Post by jhendrix70 on Sept 16, 2009 18:06:08 GMT -5
Coyotes fans blame Phoenix media for lack of support
Phoenix Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks
Phoenix Coyotes fans have plenty of fingers to point for the team’s financial struggles and possible move to Canada.
Some of the few fans who showed up at Tuesday night’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Kings blamed lack of attendance and support on the local news media.
“You have to get the word out,” said Niels Maclellan, a season ticket holder who was at the Coyotes-Kings game with his young daughter.
Maclellan, who hopes the team stays in Arizona, said the local media doesn’t cover the team enough.
Billionaire Jim Balsillie, among bidders in the team’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy sale, plans a move to Hamilton, Ontario. The National Hockey League also is bidding on the team with plans to find a buyer to keep it in Glendale.
The Coyotes tend to get less coverage than the Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks, whose games are broadcast on KTAR 620 AM or KTAR 92.3 FM, the dominant sports radio outlets in the Phoenix market. Talk shows on those stations tends to focus on those teams rather than the Coyotes, although the bankruptcy and proposed move have generated some coverage.
There has also been some coverage of Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky and his failure to take a position on the possible move.
Canadian media, however, have been all over the Coyotes’ saga.
KGMA 910 AM broadcasts Coyotes games and Fox Sports Arizona has in the past, there is no deal for the upcoming season, which starts in October
Archie Baird, a Phoenix resident and long-time season ticket holder, said there is no reason this market can’t back the Coyotes. He also lamented the lack of media coverage.
“We have 5 million people here. There’s no reason we can’t support a team,” said Baird.
Roger, a fan who declined to give his last name, agreed media coverage is lacking, but added the fact the Coyotes haven’t made the NHL’s 16-team playoffs since 2002 has hurt fan and media interest.
About 1,000 fans were at the 17,800-seat Jobing.com Arena for the Coyotes preseason opener.
Fans and retailers at Westgate City Center next to the arena were uncertain of the team’s future. A sales person at Just Sports said the store doesn’t have much an inventory of Coyotes gear because of the uncertainty. The store has plenty of Cardinals jerseys and shirts.
phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/09/14/daily45.html
Phoenix Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks
Phoenix Coyotes fans have plenty of fingers to point for the team’s financial struggles and possible move to Canada.
Some of the few fans who showed up at Tuesday night’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Kings blamed lack of attendance and support on the local news media.
“You have to get the word out,” said Niels Maclellan, a season ticket holder who was at the Coyotes-Kings game with his young daughter.
Maclellan, who hopes the team stays in Arizona, said the local media doesn’t cover the team enough.
Billionaire Jim Balsillie, among bidders in the team’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy sale, plans a move to Hamilton, Ontario. The National Hockey League also is bidding on the team with plans to find a buyer to keep it in Glendale.
The Coyotes tend to get less coverage than the Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks, whose games are broadcast on KTAR 620 AM or KTAR 92.3 FM, the dominant sports radio outlets in the Phoenix market. Talk shows on those stations tends to focus on those teams rather than the Coyotes, although the bankruptcy and proposed move have generated some coverage.
There has also been some coverage of Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky and his failure to take a position on the possible move.
Canadian media, however, have been all over the Coyotes’ saga.
KGMA 910 AM broadcasts Coyotes games and Fox Sports Arizona has in the past, there is no deal for the upcoming season, which starts in October
Archie Baird, a Phoenix resident and long-time season ticket holder, said there is no reason this market can’t back the Coyotes. He also lamented the lack of media coverage.
“We have 5 million people here. There’s no reason we can’t support a team,” said Baird.
Roger, a fan who declined to give his last name, agreed media coverage is lacking, but added the fact the Coyotes haven’t made the NHL’s 16-team playoffs since 2002 has hurt fan and media interest.
About 1,000 fans were at the 17,800-seat Jobing.com Arena for the Coyotes preseason opener.
Fans and retailers at Westgate City Center next to the arena were uncertain of the team’s future. A sales person at Just Sports said the store doesn’t have much an inventory of Coyotes gear because of the uncertainty. The store has plenty of Cardinals jerseys and shirts.
phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/09/14/daily45.html