gretzky earns between $7-million and $8-million (all currency U.S.) per year on a five-year contract, or more than seven times the average annual salary for an NHL head coach, according to several sources. The contract is so generous that even though Gretzky was said by one source to have agreed to defer up to half his salary this season, he would still be the best-paid bench boss in the league. The huge compensation came based on the notion that Gretzky would help sell tickets at the Jobing.com Arena in suburban Glendale. But now, in Gretzky's fourth season behind the bench, that does not appear to be the case. "He doesn't translate to one ticket sold," a source said. "They pimped him so much, but he didn't represent $1." Jeff Holbrook, the Coyotes' chief communications officer, said yesterday the terms of Gretzky's contract have not changed since it was signed three years ago. "He has a unique relationship with [Coyotes' majority owner Jerry] Moyes," Holbrook said. "He does some personal appearances for Mr. Moyes." The Coyotes are averaging a crowd of 14,892 through 28 home games this season, which is fourth worst in the 30-team NHL. In the Gretzky era, the team has averaged 15,070 per game, compared to 15,469 the year before the 2004-05 lockout. According to information circulated by the league, the average salary for an NHL head coach is just shy of $1-million per season. The range runs from $500,000 to $1.5-million. The document does not list coaches by name. When he was head coach and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pat Quinn earned $2.5-million. However, a pay cut may be in Gretzky's future if the NHL has to financially support the Coyotes beyond this season. One team owner said that if the league asks him to assist the Coyotes, he would require three assurances: One, that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman lays out a long-range plan demonstrating how the Coyotes can be viable. Two, that the City of Glendale provides some lease relief at the Jobing.com Arena. And three, that Gretzky's salary falls in line with other coaches. Gretzky, 48, also serves as Phoenix's head of hockey operations, holding the titles of managing partner and alternate governor. His contract includes a minority ownership stake in the Coyotes that does not require him to help cover any of their annual losses. That share in the team is said to be between 10 per cent and 18 per cent. The Coyotes are expected to lose as much as $45-million this season. The NHL is helping the team cover its financial obligations through advances on revenues shared by all teams, including broadcast, merchandise and revenue-sharing monies. If the NHL wants to raise the league's financial commitment beyond that level, it needs the consent of a majority of its 30 governors. Moyes has asked Bettman to find a buyer for the Coyotes. It is believed Moyes is willing to walk away from the team, so long as a new investor assumes an $80-million debt to a New York hedge fund and agrees to cover all future losses. While Bettman has made assurances the team "will be fine," there is no buyer in sight. The league has approached Jerry Reinsdorf, owner of the NBA's Chicago Bulls and baseball's Chicago White Sox, as well as the owners of basketball's Phoenix Suns and baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. All three declined. The Coyotes finished last in the NHL in ticket revenue last season, with a total of $18.4-million. An ESPN.com report said the club also forfeited 25 per cent of the $15-million it was due in revenue-sharing monies last year. Former Coyotes chief executive officer and governor Jeff Shumway signed Gretzky to his current contract on May 31, 2006. Shumway and the Coyotes parted ways last month. Gretzky has been a minority owner of the Coyotes since February of 2001, when he signed a contract with former owner Steve Ellman. He did not have to buy any equity in the team but was given a four-year contract for $13-million. In exchange, Ellman was allowed to use Gretzky's name to attract investors in the team. The only significant investor to turn up was Moyes. But his trucking company, Swift Transportation, has also fallen on hard times financially, which made it difficult for him to continue covering losses. It is estimated the Coyotes have cost Moyes as much as $250-million. www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090214.NHLCOYOTES14/TPStory/Sports
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Post by WHA on Feb 15, 2009 19:04:45 GMT -5
No 'Great' salary in Phoenix
Gretzky laughs off T.O. report
By STEVE MACFARLANE, SUN MEDIA
Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky argues with officials during a game against the Canucks on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- You might as well accuse Wayne Gretzky of stealing all the lifeboats from the Titanic if you believe he's taking a salary in excess of US$7 million per season from the Phoenix Coyotes.
The franchise is perceived as a sinking ship financially, and a published report out of Toronto claims he makes at least that much despite the fact the team is expected to lose as much as $45 million this NHL season.
Gretzky balked at the number yesterday afternoon.
"I wish it was," the Phoenix Coyotes head coach said with a laugh when asked if his salary was in that range.
"The reality is my partnership with Mr. (Coyotes owner Jerry) Moyes is pretty unique. My partnership goes along the lines of coaching and corporate work for the hockey club -- part of the salary goes into ownership."
Gretzky also does work for Mr. Moyes' personal company, Swift Transportation.
The 48-year-old bench boss is a man of many responsibilities in the desert. He's a managing partner, alternate governor, part-owner and head of hockey operations.
Still, Gretzky says what he takes home isn't far off what the rest of the coaches in the league make when you break everything down.
"The actual salary of what I take home is less than, or as much as a lot of the other coaches are making in the National Hockey League.
"There's nothing more to say on that other than I don't make seven-million dollars a year ... I wish I did."
Gretzky's salary might be the least of the cash-strapped franchise's worries. A terrible lease agreement and less-than-spectacular ticket sales contribute heavily to the losses Moyes has been forced to swallow over the years.
Uncertain exactly what's going to happen as Moyes looks for a partner or buyer to help turn things around, Gretzky believes the team is going to be fine in the long run.
"I know Mr. Moyes has met with three, four, five people who have tremendous interest in partnering with him, or buying it from him. I think it's really positive," said Gretzky, adding it's not a case of Moyes facing bankruptcy.
"It's more of a case of him saying
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Post by mcguire4 on Feb 15, 2009 20:17:05 GMT -5
i hate him.
i really, really hate him.
didn't think i could hate him more after he retired, but.....I HATE HIM!
