Let's Be Negative For A Minute: Coyotes In Glendale

Let's get the positive part of this out of the way...

Here was the post mortem on the vote to keep the "Arizona" Coyotes in Glendale led by FOSG Bruce Cooper...
((HT: AZCentral.com))


 The larger question: The Coyotes are safe in jobing.com arena for another five years and until the point where losses accumulate to US$50-million- which, in reality, could happen in half that time... it has in the past as teams have lost as much as US$30-million in a season... And the idea that Global-Spectrum was brought in as a partner for Renaissance seems to have swayed at least one voter in this whole thing to make it a 4-3 on the positive side for Glendale...

 It's a 15-year lease, sure... and if the Renaissance owners and, presumably, the NHL want to be greedy about the whole thing, the owners can keep getting checks from the city of Glendale (which may or may not bounce considering just how much debt they themselves are in) past that five-year mark and get fat off the city for another decade without having to say they're sorry.

 Well done, Glendale... even as newly-minted mayor Jerry Weiers voted against the idea- as he well should have... It was admitted by city officials that services may have to be cut this year to make ends meet- including cutting a check to Anthony LeBlanc and his partners. That's things like police, fire, libraries, sanitation... you know, things that make a city function. But it's clear that everything in and around Westgate City Center revolves around an arena that is only used a handful of times in a calendar year. A bad idea usually begat more bad ideas... and this is no different... 

That's where Global-Spectrum comes into play... Allegedly... They manage over 100 arenas around the country and own the Philadelphia Flyers- in a building they manage. The Hockey News Ken Campbell raises an interesting theory: But it is interesting to note that last September, Global Spectrum signed on to manage and operate the GTA Centre in Markham, Ont., once it opens. The GTA Centre is a 20,000-seat arena that is in its infancy and would provide a ready-made building if the NHL ever decided to relocate or expand to the largest and most under-serviced hockey market in the world. Is it a stretch to suggest that if the Coyotes fail, Global Spectrum and its owner might want to see them move to an NHL-sized building that it already manages?

So, when time and patience runs out in Glendale- which it will...

Guess who jumps to the front of the line over Seattle and Quebec City...???

And when the league expands to 32 teams- which it will...

Look for those other two markets and wanna-be owners to have to cut big checks to play in the NHL sandbox instead of getting a cheap tenant on a move-in like Global and the Coyotes Canadian owners...