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Post by White-Out on Feb 15, 2009 20:40:24 GMT -5
That article just shows how badly in dire straights Phoenix is and how they will not be there next season. No way the NHL is going to cover 50 million dollars a year for a team like Phoenix when they weren't even willing to cover around 20 million a year for a team like Winnipeg whose fans showed up and showed devotion and passion to their team.
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Post by TheDeuce on Feb 16, 2009 5:01:02 GMT -5
I just had a daydream where the Coyotes were relocated back to Winnipeg right after Gretz signed a 10 year contract.
The new owners, with exceedingly deep pockets and a long memory vis a vis what Gretz did to our Jets through the 1980's, immediately relieved him of his coaching duties and announced that he was was given a lateral move into the position of head janitor at the MTS Centre. Wayne tries to wiggle his way out of the contract, but it's ironclad, and so he' mopping up my spilled beer night after night in section 117 row 4.
It's nice to daydream on a night before a long-weekend day off while enjoying a Crown Royal buzz!
m.
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Post by jhendrix70 on Feb 17, 2009 17:20:32 GMT -5
Really.........this is getting a bit stupid now!  |
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Post by crazycanuck on Feb 17, 2009 22:19:56 GMT -5
TSN was reporting that a possible sale of the yotes was imminent
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Post by wagner3 on Feb 17, 2009 22:39:41 GMT -5
Sources tell TSN the Phoenix Coyotes received an offer to buy the financially troubled team on Tuesday. Details on the offer are few, however, according to the source, the offer is considered to be positive in the sense that it opens up dialogue and further negotiations. It is believed that the city of Glendale, which operates Jobing.Com arena, has agreed to significant concessions which has contributed to rallying this interest. At least two other serious parties are said to also be in the mix to purchase the Coyotes. www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=267543&lid=headline&lpos=secStory_nhl |
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Post by bromine on Feb 17, 2009 22:42:11 GMT -5
Not exactly imminent... just talk: tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=267543&lid=sublink02&lpos=headlines_main------------------------------- Sources tell TSN the Phoenix Coyotes received an offer to buy the financially troubled team on Tuesday. Details on the offer are few, however, according to the source, the offer is considered to be positive in the sense that it opens up dialogue and further negotiations. It is believed that the city of Glendale, which operates Jobing.Com arena, has agreed to significant concessions which has contributed to rallying this interest. At least two other serious parties are said to also be in the mix to purchase the Coyotes. -------------------------------------------- This may be good news. If the Coyotes can somehow get out of their terrible lease, the team will be able to move. Especially once the next sucker... errr.. owner... realizes how much money he's bleeding. |
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Post by davebabych on Feb 17, 2009 23:19:35 GMT -5
It is believed that the city of Glendale, which operates Jobing.Com arena, has agreed to significant concessions which has contributed to rallying this interest. I could be wrong, but I thought the Coyotes were receiving almost all revenues from the Jobing.Com arena. I believe the only revenue the city retained was the parking. So what kinds of concessions could the city of Glendale possibly give the Coyotes (other than parking revenue). The only other possibilities I can think of is the ability to get out of their lease, or maybe the city is willing to provide financial assistance to the team to cover the lossess (which I doubt). |
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Post by WpgJets2008 on Feb 17, 2009 23:41:27 GMT -5
It is believed that the city of Glendale, which operates Jobing.Com arena, has agreed to significant concessions which has contributed to rallying this interest. I could be wrong, but I thought the Coyotes were receiving almost all revenues from the Jobing.Com arena. I believe the only revenue the city retained was the parking. So what kinds of concessions could the city of Glendale possibly give the Coyotes (other than parking revenue). The only other possibilities I can think of is the ability to get out of their lease, or maybe the city is willing to provide financial assistance to the team to cover the lossess (which I doubt). Based on many past reports, that was my understanding as well. However, getting out from a$700+ million escape clause could be perceived as a significant lease concession when the new owners only wish is to move out of town ASAP. Now why would Glendale be so accomodating to changing the lease??? ie. I'll give you $50 or $100 million to leave town and take the Yotes with me in the next 2 years or less. If not, I'll buy the team now, then bankrupt it, and walk away from the lease without giving your city a nickel. Yes it's hardball negotitations but it HAS to be, since staying in that town isn't a option financially. I suspect that Moyes has already thrown the keys back at Bettman, then the NHL will now be open to selling and relocating the team once all ownership interest is exhausted in attempting to keep the team where it is. Based on this new openness of Glendale to change the lease I suspect this has been communicated by the NHL to the city. In fact, once the NHL has run out of options to keep the team there, the NHL may become a Chipman or a Balsillie ally very quickly. The NHL needs propping up a bad team for this year and the entire next 2009-2010 season like an eskimo needs a freezer. The only question (beyond where the team relocates, by when and by whom) remains is how Bettman can spin this to look like he somehow is the best thing to hit the NHL since rubber pucks replaced cow patties. But I still don't see him coming out of this without wearing mud for his southern experiment. On the other hand, relocating a team to Canada is a good way to deflect that criticism. Also, we'll never know how many groups are actually in on the bidding war for this or any other team. But we'll know how many will drop out of the running, as it seems to become public news very quickly. ie. Reinsdorf, the Suns owners and the D-backs owners have all said no already. Chris |
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Post by bromine on Feb 18, 2009 13:18:27 GMT -5
I'll give you $50 or $100 million to leave town and take the Yotes with me in the next 2 years or less. If not, I'll buy the team now, then bankrupt it, and walk away from the lease without giving your city a nickel. Yes it's hardball negotitations but it HAS to be, since staying in that town isn't a option financially. interesting analysis... Effectively, as long as they remain in that lease, bankruptcy is an inevitability. |
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